Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-03-13

due regard - their own dignity a. III indepen len
,it'I"il, c"htIhlic, and our recommendations nov su!
United are dictated by the firm belief that the cCss!u
at Cuba 10 lie United States, with siipulations Us hri
ciirill IA SPAN a. those suggested, ~ the only cticC
'iv" mode 0f srtt!ing all past differences. and al secu
ring the two countries against future collisions! w
have already Witnessed the happy results for bot
countries which followed 4 similar arrangement i
regard 10 Florida. Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN,
j. \. MASON,
PIERRE SOULE.
REPLY OF Mr. MARCY TO THE REPORT OF TIL
OSTISD CONFERENCE.
No. 23-.ur. Marcy to Mr. Soui1.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHlSGToy, Nov. 18th, 1854.
SiR-Thn communication of the 18th ult, embOIv
iug he views of yourself, Mr.. Buchanan and Mr.
Mason upon our embarrassing relations with Spain
has been received and submitted to the President
lie has given TO mat document the deliberate consid.
ration due alike To the importance oil the -uhi"c
therein discussed, and 10 the experience. wisdom an,
ability OF those whose opinions and suggestions il con
tuins. When ho first entered upon the duties of hi
present station, he found our intercourse with Sp.ir
much disturbed b. the conduct oil the Spanish au
,horities at Cuba II has been his anxious desire nj,
the object of his strenuous efforts TO preserve peac;
and restore cordial goodwill between that country
and The United States. The source of our past diff
cutie: with Spain, and Of our apprrhensions Of fu
turc danger, ia cearly disclosed in the report or your
self una associates. The measure therein presented
tho purchase CT Guba-is probably the only one
which would not place tho relations Of the two coun'
tries On the samo basis of enduring friendship.
While The ia!ard of Cuba remains n dependency o
Spain, and the character Of her rule over it il no;
changed, and n change for tie better can hardly be
anticipated, annOyancea Ia our trade and difficulties
between our citizens and the local authorities will bG
ni frequent occurrence, and 1t IL scarcely reasonable
In expect that n peace TINS rendered precarious will
r,.lnllu lone unbrnEpn. lOncpiyinR Tint IN. transfer
ri Cubn 10 the United States, on the honorable cOndi'
tions You have been instructed 10 offer. would be as
important to her rs 10 them, it was hoped that you would
gnd her Catholic Maic7ty's government disposed IN rc
Coive and discuss n proposition for that PURPOSE
The President desires You 10 keep this important, phr
jcct of your mission in view, and To enter upon ncCn.
@otiation- in relation 10 it whenever a favorable op.
por;unity orcurs.
1t is no longer, | believe, a secret in Spain that the
United States wish to obtain tie ccssion, and thai you
have authority To treat on tho subject. The know.
ledge Of these facts will be- likely 10 elicit opinions in
regard 10 that measure, no; only from The Ministers al
her Catholic Majcsty's government, but from other
influential individuals OF the nation. The Cortcs will
soon assemble, and the subject vii, undoubtedly be
discussed BY the members Of that body in their social
circles, lit does not become n slbicct of puhlic deli.
beration. By Il free and friendly intercourse among
official and influential men, YOU will he enabled to de-
termine the proper course TO be- pursued in regard 10
oneniug ncro,;ati,ns for tho arluis;,inu az Cuha -
should YOU find persons of position or influence ,Is
posed to converse on the suffice. The considerations
in favor of a cession are SD MANY and 81 strong. Tint
those who chr he brought 70 T.rcn would very EkcIy
10 become converts 10 tho measure. But shoulI Vol,
have rcn.on Ia L,liryc tim, rho mon in mower ar.
ayersc TO entertaining such 81 proposition, that the Of
Ter of i, would be of, nsivc Ia lie national price of
Spain, nnd that il would lind no favor IN my conrid.
.,r,hl. cIo., &c .L. ,,.,Io ,Lo, :, ,c;Il lao L,, ,,. .,;
,Ion, Inn, ,Lo rim. rr nror;rg or nttcnu,inn =, oman
,uch n nop,,istion Los no, ynf arrived II nunno,rs +,
rho prcsiInnt tba, no,hino could no usinnd onJ snnrc-
thin, m;nht bo I've, br on n,,.r,r, "a r,,.L ,n - ron,-
,;n,;,n nHn;n., srrh !,aror,i ra.I,opco rb;, -
of,ha caso :; :. ,,tnn an ,ba smnros;,inn ,ho, - ,'hoIi
h,rn,,o cory;"naj ,hat = nr"pps;,inn ,o- m, co,si"m
=. C,Io .D"riI a,x,";nr,. rIa;oo,nj
-Thn i0,ornrs ~ snn. nari az ,ho r.ror, ,n;,b,
No. "7"'sr mn fm' " H. -
- ." -" -
n".e ma. !ou :. !oLs n" o.' IA t"v hn mnTo
,,'H h1I -, p oPa ;n Ioin. -
.n"uSti 're sn"uI u y" n"neo VI W yum I".r -.
""eu anu ""' " "o":. :. ",'"a"p'i.l 4" ~. ~
"" Wv. ~ " ~ TGonI
l h!"u H'n'th were ueteI,''neu ~ ""'c M stint
hhu would "bialh II ID. "'Hci i'oahs, S'io"', " I'N,
Se", "uren''S, ~ It, "''".,o"a ~ "e 49, ,b;s IT..
D! hcr' Dul "'hcr parts I'll Tie i'P"' ''p'' '"'7 '"N'
''m Tr ,L., i,S ,oir .lop,d
= Nv III ''"' W. - T,;,.j STATS .,bc
refuse these proposals "i me Ch','A STATS, Il"
question VIII ar'sc' "H"' "uS"l " =: =. ~
me american government uiu' sum, .
cieG'!S SHOVE MAJ 1t WI ~ "I"'p :! =, w. NJ;
an" c"iIeagnrS' 10 ie'ouitnehu !" w: m - "
r 4" "pIrn Nv ,hnt ,ha ,ncmhcrs -; ,Ln conference
ne CONCLUSION tT"l lne men!oc', w - :. ni,o
49, ~" i, t'r"-;rr, ros.rc
49, ,' 49,. .hoiIho.n n,inr,d Sn,ip n Drice for Cuba.
f;- hcvo,J IFS nrrscpt ynlur. and this shall have been
49,, r"cn - = :, Ill t,Lnn ho t;mc IN consider the question.
dimes Cnrc in the uosscss;ou of Spain, seriously en-
,Jn ,' ~. y a ~ $50 AMI ,Lc cr;stcnrc nf orr
ci,nr;.hoi -. n"' i'"1
The Prcsiden; roncurs in this vicy- Of the subject.
Rut T., couc,,le that. on tine r,icc,ion n; n rronosi.;on
to ccic, seizure should cnsur, would be 10 assume
that self preservation DccrasiratrE tho uruuisitioa of
Cnb, nv I'm, Tinted S,,,.s. ,ho, Smoin has, ms r,r"s.I
and viii n.rs;-t in r,.cusiur unr r,cluro ut;ou. far min.
rios and wronas inflicted. and thu; she will make no
ARRANGEMENT for uur future security uGairsr m. nc.
.c,rrri,cr Of .im;Iar Injuries and wronrs.
AZ N Nm. first considerations. I will only rc,nark
tEat The ACQUISITION Of Cuha nv the Uniicd States
ynnll Il, mr., pmiurntlv advantageous in itself, and OF
tM, HIGHEST inheritance rs a precautionary measure 0f
security. However much We might regr"; the want
nf success in our Efforts 10 obtain the c.s-ion 81 it.
,b,t s,,u.. would NOT. without a material chang" in
,h,. condition nf m. Island, involve imminent peril 10
the ,xi.;,.rce Of onr government. But should the
contingency suggested in your report ever arise, Their"
* no reason tn hnIih, that the cure Will 10" promptly
mct hy the deliberate Judgment and decisive action "i
tb. American ucoulr.
In r.I,,iou IN nu,rGcrs and Injuries, ili- govern
mcnr has GOOD ground To complain OF III" cours" hItii-
.r!o pursued by Spnin; and should thai cours" be per-
sisted in II would be justified in rcs"rtlng t" coerrive
means 10 obtain redress. But the aspect oi ms
branch Ut the EuDlrct lins, HO"cNiI, IhL'r 7''t' H"'
changed. The present Cabinet of Spain has indica-
,ri n NOR. favorable disposition in regard 10 de-
,,n,J, e., -n,;.icc,,,n md indemnity than that which
nrorrdcd il.
dn not attach mucn Importance to the recent Of
,cr nm the unrr If Spaiu, to institute II commission to
sn,,l, MI eti..,,ur clrins, such NJ now exists between
,t' Ir';inJ .,a,.. md Great Bri,nin, bccar,-. some ni
IT, Ia '%a5 M. oro II s,,rh a character M scli.rc-pcct
wnIi, NOT r,rc.- u. n subrnj, 20 arbi,rnmcnt in any
,,,,n IN r. iL,.,,.i,y,. instructed to decline tha:
rY,r
r,, r. ,o ,Lc mos. AGGRAVATED n wei! as tn" mos,
ra,' nosn,i nn,rur. mi ;uirry--:hn, OF the l5!nrl;
Iynrr;o,~-thr dnn, ~ oiin-,ircnr can inrily be con
s;drrcd "a cinsrd, AlInnn.h the late Spanish Minl--
,rr nj Foreign R,lo,inns rejected our demand. III that
cF.n, the present Minister has distinctly indicated n
I'm, ~, - ,oc,Jc ,ron, the uosi,jon OF his prctc.
II. oaLos g., - ,icws in writing mon the
,,II, ,vLirh Lis oov.rnm.nt Ind made 10 our de.
,uar.,. Md ..rouIuaui.d l.is request with an a.su-
rnncc ,hsI me w.,id take il into most serious Consid-