The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-29

shall examine presently.
Our representative seemed unable to see
any chance of an amieable settlement of diff.
culties, and put the most unfavorable construc.
ton upon every word and act of the Spanish
Government. In July, the quasi revolution
took place-the old Ministry was overthrown-
Mr.. Pacheco took the place of Mr.. Calderon
Pezuela, Captain General of Cuba, was dis
missed, the Spanish Ministry, however, express
ing itself satisfied with the zeal and loyalty
with which he had discharged his duties. Gen.
eral Concha was appointed in his place-a man
not popular with fibusters. Mr. Soule chose
to regard both acts as unfriendly to the United
States, and, in an interview with Mr.. Pacheco,
remarked that the terms in which Pezuela was
dismissed, stock away from her Majesty's Gov
eminent the means of satisfying one of the
main exigencies arising out of the grievances
which had so seriously disturbed its relations
with the United States and that the appoint
ment of Concha could not fail "to awake dire
full membranes. and to wake up emotions
which, for the peace and harmony of the two
countries, it had been better to leave dor
mant"
Mr.. Pacheco gave him "the most solemn
assurances that no offence could have been
intended. as the DEGREES were prepared without
any reference to the existing difficulties be-.
tween his Government and ours" This was
communicated in despatch, August 10, but
not word is said of the presentation of Mr..
Marcy's argument, of June 22d, in reply to Mr.
Calderon.
August 3Oth, he speaks of the " most rest
less anxiety" Of the Prime Minister. "to ret q
word of writing from me on the vexed sub
Ject,N the Black Warrior case Mr.. Soule
would not CRAFTY him-he would not submit to
him the unanswerable argument of Mr.. Marcy
Z" deemed it not judicious to indulge him
why, we shall soon see. In the notes of n
conference held with Mr.. Pacheco, made by
the Secretary of the Legation, and transmitted
with the same despatch it appears that the
Prime Minister requested Mr.. Soule "to ex.
press what he had said in writing, and that he
would then take it under most serious consid.
Grafton, and act upon it," he said that the
Spanish Government had addressed the Gov
eminent Of the United States on the subject
and he much regretted to hear that our Gov.
eminent was not satisfied that her Maiestv's
Government was disposed to do everything 10
prove its friendship and good disposition TO-
wards that of the United States; but nnIass
the objections to the communication of Mr..
Calderon could be made known in writing, he
really did not see what he could be expectnd N
do about it." Mr.. Soule all the while had IN
his possession those very objections in writing.
with the Presidents desire that they should be
stated to the Minister, and, if he desired il that
copy of them be given him! And vet, he
acdhheid them! He simply replied that he
could see no necessity to put ANYTHING in
writing" Meantime, he was about to retire TO
Aulus on the frontier, for his health, but. if the
Minister at any time should feel that his pres.
ence at the capital was desirable, he could tel.
egraph him.
The conduct of Mr.. Soule shows that he was
intent upon one object, the main object of his
mission" as he styles it, the acquisition Of
C"ba-that, while this seemed unattainable no
other object deserved consderation--that, in
his opinion, however friendly the demonstra.
tlons of the Spanish Government, it was in fact
better to keep open the questions of controyer
sy with it, with view of facilitating the ac
complishment of the one great object. Mr..
Pacheco, the head of the new Ministry. in n
note dated September 10th, remarks: d" From
the moment was intrusted with the portfolio
of Foreign Affairs, / conceived it my DUTY TO
examine into all claims pending between Spain
and other Powers, in relation to injuries inaict.
ed on private individuals, for the purpose of
bringing them to a settlement, if such were
possible" This was the spirit which breathed
through all the communications of the success.
sive Ministers after the Revolution of July. but
Mr.. Soue held himself aloof, refused to re-
spond to it. pertinaciOusly refused, although
urgently solicited, to put anything in writing.
or to submit to the Spanish Government the
objections of Mr.. Marcy to the argument of Mr.
Calderon, although authorized to do so, and
to prepare a copy of them if desired. Speak
ing of Mr.. Pacheco, in his despatch of August
18th, he says he is incapable of approaching
certain great question THE transference of
Cuba) " with that boldness of purpose which
alone could commend it to public favor. /
touched him upon it a few days ago, and found
that he was no less reluctant than his prede-
cessor to trouble himself with so grave a sub
ject." Hence, the disgust of our Minister, and
his indisposition to listen to any overtures on
questions which he regarded as entirely subor-
dinate, if not insignificant. The Adminstra-
ton naturally enough desired to know what Mr..
Soule had done with the elaborate despatch of
June 22d. On the 9th October, Mr.. Marcy
having previously received a note acknowledg-
ing its reception, but without any intimation as
to the manner in which it had been used wrote
Mr.. Soule, for information on the subject 1t
was the Presidents expectation, he said that
"the Government of Spain would be apprized
of the unsatisfactory character Of its reply to
our demands in the case, and Of the distinct
grounds on lolich the claim 10 indemnity and
satisfaction rested"
November 10th, Mr.. Soule replies, explain
ing ,ohy he had withheld the argument of Mr..
Marcy. The despatch speaks volumes, and
confirms all we have said of the desire Of
Mr. Soule to keep open all questions of contro-
versy with Spain, for the purpose of promoting,
in some way, the acquisition of Cuba. He
states that the letter of Mr. Marcy, of June
22d, was received ain Madrid on the 18th Of
July; that before it could be translated, the
Calderon Cabinet fell that the succeeding
Cabinet, one merely in name, fingered but two
or three days; that permanent Cabinet, with