The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-01-12

IHE OsrEND DCoNFEREScE.-MR SoULE.-
The N. \. Herald has long article endea.
S'fing 10 snow a resolution of the foreign
poiicy OF the administration in regard to Gu
ba, and an abandonment of that island. II
states that when Mr. Soule was appointed
Minister to Spain, he accepted the position
with the distinct understanding that the ac-
QUESTION of Cuba was a leading policy of the
administration, and that to that end all his
| energies were to be directed.
When he was charged with demanding re-
paration for the Black Warrior outrage, adds
the Herald, it was deemed a fitting opportu.
uity to review all the various outrages which
had been committed by the authorities of
Cuba upon our citizens and commerce for a
long series of years; and accordingly Mr..
Soule did not confine himselfto mere none
tary claim for damages, but also demanded a
suitable apology.
The Spanish government refused to make
| an apology, and Mr.. Soule reported the facts
to Washington. In doing so says the Her
| aid, he took occasion to give his views at
| length as to the condition of affairs in Spain,
and express his convictions that if the United
States adopted vigorous and decided policy
| Cuba in less than six months would be ours.
But as he did not desire that his mere ipse
| dirit should be taken, he suggested a confer
| ence might be held with Mr.. Buchanan and
MIR. Mason, where he would fully explain his
views, and a joint report could be forwarded
here of the result.
The Herald adds that the President and
and Cabinet responded favorably to this com
munication, especially Mr.. Marcy The mes
senger who brought Mr.. Soule's communica-
| ton, returned with this authority, and the
Conference at Ostend was held.
The subject of the conference was but one,
| our relations with Spain ard their connection
with the Cuban question. The three minis.
tiers, says the Herald, Messrs buchanan, Ma
son and Soule, united in recommending
| that the government of the United States
should declare, in effect, that it was useless
| to prolong negotiations further-that so long
| rs Cuba remained dependence of the Span
ish crown, it would continue to be source of
annoyance and injury TO us, and that both
our honor and interest required we should
either purchase or take Cuba at once They
further expressed the opinion that England
and France would offer but little if any op-
position to the transfer by purchase of the
island to the United States.
The Herald goes on to say that Mr. Marcy,
alarmed by the excitement stirred up by the
Nebraska bill, and fearing that to press the
annexation of Cuba-a new slave State
would at this time be madness, changed his
views set himself against the Ostend con
ference and carried his point in the cabinet
against the opposition of Mr.. Pierce and Mr..
Gushing. A letter WIS sent to Mr. Soule
simply directing him to open negotiations,
without threats or giving occasion for irr-
tatiOn upon the Black Warrior affair Mr..
Soule, according to the Herald, believes that,
having closed the negotiations, he cannot re-
open them with honor to himself and the
Herald therefore feels authorized to an
nounce that Mr.. Soule has resigned and will
soon return TO the United States