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

purchase. Separation, whenever it may take
place, will be probably the work of violence"
The President therefore does not authorize any
proposal to purchase Cuba. Mr.. Soule will
take care especially to ascertain what arrange
ments have been made with Great Britain and
France to sustain the present dominion OF
Spain over Cuba, and how far they are urging
q change in the internal condition of the island,
7" particularly an regard to slores."
Let US solicit the attention of the reader for
e moment. The President assumes that Spain
will not sell, and therefore he will authorize no
proposition to purchase He assures Spain
that he intends to maintain a strictly neutral
policy towards her and the island, so long as
she shall remain, in fact as sceu as IN name,
sovereign over it; but he will resist, at all
hazards, its transference to any other Power
and, he argues to show that the protection of
Great Britain or France would be equivalent
to possession in other words, to such "trans-
ference" The inference is plain, that, this
being proved, he would feel authorized to rec
ommend tile interposition Of force; especial
a change in the condition Of the island, affect
ing the present or prospective security of the
United States. 1t was therefore made Mr..
Soue's first mission to ascertain whether such
a protectorate existed, and whether the pro-
tecting power were urging a substitution of
free for Stare labor. Now, strip off the cunning
ly devised diplomatic phraseology, and it means
just this We acU no longer attempt to buy
Cuba, bit II; as is probable, ace can find good
pretert, ace ,oiU seize ii.
Mr.. Marcy proceeds to say, that Spain may
possibly foresee the necessity of separation,
and anticipate what is inevitable by voluntary
act, giving birth to an independent nation of
her own race. The United States then would
be satisfied; would cordially favor such sepa-
ration, and be willing to contribute something
more substantial than good will towards so de-
sirable all object" These views were to De
presented to Spain, if opportunity offered
That is, she was to be assured that, if she would
consent to the independence of Cuba, without
any provision for annexation, the United States
would give money in aid Of such policy
Mr.. Marcy closes his letter by referring to
the annoyances to which our commerce is liable
in the present condition Of Cuba. If the arbi
trary will of Spain is to continue some time
longer in the island, we must be exempted
from such annoyances. Grievances unatoned
for must be redressed; provision must be
made against their recurrence; commercial
convention is urged, and it is insisted that the
Captain General shall be invested with quail
fed diplomatic powers.
Mr.. Soule is referred in this letter to a des-
patch, addressed to Mr.. Buchanan, dated July
2, 1853. The burden of this is, complaint
against the interference of England and France.
Mr.. Marcy repeats, that the United States will
never consent to the transfer of the island to
either, or to any other foreign State. When
oppression becomes so severe as to excite re-
volt, and the revolt is too strong to be put
edly has no better right to invoke foreign aid,
than the victims of arbitrary misrule." When
Spain applied to the Allied Powers of Europe
for help, to enable her to recover her revolted
colonies in America, the Government of the
United States protested. lin solemn terms, and
had the protest failed in its object " it would
undoubtedly have had recourse to other means,
to arrest such interference" 1t will be OBJ
served that this is a distinct intimation that in
case Of a revolt in Cuba, interference by Eng
land and France to maintain the authority of
Spain, will be met by interference on the part
of the United States, to maintain the cause of
the revolters.
Mr.. Marcy then turns to the subject of what
is called the differentiation of Cuba. The
American Government does not complain Of
the enforcement, by Great Britain, of treaty
stipulations in regard to the emdncipados of
the island; but if she is using her influence to
fill that colony with emigrants from Africa, so
that when Spanish rule over it may terminate,
it shall be worthless to any other country, she
ought to know that she is doing what in its
consequences must be injurious to the United
States" Now, Cuba, with its peculiar geo
graphical relation to us, "must be no cause of
annoyance in itself, nor must it be used by
others as an instrument Of annoyance" Mr..
Buchanan is instructed to ascertain how Great
Britain stands upon all these points
Such are the instructions under which Mr..
Soule must act. He goes forth to acquire
Cuba let us see how he succeeds.
October 18th, 1853, he writes that the
strange sensation created in Madrid by his ap.
pearance, had subsidized. Not at all " strange"
if we recollect that his mission must have
been everywhere understood. He was re-
ceived by the Queen with "marked attention
and courtesy" A very eloquent harangue.
containing side-thrust at England and France.
without naming them, which he had pre.
pared for delivery, was cut down, at the in
stance of NJ. Caderon, to suit the ordinary for
mulas, and responded to by the Queen in
courtly style.
November 10th, he writes that the Cabinet
IS weak and unsteady, nor will the United
States suffer much by its fall. Mr.. Calderon
is disinclined to any policy that might tend to
bring the United States in closer connection
with Spain. "He is honest, and means well :.
he is able, and might do much good but he
has no nerve, and his timidity evidently de-
stroys his usefulness"
December 23d, he gives the particulars of
crisis - confusion, disorder, and anarchy, eve
rywhere prevail. He speaks of the blind
sel6shness and superciious susceptibility of
the Government. England and France have
succeeded in making us so odious to the peo-
pie of Spain, that there is not word or look
of insult which their officials would spare u.s."
if they could but believe it would be endured.
Our forbearance has led them to think we are