Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-03-10
rnE osTEND CONFERENCES.

CunA The voluminous documents connected
with the Osiend conference were withheld from
Congress until the closing hours of the session.
They are now published and disclose the object
Of the extraordinary secret conference Of Amer
lean ministers, which gave rise 10 so much spec
uaiion both at home and abroad. Cuba was
the theme of their deliberations the result Of
which, as embodied in their joint report 10 the
home government, was, that the time for the
acquisition Of Cuba was most opportune; that
Spain needed money and we had il that we
had better offer one hundred and hcenfy millions
for clear title, threatening Spain At the same
time that unless she should sell, il would be
impossible for the President Of the United States,
Notwithstanding his undoubied sincerity and
zeal 10 that end, 10 prevent our flibusiers from
Selling the island before long and Spain had
better take this liberal price now than run the
risk of losing Cuba at last, aud getting nothing
in return. To enforce these weighty consider
ations, Mr. Soulc was also 10 insist vigorously.
in fact savagely, upon satisfaction for the Black
Warrior and other ouirages
The first letter is from Marcy TO Soule. dat
cd July %, 1858, and expaiiates upon the SUI
porioriy of Cuba, aud its Importance to The
United States; deprecates the interference Of
England and France in Cuban affairs, and in
strucis Mr. Soulc generally to try and obtain a
modification Of those laws which press with
undue severity upon our commercial intercourse
with the Island.
The second letter is from Marcy TO Buchan-
an, July ., 1853, complaining Of Great Britain
keeping large fleets on the Cuban coast 10 watch
US, dcnouncing the introduction Of free Alri-
cans into Cuba, with view of making the Is
land worthless to us when Spain can no longer
hold it, aud directing him, if he finds England
has any arrangements with Spain, detrimental
to our interests, 10 endeayor 10 induce her to
abandon them.
Marcy to Soule, March II, 1854, calls for
redress OF the Black Warrior ouiragcs without
delay demands $500, 900 indemnity TO own
ers.
Marcy TO Soulc, April 8, 1854, fears that a
Project is on f1ol to introduce new system of
agricultural labor into Cuba, and Soule has full
powers delegated to him to treat for the purchase
Of the Island. If Spain is not disposed to sell,
he thinks, for the qAd pro qro, he would con-
sent 10 the independence of the Island, and Of
iers to aid Spain in plotting to bring about such
independence.
Marcy to Soule, Aug. l6, 1854, suggests the
conference between Buchanan, Mason and Soule,
which was accordingly held, and under date Of
Aux Ia Chapelle, Oct. IS, 1854, we have the
full report of their deliberations, signed by the
three members.
But Spain must also be threatened, and
Messrs Buchanan, Mason and Soule, declare
alt is certain that should the Cubans them
selves organize an nsurreciion against the Span
ISL government, and should other independent
nations come to the aid Of Spain in the contest,
no human powe could, in our opinion, prevent
the people and government Of the United States
from taking part in such civil war, in support
Of their neighbors and friends.
But if Spain, deaf to the voice Of her own
interest, and aciuated by stubborn pride and a
false sense Of honor, should refuse to sell Cuba
to the United States, then the question will
arise, what ought TO be the course of the Amer
lean government under such circumstances
Sell-preservation is the first law Of nature
with states as well as with individuals. All
nations have at different periods acted upon this
maxim. Although it has been made the pre-
text for committing fragrant injustice, as in the
partition of Poland and other similar cases
which history records, yet the principle itself,
though often abused, has always been recogniz-
ed.
Whilst pursuing this course, We can afford
to disregard the censures Of the world TO which
we have been so often and so unjustly exposed.
Amer we shall have offered Spain price for
Cuba far beyond its present value, and this shall
have been refused it will then be time 10 con-
slider the question, does CnLa in the possession
of Spain seriously endanger ourinternal peace
and the existence Of our cherished Union !
Should this question be answered in the az
Grmalve, then by every law, human and divine,
we shall be justified in wrestling it from Spain,
/ if we possess the power And this upon the
very same principle that would justify An indi-
yidual in tearing down the burning liduse Of
his neighhor if there were no other means Of
preventing the flames from destroying his own
home.
Under such circumstances we ought neither
to count the cost nor regard the odds which
Spain might enlist against us. We forbcar to
enior into the question whether the present con-
diton of the Island would justify such meas
ure We should, however, be recreant to oul
duty, be unworthy of our gallant forcfathers
and commit base treason against our posierity,
should we permit Cuba TO be Africanized and
become a second ST. Domingo, with all its at
tendant horrors to the white race, and suffer the
flames to extend 10 our neighboring shores, Sc
riously to endaneer or actually 10 consume the
fair fabric Of our Uuion.''
Such was tho magnificent price to be offered
for Cuba, to strengthen and protect the slave
power Of the Union, and such was the programme
of persuasion ard intimidation to be used, which
was suddenly interrupted by the new and unac-
ceptabe instructions to Mr. Soule, which caused
his resignation and return. This extraordinary
transaction should be well understood by the
people, if they would know how much they
are expected to do and suffer in behalf of slay-
ety.
OF this plot to seize Cuba the Springfield
Republican says -
"fhe correspondence connected with the Os-
tend Conference excites everywhere the most