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

| ~ organized 1ctttin ttS limits, and the tyranny
and oppression which characterize its immedi-
ate rulers, threaten an insurrectioa at every
moment, schich may result IN dirsfl conse-
qHenees to the American People"
| "Cuba has become to US an uHceasing dan
| ger, and permanent cause Of anxiety and
| Alarm
The conferees then proceed If Spain, dead
to the voice of her own interest, and actuated
by stubborn pride and a false sense of honor
should refuse to sell Cuba" What ought to be
the course of the American Government"
| Now, note the conclusion to which their reply
points.
"Selfpreservation is the first law of nature,
with States as well as with individuals"
The law is sometimes made the pretext of
"hagrant injustice" but the principle itself,
though often abused, has always been recog-
| nised."
Now, the United States have hitherto ac-
CURED every foot of their territory honoraby
| and our "past history forbids that we should
acquire the island of Cuba without the consent
of Spain, aenless justified by the great lac Of
se!t-preserration." Preserving our own con-
scious rectitude," "we can afford to disregard
the censures of the world"
Can the reader resist the practical conclu-
sion of such an argument? The plain meaning
of the Conferees is, that the proper course of
the American Government-Spain refusing to
sell-would be, TO seize tie island. But, un-
! willing to commit themselves to this naked
proposition, they throw a thin veil over it, for
the sake of decency. After Spain shall have
been offered, and have refused, price for
Cuba, far beyond its present value ait will
then be time to consider the question, Does
Cuba, In the possession of Spain, seriously en-
| danger our internal peace, and tile existence of
| oar cherished Union?" Should the question
be answered in the affirmative, "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 individual in tearing down the
burning house of his neighbor, if there were no
other means of preventing the flames from de-
stroying his own house. We ought neither to
count the cost, nor regard the odds which
gentlemen hope to shield themselves from re-
sponsibility for these covert recommendations
| Of violence, by following them Immediately
with the declaration, awe forbear to enter into
the question, whether the present condition of
the island would justify such measured"
Did they forget that they had already entered
into that question, and virtually decided it in
| the affirmative? What is the question I?
docs Cuba, in the possession of Spain, seri-
| ously endanger our internal peace, and the
| existence of our cherished Union 2" We say
they had already decided this question-de-
cided it in the opening part of their report,
when, enumerating the reasons for the acqui-
| sition of Cuba, they asserted that it was "as
| necessary to the North american Republic as
any Of its present members that delay in
its acquisition is exceedingly dangerous to the
| United States that the system of free immi-
grafton "lately organized" there, and the "ty-
ranny of its rulers, threaten an instruction
ecery moment, which may result in dretul
| consequences TO the american People that
Cuba has thus become to us an nRcedsiag
| danger, and permanent cause Of dnriety and
| alarm that "the Union can nerer enjoy re-
pose, nor possess reliable security so Tong as
Cuba as not embraced wifhin its J0undaries.' .
If these assertions be true, then, beyond all
doubt, does Cuba in the possession of Spain,
seriously endanger our internal peace, and the
| existence of our cherished Union" They an
swer the very question, which they say they
will forbear to enter into; they answer it in the
| affirmative, and on their own showing, there
fore, stand openly committed to the declara-
ton, that, "by ecery lar, human and dicine,
zoe shall be justified IN aoreSting 1t cuba from
Spain"
1t is needless to characterize the report as a
fagrantly filibustering paper-the common
sense of mankind will fasten this stigma upon
| it.
Let us now examine the reply of Mr.. Marcy.
| By comparing the report with the general tenor
and spirit of his instructions, it will be seen
that it broadly and emphatically announces
and recommends the practical conclusion
which the propositions and principles stated by
| him merely suggested. We do not therefore
wonder at the confident tone in which Mr..
| Soule communicated the report to the Secre-
tary. But Mr.. Marcy is too experienced pol
| itician to commit himself in a matter of grave
Importance, without providing for a retreat, if
necessary. In the interval from August 9Th
to November 18th, the date of his reply to the
| report of the Ostend Conference, times had
changed and the political horizon was charged
with portentouS indications. The elections in
| Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Hi
nOis, Wisconsin, and Michigan had resulted in
| the complete overthrow Of the Administration,
and the cause of this unprecedented political
revolution-the reaction of the People against
Slavery and Slavery Extension-was clearly IN
derstood by the President and his Counsellors
| The idea of prosecuting, in the face of such a
reaction, the attempt to acquire Cuba, by pur-
chase or war, could no longer be safely enter
| tanned. The Administration must back out y
but in such a way as to avoid, if possible, the
appearance of radical discrepancy between
itself and the Ostend Conferees. To Mr.. Mar
| cy was committed this difficult task; and it
cannot be denied that he managed the matter
with great adroitness. While appearing to sane
ton the general principles laid down by these
| gentlemen, he contrives to reach precisely op-
| posite conclusions. Without opposing their
argument, or taking apparently directly antag-
onistic position, he practically repudiates their
counsels, and then, by the help of an ingenious
construction and collocation of their most ex-
1 tray IL