Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-04-17
SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.

entered upon the duties of his mission, Mr.. Marcy
stated "On the supposition that change to- take
place in the relations between Spain and Cuba-that
arbitrary power by the former is for some time longer
to repress discomfort in tho latter-ths government
has right to demand exemption from the annoyahce'
which arc likely to result from such condi'lon oi
things. Our flag must be respected, ana our co"i-
mcrce relieved from embarrassment by the Cuoah
authorities. The Cnite States will not submltto have
their merchant vessels though in the vicinity oi tha'
island, searched or detained ON their awtnIroyages'
Nearly two years have elapsed since the purpose OF
our government, thus explicitly expressed was COM
to SPAIN got the wrongs complahcu OF arc
of increasing multiplication both in number and
enormity. They cannot without total disregard OF
proper national selfrespect, on our part DO longer
to. The President faithful i'll the perform
ance Of his duties, is doubtless resolved that our
navigation and commerce shnll not be molest-
ed hereafter with inpunity, either in Cuban
ports or by Spanish cruzers in the Gulf of Mexico
and elsewhere. We trust our new Minister to Spain
will be instructed to inform that government, in an
emphatic frank manner, in order that it may be fully
forewarned Of the consequences, that the first Span
ish man ofwar which has tho temcrity to discharge
gun at vessel belonging to citizens Of the United
States not within marine league of the territory Of
Spau will be treated, if found, piratica vessels
ever have been treated by Christian nations on the
high seas. II such procedure were even now to &C.
cur, as the sinking of the offending ship, it would
meet with the unqualified appreciation of every patriot
N the Republic. And wcro it to result in suspension
relations between the two countries or in that which
is worse-their involvement in hostililies-we would
have the consciousness of knowing that we had COM
united no wrong, except the wrong TO ourselves OF
forbearance-ot not resisting earlier Spanish en-
croschents upon the rights and interests Of the na-
tiun.
The policy of our government, however it may bo
misreprosen by the trio of journals the National
Intelfeegcer, the London Times, and Nep York
Cron,ca-which take sort Of demoniacal delight i'll
assailing its acs,-is not nor ever has been that OF
aggression: nor is it that Of aggrandizement. The
extension of its dominion has resulted NOR. tOm the
operations Of the unchangea5le lava Of nature than
from any physical demonstration Of its own. Unlike
mos; Of the powers Of Europe, we have neither been
q acolonzing nor conquerng people. We have not
won possessions for the harning Of other Independ
ent States Our original boundaries have been
them. Safety for the rresent Gud security for
the future vera .h2 impelling considerations
al our ilgioa.on the subject The territory of the
Union waS deemed sufficiently largo aS long as il con-
tanned the necessary elements for preventing tho dis
memberment OF the States which it composGs, and Of
defending itself against the approaches OF an external
enemy. The world has been bettered; is condition
is becoming better every day, BY the rapid develop
ment Of the resources of the country which has been
embraced within our limits suce we entered upon our
national existence. 1t has served aphanthroplc pur'
pose to mankind- -afording food and clothing for the
millions abroad, while furnishing them with reInuue-
rating prices for their varied products.
I,Ouisinns land i '--oI'~'~I ------'' >''.''''
mia what blessings their annexation TO the
American Confederation have bestowed on humanity
The measure which constituted them respectively parts
pi the Up:ed States, scarcely less benign than II
it had been the direct inspiration Of that power which
the universe Il as beautifully usreted
tho Divine parable Of the talent tied up i'll napkin,
turned TO profitable account The value OF the yield
OF the States, already created from thnt territory,
amounts, annually, to hundreds of millions o. dollar.
What would be the condition OF the formidable AHes'
Indeed of Western Europe generally but for the sup
plies which they receive from those luxurlsnt fields
and rich mines
No other nation has turned its possessions to so
useful purpose hasthis Not colony Of any crown
can be pointed to that is in thrifty acondtion so
any of tho States which have designated nor one so
useful in promoting the wide worlds good ttEeso we're
no other reasons this alone vo.G attract Cuba to u.s.
II perreyes clearly enough tho. it is upsrtecty de-
vcloped, in view not only OF is nateria! butts social
AID political well-being, and that under ia present
inylorious rule lis coudtiou cGn never Se bet'erec-
H. therefore silently yeafns ior speedy admission into
niiy OF States where its interests will DO daily re-
csrded and advanced !a relation 10 Spain 49, pos
.iIlo more unnatural than was that OF TINS country
70 Great Britain previous to the war which eventua.
tod in separation and it would be similarly severed
forthwith if it had at its disposal the same lhoah'
which our ancestors were enabled to employ. ltS
chief commercial intercourse il with the tnGed
sta.e. OF sugar, itS great leading staple, We con-
,uu,e about 355 GOO lbs. annually, while SPAN
consumes only i5,00O0CO lbs Spain forces Cuba by
duty, at ,imer practically prohbory, to exclude one
Of our staples, -Four in order that the yield OF heI
fields may enjoy profitable market to her own inf
mite enloument, and the immense injury OF hcr Colo
ny! While this hemisphere is the natural feeder o.
the other, she BY asystcm Of uncquaed oppression
which the oppressed gre deprived Of the means o.
resignsere.5es the natural order OF things, for the
double purpose Of rcsli.ing revenue and protect
lag the home producers. equal TO the Richmond o.
New Orleans value OF the article exported Il thus
palpabe, that the law Of trade which il but little les
flexible than tho law gravitaton will at day not dis
ant rigidy enforce itself When this shall occur if
thing else intervenes, could if We would prevent
the annexation of the Island. Nothing is clear
than that as the Cubans become more awakened tos
sent their wrongs, they WILL in one way or another
endeavor to establish good government that ell
icyed by their prosperous nelchbors
Whatever events of grave nature may transpre
between Spain and the United States, growing out o
tho proximity of Cuba to the latter its laboring po-
pulation-ts inficton to submission to the worst go
yernment known to civilized men, and tho repeated
insults to our Gag and injuries to our commerce. our
country will have nothing to reproach itself with
Is e1ertions have been constantly and carefully d.
r.ctsd 70 nreyent that which it believed TO be an i'm
nendipg calamity If it fails in its honest purpose
civilization now, and in all coming time will be ut
no loss to ascertan how large amount of its trca-
sure it was willing to appropriate, to avoid that,
which, in s non acceptance, seemed to be an neVl-
tubls result Mr.. Buchanan instructed MIR. Saunders
t, offer 500 1000, 900 for the Island. We infer from
the recea,ly published correspondence concerning
our relations with spain that Mr. Soule was instruct
Cd to so 200 beyond this sum il propit'ouS
moment was presented. The solemn announcement
y" lie new C"rt.s, that "to sell Cuba to the United
etate' would be to sell Spanish honor" mado II"
DOUBT IN obedience to English neutrality-suspicious.
HIM 'fom making the proposition. Our govern
mont would, therefore, subject itsclf to downright
insult, were it to a,temp, negotiation for the pur
chasa and we trust il will ,,.o,;, ...,r,a q ia