The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-04-27
FOR TIE INDEPENDENT FREES.
From Montgomery.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, /

MONTG oMEnv, Ala, April IA.
Editors Of the Press: I have recently
occupied 30 much Of your columns, that it
may seem to be egotism or an cxtravagant
idea Of sclfimportance to continue to do so.
Less than ayear ago was in your pres
cnt seat, and l know that threc-fourths of
over sixteen hundred of your subscribers
were my personal friends. Knowing this
fact, Imay presume a little upon my rela-
tion to your subscribers. l have their as
surance and yours that it will be agreeable
to hear from me.
I am really surprised at the sensation
which my letter on the Expedition subject
has produced. have received a great
number of letters from men of mature age
and character, proposing to 60 into it,
while scores Of the young and restless are
"eager for the fray" told you that the
New York papers would make guesses a
bout it. did not err. The New York
Tribune, Of the 4th instant, scrappcd up
my letter and rc-published it as piece of
startling intelligence, and gave it ns cvi-
dence Of an early descent upon Cuba. That
sagacious and accurate journal, the Charles
ton Courier, fell into the same error. I
have nothing to do in any way with any
designs upon Cuba. Though consider
Cuba desirable by any mode Of acquisition,
and would willingly join any force adequate
to the undertaking, yet do not believe
that private enterprise will ever accomplish
the conquest of Cuba. This thing Of let
ting out wars to private contract, and un-
dertaking conquests by private enterprise,
as if itwere mere business operation, is
singular and novel development Of the dar-
ing and versatility Of Yankee genius. The
conquest Of Cuba in this way is a concep-
tion SO utterly hopeless and foolish, that no
man above desperation or insanity would
risk his life in it. Let us calmly reason
about it.
The army in Cuba is forty thousand
strong, besides the navy. 1t is their inter
est to be loyal, and 1 have no doubt they
are loyal. Suppose the Island were con-
quercd, what would become of them p
Whether it remained independent, (Which
is impossible,) or became an American pos.
session, they would be disbauded because
they would not be wanted. That is, upon
the supposition that they deserted their
Queen and joined the invaders. If they
did not, but were conquered, they might
embark for Spain. Thus Spain would lose
the great fountain that supplies its trr.. =,
and would be unable to pay them. There
is nothing which soldiers SO much dread as
losing their occupation, and returning to
civil life. Soldering is an idle, pleasant
life, and has its charms. Another dread
with the soldier, is the fear of his employer
losing the capacity to pay. Therefore it is
their interest to stand fast by the colors of
Spain. In Mexico and the South Ameri-
can States the army never wavers while the
chieftain's purse is full, but they desert any
chieftain when his fortune waues. In those
States any fellow who has the means to buy
the army can do as he plcascs.
How, then, is the Island to be conquered
Some may say by flibusters, aided by the
creoles. As to the creoles, although they
do desire the conquest of the Island, they
cannot assist except by money and moral
support. They are timid, and unskiIled in
the use Of arms. No military man would
rely upon them as an element in the con-
quest Of the Island. The only chance,
then, is the filibusters. But how many of
these will be necessary I give it as my
opinion that not less than fifteen thousand
men, the flower of the Southern States,
we'll equipped and appointed, can conquer
the Island. Even then there would be a
disproportion Of nearly three to one discip-
lined soldiers against undisciplined. Any
military man knows that discipline makes
one soldier equal to three. The filibusters
would have no time to drill and discipline
their men. 1t could not be done in the
United States. They would then be pitched
at once into battle against disciplined vefer-
ans, the soldiers Of the Catalan mountains,
who have fought for years in the civil wars
of Spain. To counterbalance this fearful
odds, the flbusters would have nothing but
Southern chivalry, stimulated by the des-