The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-02-07
Sale Of Cuba-Debate in the Spanish
Cortes.

Sale Of Cuba-Debate in the Spanish
Cortes.
We Copy the following from the Bos-
ton Post of Jonuary %:
ga most important discussion took
place in the session of the late Spanish
Constituent Cor ties of the 18th of De-
cember last. Don Louis de Mariategui
an influential and wealthy capitalist,
representative of Sas Sebastian, made
an inquiry of the government on the
subject of the relations between the
Court of Spain and our own Govern
ment. The Minister of State answered
in a short speech of which the substance
is that the Spanish government would
never consent to the sale of Cuba. con-
sidering it as a sale of the national hon.
or. The debate was closed by the unan-
imous adoption of the proposition of Mr..
Olozoga, who moved that the represen-
tatives had heard with satisfaction the
declaration of the Minister Of State.
As this is the first time SO impor-
tant a question had been treated in the
Spanish,Cortes, we deem it interesting to
translate for our readers the speech of
Mr.. Mariategui."
From a translation furnished by the
Post we make the following extracts:
Although the majority of the Rep,
resentatives in this Assembly are now
beginning their political career they
are all, l feel sure of it conversant with
the state of our colonial politics, and
know what are the dangers that threaten
our maratime possessions, especially the
island of Cuba. Those dangers come
not from the discomfort of the Cuban
population, though we must agree that
they have a right to ask for some politi-
cal as well as administrative and econ
omical reforms; those dangers grow
from the existence elsewhere of an am
bilious democracy, proud of its absolute
sovereignty. A democracy, when it
has attained such a hight, is essentially
tyrannical, imagining that there can be
no obstacles to the accomplishment of
its ambitious schemes.
81 cannot accuse, as being the cause
of the existence of those tendencies, tie
immortal Washington aud his illustrions
companions, the founders of the great
est OF Republics. Neither do I accuse
their worthy successors. 1 only accuse
that European democracy, which con-
cious that its hour has not yet come, nor
perhaps will ever come, in this CONT
nent, seek, like Kossuth, a refuge there,
and throwing away the legacy of the
great Washington, breaches only war
and devastation.
What were the elements which en-
tered in the organization of those expe-
ditions which In 1850 and Isl left the
American shores to invade the island of
Cuba? Only fllibusters and other
similar characters, led by an unfortunate
Spanish General, who, abusing the con-
fidence of his superiors, vas honored
with a commission in Cuba, and after
ward dishonored himself and the Span
ish uniform. These expeditions have,
nevertheless, had a most important re-
sult-that of showing the elements of
resistance we have in Cuba, and impress
ing the conviction that it cannot be con-
quered so easily as were the Mexican
territories. The punishment which fol-
lowed those expeditions was indeed ter
rible, though not unjust and the en-
ergy of the Captain General Concha pre-
served unimpaired our rich Cuban m
pire, rendering, at the same time, more
easy for his successor the defence of the
island.
But now I ask, have those dangers
disappeared Ga the contrary gentle
men, perhaps they are now nearer than
before. The States in the South of the
Union, and also those in the North, COW
ct the annexation of Cuba, each for diff
ferent purposes, and they take up every
subject which is likely to occasion any
misunderstanding between our own and
the American Governments. The ques-
ton of the Black Warrior claims is pres
ent to you minds, and affords a SUI
fcient proof of the truth of these asser-
tions."
After giving a Spanish version of the
Black Warrior matter, the orator con-
tinued
t" In respect to the interests of foreign
governments in this question, | must ac-
knowledge with pleasure the position
assumed by the Emperor Of the French
when, last spring, he sent one of his adj
mirals to cooperate with our W naval
forces in repelling any attacks upon Gu
ba; though 1 know perfectly we'll that
we were then far from being in danger
of losing that colony. I am, besides,
firmly convinced that France will never
be able to induce England to declare
war against the United States, neither
during the contest in the East, nor af
ter the termination of the present war.
England has lost all prestige in America
since the battle of New Orleans, when
| General jackson said; "For you, in
dustrial nations, we need neither power
nor bullets /; commerce is enough
Some time afterward the question of
Texas and Mexico, and a good many
others, came to confirm that truth.
But if the United States possess
strong means of injuring a commercial
nation, we also, possess the same, and
to Coruna, Ferrol, Parages, Santandor,
the Philippine Islands, &c., must we
look for the elements of the defense of
Cnba."
UNNED STATES JUDIcIARY.--The SEN
ate (says the New York Evening POST
is now discussing o proposition for re-
leasing Judges of the Supreme Court
from circuit duties, as well as the re-
quirement of two terms at Washington