Washington sentinel., 1855-03-08
TIE osrEND coNFERENCE.

The Washington correspondent of the New
York Times, under date of the 9th instant,
communicates to that journal the following
special dispatch, containing a summary of
important documents laid before Congress to-
wards the close of its last session, in relation
to the Ostend Conference. II is accompanied
by the Joint letters Of Messrs Buchanan,
Mason, and Soule--al Of which we place be-
| fore our readers:
| The Soule correspondence will make an oc.
tayo volume. 1t has gone back to the State
| Department
| The first letter is from Mr.. Marcy to Mr..
Soue, dated July %, 1853. After showing
| that Cuba, from its vast agricultural resources
and wealth, its fine climate, &c, is vastly su.
perior to any other West India island, and
showing its Importance to the United States,
from the proximity to our coasts; that it is
very difficult for Spain to maintain its posses
sion Of it, Mr.. Marcy goes on to say what is
our policy in regard to it, and for that purpose
| quotes the instructions given to our ministers
| in France and Great Britain in regard to the
interference Of those two Powers in Cuban
affairs. He deprecates protection by any Eu-
ropean power to Cuba to enable Spain to main
tain her rule over it. In case of collision with
| the United States such protecting power would
! be in as good condition to make use of that
island to annoy us, as it would be if it were in
actual possession. He alludes to British in
| protection means. While Spain remains the
Sovereign of Cuba, she can depend upon our
maintaining our duty as q neutral nation to-
wards her. Mr.. Marcy says our neutrality
| laws are now as strong as they can be made
without unjust interference with the rights of
the citizens-that every proper effort will be
made to enforce them in case of revolution III
| Cuba. But necessarily, in such revolution,
many discontented subjects of Spain will leave
our shores to join their countrymen in the
effort to throw off the yoke of Spain. Mr..
Soule is charged to do away with the suspicion
| Of the Spanish Government that this Govern.
ment is disposed to encourage fllibuster des-
cents upon the island, by presenting our past
course upon such attempts. Mr.. Marcy alludes
| to the offer Of Mr.. Polk to purchase Cuba, but
enter into any such negotiation now. He
says there is reason to believe she is under OBJ
| legation to France and Great Britain to the
| contrary, from the fact that these powers sent
their fleets to be assistance in the Cuban dis
| turbance from the proposition for a conven-
| ton to secure the island for all time to Spain,
and to their joint protest against the views OF
Mr.. Everett 10 NJ. Sartiges, in December l8,
/ 1882
Mr. Marcy thinks proposition to purchase
would be attended with injurious consequences
and Mr.. Soule is instructed to ascertain what
arrangements have been made with Great Br
tain and France in regard to sustaining the do
minion Of Spain. If either Of them have urged
a change in regard to slavery in the island, Mr.
| Marcy thinks Spain may be induced to see that
she cannot long hold Cuba, aud may be dis
posed to make it independent of her retaining
some commercial advantages, &c. IfSpain
would do this, the United States would have
| no further anxiety in regard TO European. DOM
| ination, and would probably contribute some
| thing more substantial than good will toward
such an end. If Cuba is to remain in posses
sion of Spain, we have q right TO demand ex-
emption from the annoyance which the exer.
else Of her arbitrary power 10 repress disturb
ances gives our flag. We viii not submit to
| detention and search Of our vessels. Our de-
| mands for wrongs inflicted upon our citizens
have not been attended to- or have been met
| by unsatisfactory explanations. They must be
remedied. The Captain General ought to have
| power to accord redress as well as to infict in
| jury. We want also Commercial Treaty with
| Spain, that the export dutios only in her colo
| nes may be done away with, that we may have
| the same advantages in trade we accord to her.
we being prohibited by law from assessing ex.
| port duties.
| The second letter is from Mr. Marcy to Mr..
| Buchanan, July 2, 1858, in which he com.
4 plains of the course Of Great Britain in keep
| ing large fleets on the Cuban coasls to watch
1 us.
| When country by her despotsm goads her
| people to revolution, she has no better right to
invoke foreign aid to suppress it than the revo-
ntionists have in support Of their cause. We
I will not quietly submit to the importation of
free Africans into Cuba with the object of max
ing that island worthless to us when Spain
/ finds she can no longer hold it; and Great
Britain and France must be made aware Of
this. Mr.. Buchanan, il he finds Great Britain
has any arrangement with Spain detrimental
to our interests in regard to Cuba, must use
his best endeayors to induce her to abandon
them.
Mr.. Marcy to Mr. Soue, March IL, 1854, |
recounts the Black Warrior outrage in ndg. |
| nant terms insructs Mr.. Soule TO demand re. |
dress, but recommends no specific means to |
get it.
March 18th, 1864, same to same. in regard |
TO Black Warrior, says the country will not |
brook any delay in the settlement of that out |
rage. Demands three hundred thousand dol |
lars indemnity TO owners, and does not expect |
Mr.. Soule to discuss that matter much with the |
Spanish government. If Spain seeks to delay |
or evade the payment it will be considered an |
aggravation Of the wrong. Spain must at once |
pay and disclaim the action of her officers in |
Cuba, or assume the responsibility OF such nc
ton and refuse our claim.
Here follows the printed Black Warrior |
documents, sent to the House March Is, |
1854.
Mr.. Marcy to Mr.. Soule, April 3, 1854, fears
that a project is on foot to introduce new |
system of agricultural labor into Cuba, and the
President in consequence deems il proper to
give Mr.. Soule full powers to negotiate for the !
purchase OF Cuba. He thinks the difficulties
in regard 10 the purchase may have been par.
tally removed by the late change in the Span.
ish governmt Mt. II not disposed to sell, still
be thinks for the quid pro quo he would con-
sent to the Independence Of the Island, and