The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-08
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
Aastser Iusta lnent Of the Documents.
Mr.. MARCTS INSTRUCTIONS TO Mr.. sOULE.
Oficial History of the Black Warrior
Difficulty.
MIR. sOTLE,s DIPLOMACY In MADRID,
&c., &c, 30.
Mr.. aARoY's INSTRUCTIONS TO MIR. soULE.


Mr.. AARCY's INSTRUCTIONS TO MIR. soULE.
CSo.2l IEP.RrMHsr OF STATE
WASHINGTON, July 20, 1858. !
sR-Ihere circumstances in the affairs of Spain
having connection with ,hs country which give unusual
Importance at this time to the mission to that govern
ment. The proximity of her remaining possessions in
bis hemisphere-the islands Of Cuos and Porto Rcoto
he United States the present condition of the former,
and the Of contemplated changes in its internal
utars, complcate relations with Spain The island
Cuba on account OF its magnitude, situation, fine
Innate AND rich PROD uetion'sr superior in all respects
the West India sroup-lsa very desirable pos
ession TO Spain, and, Tor Tho same reasons, very dill
cult for her TO retain in ITS present state OF dependence
The opinion generally prevails among the Euro
pean nations that the spanish dominion II is in-
secure This clearly evinced by the alacrty with
which both England and France, on occasion Of the
late Disturbances in Cuba volunteered their aid to
sustain the Spanish rule IT, and their recent
prop6eiusn TO the United states FOR trPartte con
venton 10 guarantee ts possession IL SPAIN Without
rsseGial change TO rer poicv-such change she
viii most likely be uD wiling 10 waae-she cannot, 1t /,
confidently believed long sustain, unaied her present
connection with that island. What will b, It's destiny
after II sksn cease TO be dependency Of Spain, is
question with which Of the prin.ipal Pc sers Of
Europe have seen fit 10 concern them elves and in
which the United States have Geep aud direct interest
had occasion recently in preparing instructions for
our Minister TO London, 70 present the views of the
President in relation to the interference Of Great Britain
as wen az France; IN Cuban affairs. To
ground, herewith furnish you with ao extract from
those instructions.
regard to Cuba, in any contingency calling for in
terposton will depsni in great degree upoa the pecu
liar circumstances OF the case, and cannot therefore,
now be presented with m nch precision beyond what
indicated In the instructions before referred to- No
thing VIII be done on our part to disturb its present
connection with Span unless the character of that
necton should he changed to affect our present
or prospective security.
While the United States would resist at s7ery hazard
the trauerence Of Cuba to any Eropean nation they
would exceedingly regret TO Spain resorng to any
Power fer assisaace TO uphold her rule it Such
~ nm nil ,pa off ,puao tI,a
eu&aiy with tie character Of PROTECTOR and give it
prett 20 iotert.rs in affairs, and also generally
in taote Of the North American continent. In case
OF collision With the United Sta,es, such protecting
Power -oEif be in eonnitcn llske nearly the same
the aSsoTte pSspsssor ., a. We have recsn learned
in tire instance OF Central America What
mssns, aud 70 what uses it may be devoted.
Thee is MT very great difference between the pro-
tectcf sga the possesror Of territory, and when
possessor weak and the protector strong the dsnc
ton we aplr' bend, would in effect be aunhlsted. The
one resty furnishes the pretext for interfering
IN the Concerns Of negabor,ng uations the other
While SPAN remains in fact as well as in name the
sovereign OF Cuba she depend npon main aiming
our duty ass neutral nation towards her, however diff
cult IL may be.
In this respect the future will be the past has been
She ia fully Of the efforts this government has
made on late occasions to preserve neutral relations
with her In these Efforts has the indubit
proof of our determination to respect her rights aud
cannot expect ask ether our
past course Of conduct mas gwen cf friendship and
Of intention to do everything which depsnds up On
this government TO strengthen and improve It.
those OF any other country they could not be made
more restrictive without violating the const tona
rights OF eur citizens In the archives Of tho legation
there IL copy OF these laws 70 which you readily
refer, should il become necessary to show that the
legislative branch OF our government has been
provide means OF preserving our peaceful relations
with other nations he -cutivs has been prompt
and energetic to them for that purpoe coun-
try open to the RECEIPT OF tue citizens and subjects
Of all nations Millions have reoounced their natural
allegiance and selected the United states for their home
Those who are born here, as we'll as those who have
nj cad
under obligations to remain among US.
Our government oar lay Restraints upon their emf
grafton If they have respected laws while under its
Jurisdiction II cannot make iDquisiton into the
tives which induce them to withdraw from country
nor restrain them Tie ground OF suspicion that they
not while OF our Jurisdiction respect the tights
OF these nations which are at peace with the United
States.
Wherever oppression BIAS provoked revolt the sufferers
are ever TIE objects OF mpatby Ardent anil enthusi
Spain over la be 30 severe as to excite revolutionary
moveper's IN that island, she will undoubtedly 6n1
volunteer in the rsnts OF the Cubens from
tries and owrg to very obvious from the
SHIFTED States PROBABLY than from any other; but II would
be unjust TO impute to this and the other governments
10 which these vount. formerly belonged unfend
y disposition towards her, a desire to aid laades-
timely In the attempt to wrest that island from her
There is believe that Spain herself we'll as
other European goysrnments suspects that the people
Of the Uuted States DESTROYS OF d-taching Cuba
from its present transatlantic dependence, regardless
of the rights Of SPAIN with view OF snnexuy TO this
Union; and that our government disposed TO con-
nivs at the participation citizens the past dis
OF similar Our defence against such
unfourdsd suspicion and the only one which self
respect allows US to maze, is an appeal to past
In tie vws which you may present in regard to
Cuba you viii act with reference to this suspicion and
do what TO alay IT. and to inspire Just conf
dence n our fair intentions in this well in other
respects.
President Polk instructed to ascertain IL spain
disposed 10 transfer Cuba TO the United States for
liberal pecunisry consideration do not understand,
n hat ipaf p1Iir nf
Vernmept TO acquire that island unless its Inhabitants
very generally disposed to the transfer
Under certain conditions the United States might be
willing to purchase it, but s scarcely expected that
you win and Srao-should you attempt 70 ascertain
her views uon the subeS-at all inclined to enter into
There Is reason TO believe that she Is under obligations
TO Great Britain and France not to transfer this island to
the United States. Were there nothing else to justify
this belief but the promptness with which those two
powers sent their naval forces to her aid 10 the late Gu
ban lsubsncesthe proposition for tripartite con
yepton 20 guarantee Cuba to Span-and, what Is
sgnifca MT than either oil the above facts the sort Of
Joint protest by England France to which advered
in my instructions 10 Nr Buchanan against some OF
the views presented in Mr. Everets letter OF the I'd Of
December last to Mr.. sartses, the French Minister
would alone be satisfactory proof Of such an arrange
ment. Independent Of any embarrassment of ths ma
ture there many other reasons for believing that
Spain will pertnacously hold to Cuba, and that the
separaton, whenever 1t takes place viii be the work OF
violence.
In the present aspect Of the case the President does
deem proper TO authorize to make auy propo
stion for the purchase OF that island There
hope, as he leves that such proposition would be
favoraby received. and the o,r OF II might and proba
bly, would be attended with injurious effects without
making to the Spanish authorities upon this
subject you may be aols to get information that may
be important in shaping our future policy in regard to
Cuba.
1t very desirable for this government to know aud
your position may enable you to ascertain, what
rangemenh have been made With Great Britain and
France with regard TO sustaining the present dominion
OF Spain Cube and how far hey either Of them
urging change in the internal condition of the
island particularly In regard to the slaves there
to the present system OF labor.
The views Of the President presented explicitly
rs they well be AZ this tins 10 the extract which sc
companies these instructions to what would DO the
policy Of this government In certain contingencies there
alluded TO- 1t may be that you will Ind spain disposed
TO take wise forecast OF the future and thus Anticipate
an inevitable event She cannot but that dis
tant period Cubs will r-ease itself be released fro
its prcssnt colonial subsection. In way another
these ties viii be severed In view OF the strong proba