Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-07-25
The Ostend circular.

IeteTence IS lndQe III one Vi tuo IeSOlu-
tious of the Republican Platform, to the
"highwayman's plea that might makes right,
embodied in the Ostend Circular" This
paper first appeared in tho public journals
in the month of March, 1855. An extract
is published below, which it becomes every
honest man to carefully read, inasmuch as
the first signer, then Minister to England, is
a prominent candidate for the Presidency of
tho United States. If elected, be is placed
at the head of Foreign Affairs. Read this
Infamous avowal of most infamous policy,
and then say if the chief signer of this
manifesto has any title to be called con-
scrvative, safe or even an honorable states
man. The gist of it is this-if Spain re-
fuses to sell Cuba wrest it from her by
force. All the records of diplomacy will be
searched in vain for anything more disgrace
full. As there are many who do not under
stand the reference to the "Ostend Circular, y
I
we quote a portion of it:
"But if Spain, deaf to the voice of her
own interest, aud actuated by stubborn
pride, and false sense of honor, should re-
| fuse to sell Cuba to the United States, then
the question will arise, what ought to be
the course of the American Government
under the circumstances? Sclf-preservation
is the first law of nature with states as well
as with individuals. All nations have at
different periods acted upon this MAXIM
although it has been made the pretext for
committing fragrant injustice, as in the par
tition of Poland, and other similar cases
which history records, yet the principle itself,
though often abused, has never been recog-
nized. The United States has never acqui-
red foot of territory except by fair pur-
chase, or, as in the case of Texas, upon the
free voluntary application of the people Of
that independent State, who desired to blend
their destinies with our own. Even our ac-
QUESTIONS from Mexico are no exception to
the rule, because, although we might have
claimed them, by the rights of conquest, in
Just war, yet we purchased them for what
was then considered by both parties full
and ample equivalent Our past history
forbids that we should acquire the Island Of
Cuba without the consent of Spain, unless
justified by the great law of self-preserva-
ton. We must, in any event, preserve our
own conscious rectitude and our own self
respect. While pursuing this course, we
can afford to disregard the censures Of the
world, to which we have been so often and
so unjustly exposed. After we shall have
offered Spain price for Cuba far beyond
its present value, and this shall have been
refused, it will then be time to consider the
question, does Cuba in the possession OF
Spain seriously endanger our internal peace
and the existence of our cherished Union
Should this question be dnsWered an the Gf-
tfrnatiue, then By every law human and
dliipine, zoe shall Be justified in WRES7-
ING 1T FROM SPAIN if ace possess
| the power. And this upon the very same
principle that would justify an individual in
tearing down the burning house of his
neighbor if there were no other means Of
preventing the flames from destroying his
own home. Under such circumstances, we
ought neither to count the cost nor regard
the odds which Spain might enlist against
US. We forbear tn enter into the question
whether the present condition of the island
would Justify such measure. We should,
however, be recreant To our duty-be I'M
worthy of our gallant fnrefathers, and COM
nit base treason against our posterity, should
We permit Cuba to be Africanized, and
become second ST. Domingo, with all it
attendant horrors to the white race, and suf
fer the flames to exteni to our neighboring
shores, seriously to endanger, or actually to
consume the fair fabric of our Union. We
fear that course and current events are rap,
idly tending toward such catastrophe.
JAMES BUCHANAN,
JOHN Y. Mason,
PIERRE SoULE.
Aix-La-C Chapelle, Oct. Is, 1854"