Washington sentinel., 1856-07-31

battle in our behalf. 1t would be indeed sad
it, in such contest, the conservative strength
of the country should not be united; it would
be as strange as sad If, in such u contest,
Southern men should not be found battling
shoulder to shoulder for the maintenance CT
their own constitutional rights.
In thus accomplishing what believe to be
duty, shall be inexpressibly gratified if
shall find myself sustained by the approval of
nv fellow Wings, who have refused to abandon
either the party or the principles in support
of which we have 80 long and so faithfully
united, and which we shall remain at perfect
liberty to reorganize as soon as our common
efforts shall have succeeded in averting the
perils that now threaten our beloved country.
THOMAS G. PRATT.
pW- We republish the following, for the
purpose of correcting an error which passed
our notice. The word certain" in the third
paragraph should have read Cuban"
LIFE OF JAMES BUCHANAN, BY r.. G..
Horton.
This interesting and valuable work, by R. g.
Horton, has been kindly sent US by Franck
Taylor. We cordially commend it TO the public
AS political work at the present crises, it is
very valuable, but it would be an acquisition
to any gentleman's library as it embraces incl
dents and speeches. made by the greatest
statesman of our country, in the most interest
ing period of our history. We copy from the
work the following:
Extract from Mr.. Buchanan's speech upon the
Panama Mission
How strikingly consistent with Mr.. BUcH-
ANAN's sentiments upon the Cuban question
as set forth in the Ostend manifesto Hear
him thirty one years ago:
"The vast Importance Of the Island Of Cuba
to the people of the United States, may not be
generally known. The commerce of this island
is of immense value, particularly to the agri-
cultural and navigating interests of the coun.
try. Its Importance has been rapidly increas-
ing for number of years. To the middle, or
grain-growing States, this commerce is almost
indispensable. The aggregate value Of goods,
wares, merchandise, the growth, produce, and
manufacture of the United States exported
annually to that island, now exceeds three
millions and q half of dollars. Of this amount,
more than the onethird consists of two articles,
Of pork and -four. The chief of the other pro-
ducts of domestic origin, are fish, fsh-oil,
spermaceti-candles, timber, beef, butter and
cheese, rice, tallow-candles and soap. Our
principal imports from that island are coffee,
sugar, and molasses, articles which may almost
be considered necessaries of life. The whole
amount of our exports to it, foreign and do
mestic, is nearly six millions, and our imports
nearly eight millions of dollars. The articles
which constitute the medium of this commerce,
are both bulky and ponderous, and their trans
portation employs large portion of our for
eign tonnage. More than one-seventh of the
whole tonnage engaged in foreign trade, which
entered the ports of the United States during
the year ending the last day of September,
1924, came from Cuba and but little less than
that portion Of the tonnage employed in our
export trade sailed for that island. Its CON-
merce is at present more valuable to the Uni
ted States than that Of all the Southern Re
publcs united. How, then, can the American
people even agree that this island shall be in
vaded by Colombia and Mexico, and pass under
their duminionl Ought we not to avert its
impending fate, if possible2
/" Important as the island may be to us in
commercial, it is still more important in po-
ltical view From its position it commands
the entrance to the Gulf both of Mexico and
Florida. The report Of our Committee Of
Foreign Relations truly says, that the Moro
may be regarded as fortress at the mouth Of
the Mississippi Any power in possession Of
this island even with small naval force, could
Theoretically seal the mouth of the Mississippi.
Thus the vast agricultural productions of that
valley, which is drained by the father of
rivers, might be deprived Of the channel which
nature intended for their passage. large
portion of the people of the State, one Of
whose representatives / am, find their way to
market by the Mississippi For this reason
feel particularly interested in this part Of the
subject. The great law Of selfpreservation,
which is equally binding on individuals and
nations, commands us, if we cannot obtain
possession of this island ourselves, not to suffer
it to pass from Spain, under whose dominion it
will be harmless, and yet our Government
have never even protested against its invasion
by Mexico and Colombia.
/ "Thcre is still another view Of the subject
in relation to this island, which demands par
ticular attention. Let us for moment look at
the spectacle which it will probably present in
case Mexico and Colombia should attempt to
revolutionize it. Have they not always marched
under the standard of universal emancipation
Have they not always conquered by proclaim
ing liberty to the slave? In the present condi-
ton Of this island, what shall be the probable
consequence A servile war, which in every
age has been the most barbarous and destruc
tive, and which spares neither age nor sex.
Revenge, urged on by cruelty and ignorance,
would desolate the land. The dreadful scenes
Of St. Domingo would again be presented to our
view, and would again be acted almost within
sight Of our own shores. Cuba would be q
vast magazine in the vicinity Of the Southern
States, whose explosion would be dangerous to
their tranquility and peace Is their any man
in this Union who could for one moment in
dulge the horrid idea Of abolishing slavery by
the massacre Of the highminded and chivalrous
race Of men in the South? l trust there is
not one. For my own part, would without
hesitation, buckle on my knapsack, and march
in company with my friend from Massachu-
setts (Mr. Everett) in defence of their cause"
r ATER YEARS, by the Author OF . the
lI Old House by the RIVER
Mr.. Rutherford's Children, second volume.