The true Democrat., 1856-08-12
The OStPnd ENuEnreuce.


 the official report of the Ostend couference in extenso, but being unable to lay our hands on It, we give the following extracts, copied from an article III the Washington Union. We be- Heve these extracts embrace all the salient points now Tn discussion between the politicians. ED. MORNING BULLETIN On the importance to our government of the acquisition of Cuba the Ostend document holds this language:
 < It ln"3C be clear to everv relecting mind that from the peculiarity of its geographical position and the considerations attendant on it.. Cuba is as necessary to the North American re- public as any of its present members, and that 1t belongs naturally to that great family of States ot which the Union IS the providential nur- sery
 From its locality it commands the mouth ot the Mississippi and the immense and annu- ally increasing trade which must seek this ave nue to the ocean.
 " Ol the numerous nayigibt streams, mca- suIlng an aggregate course of some thirty thou sand miles, which disembogue themselves throush this magnificent river into the Gulf ot Mexico, the increase of the population, with n the last ten years, amounts to more Chan that of the entire Union at the time Louisiana was annexed to it,
  ducts of this entire population, the highway of their direct intercourse with the Atlantic an Pacific States ca4 never b. secure, but mast ever be endangered whilst Cuba is depenaeu- cy ot q distant power. in whose possession it has proved to be a source of constant auLovance and embarrassment to their interest
 Indeed, the Union can never cniov repnse, uor possess reliable security, as long as Cuba is not embraced within is boundaries
 "l'a immediate acquisition by our govern ment is of paramount importance, and We can not doubt Jut-hat its l cousummation doyout. ly wished fag by its inhabitants.
 The intercourse which it's proximity to our coast bo5ets and encourages between them and the citizens of the Unitet States has, in the progress of time, SD united their intercourse and blended their fortunes, that they low look upon each other as fl they were one peo ,ple and had bat oue destiny.
 Considerations exist which render delay ill the acquisition of tha island eXcee lingly dan- gerous to the United States
 The system of immigration and labor and the tyranny ard oppression which characterize its immeiiAte rulers, threaten an instruction at every moment, which may result in direfu Consequences to the American people.
 Cuba has thus become to Us an unceasin ( daughter, and d permanent cause of anxiety and alarm.
 ] After arguing to show that Splin woull consult her own interests by agreeing to sell Cuba to tho United S.ates the document proceeds to discuss the question, in the alter native of her refusing to sell, as folows:
 Bat if Spain, deaf to the voice of her own interests, and actuatel by stubborn pr c and d false ser se of honor, should refuse to sell Cuba to the Unitel States, then the question will arise what ought to be the course of the Ame- rican government under such circumstances
 Selt-preservAtiol is the first law of nature, with States as well as individuals All nation, have at different periods acted upon this max i'm. Although 1t has been the pretext for com hitting fragrant injustice, as in the partition of Poland, and other similar cases which history records, yet the principle itself, though often abused has always been recognized
 Our past history forbid that we should ac- qure the Island of Cuba without the consent of Spain, unless JusafeI by Me great la0 of se!f preservation. We must, in any event, preserve our own conscious recGtude and our self-re- spect
 "Afer 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 posses. sion of Spain seriously endanger our internal peace and the existence of our cherished Union?
 "Should this question be answeredin the af- irmative, then by every law, human and divine, we shall be justified in wrestling it from Spain if we possess the power-and this upon the very same principle that would justify an indi- vidual in tearing down the burning house of his neighbor if there were no other means to prevent the flames from destroying his own house.
 Under such circumstances, we ought neither to count the cost nor regard the odds which Spain might enlist against us. We forbear to enter into the question whether the present con- dition of the island would justify such a mea- Suren