Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-06-26
From the Journal of Commerce
Mr. Buchanan and the Ostend Con-


to law, and the fomenters of civil war in
Kansas, call upon the Democratic press oi
ihe country to vindicate the claim IL asserts
behalf Of Mr. Buchanan to conservatism
] by reconeiling that assumption with his par
ticipation in the American Diplomatic Confer
ence at Ostend and AK La Chapelle, and
with his adoption and Endorsement
jointly with the Ministers of the United
States to France and Spain, of the views and
recommendations addressed by the three AM
bassadors to the Department of State, on the
18th Of October, 1854, in the letter common
ly known as the Ostend Manifesto. The
circumstance that the organs of the various
factions which constitute the opposition 10
Democratic predominanee, meet the norqi-
nation of Mr.. Buchaaaa-witls no other OBJ
lection impugning his qualifications for the
Presidential trust cannot fail to confirm the
popular belief in the Justice and wisdom of
the judgment that governed the Convention,
in selecting statesman so unassailable In the
record of his political life, and so little OBJ
uoxious to personal censure and distrust as
the candidate OF the great national party of
the Union for the highest dignity in the Re-
public. For we shall proceed to show, that
an erroneous impression exists as to the pur-
port of the AK La Chapelle letter aud that
| the policy therein declared by Mr.. Buchan-
an and his associates, is identical with that
which has uniformly been regarded and
ayowed as the policy of the United States
in respect to the Island of Cuba. The Con-
ference at Ostend had its origin in the recon-
mendation of Gov. Marcy, who Justly con
ceived that the mission with which Mr.. Soule
was charged at the Court of Spain, might
excite the jealousy of other European pow
ers, and that it was in. portant for the pupose
of facilitating the negotiations there to be
conducted, the explanations should be made
to the governments of England and France,
of the objects and purposes of the United
States in any movement that events might
render necessary, having in view the ulti-
mate purchase or acquisition by this govern
ment Of the Spanish Island OF Cuba.
The object of the consultation suggested
by Mr. Marcy was, as stated ina letter TO Mr..
SoLle, to bring the common wisdom and
knowledge of the three Ministers to bear
simultaneously upon the negotiations at Mad
rid. London, and Paris.D These negotiations
had not necessarily in view the transfer of
Cuba to this country though that was one
of the modes indicated, and seemingly the
most effective, of terminating the constantly.
recurring grievances upon, the commerce of
the United States, upon the honor of its
flag, and the personal rights of its citizens,
which disturbed the cordial relations of the
two countries, and infused acrimony into
their intercourse connected with the prosecu-
ton of commerce. Another expedient which
Governor Marcy regarded with favor, was
the Independence of the Island under the
Creole sovereignty. At that time, in the
sumner of 1854, apprehensions of some inn
portant change in the social and political con
dition and relations of Cuba, were generally
felt in the country. Rumors prevailed, found
ed on the then recent DEGREES and modifica-
tons of law pertaining to the seryile condi-
I riUn, that It was IN ConrcmPfasion TO establish
the domination of the Blacks in the Island !;
that the slaves were to be freed and armed,
and that an extensive Introduction Of native
/ Africans was to be resorted to as means Of
reinforcing the strength Of the dominant
sway. The execution Of such scheme was
regarded as eminently dangerous to the peace
( and safety of this country, and Alr. Soule
was instructed to ascertain whether, t was in
contemplation, and, if so, to seek TO prevent
| it from being carried out aud TO avert its
( balcful consequences to ourselves, by negoti-
ating, first, for the purchase Of. Cuba, and If
that were impracticablc, then for the inde-
pendence of the Island. 1t was not the creed
/ of territorial expansion that prompted the
| instructions which convoked the 0stend Con-
/ ference nor was that sentiment the control
/ ling one that prompted the. adoption by its
members of the recommendations embedded
| in the AK La Chappelle letter. We say the
controlling one; for it may have influenced
Mr.. Soule, who subsequently, on receiving
/ instructions from Governor Marcy to1negoti-
ate in q spirit of amity with the Spanish goy-
eminent, resented the Secretary's admonition
and resigned his post. But his colleagues in
the Conference are not to pc precluded by any
Interpretation which his fiery and impetuous
spirit may have put, either upon the design of
the government in inviting the consultation,
or upon the policy adopted at the meeting,
from the right of being judged by the tenor
/ Of the document itself. The document is too
/ long to reproduce at length; but that portion
Of it which, according to the Express, consti-
tutes sthe most material passage and which
that paper quotes after stating that the Jour
nal Of Commerce commits itself warmly to
Mr.. Buchanan's foreign and domestic policy
and complacently asking US what we think
"of his report of the doctrines Of the Ostend
Congress-" we copy entire from our cotempo-
rary 4fl3 w guago5 sii
"But if Spain, deaf to the voice of her own
/ interest, and actuated by stubborn pride aud a
false sense Of honor, should refuse to sell Cuba
to the United States then the question will arise,
what ought to be the course of the American
government under such circumstances? Self
i preservation is the first law of nature with
States as well as with individuals. All nations
have at different periods acted upon this maxim
k1tt,ourb haar1 afe he for CON,
mitting flagrant injustice as in the partition OF
Poland and other similar cases which history
records vet the principle itself, though often
abused, has always been recognized. The Uni
ted States has never acquired foot of territory
except by fair purchase. or, as in the case Of
Texas upon the free and voluntary application
of the people Of that independent State, who
desire to blend their destinies with our own
: Even our acquisitions from Mexico ex-
csption 10 the rule, although we might hav,
claimed them by the right OF conquest, in Just
war, yet we purchased them for what was ther
considered by both parties full and ample
: equivalent. Our past history fOrbids that We
should acquire the Island of Cuba without tn.
consent of Spain, unless justified by the great
, law Of self.preseryatlon. We must, in an,
l event preserve our own conscious rectitud,
and our own self-respeet. sI slas 1li arsf
; while pursuing this course, We can affoSC
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 70
, Cuba far beyond its present value, and th
have been refused, IL VIII then be time 10 con
slider the question. does Cuba, in the possession
: Of Spain, seriously endanger our internal peac'
and the existence of our cherished Union?-
Should this question be answered in the affirm
alive, then, by every law, human and divine
: we shall be justified in Wrestling il from Spain
If we possess the power. And this, upon tn
> very same principle that would Justify an indi
vidual in tearing down the burning house O
his neighbor if there were no other means o
preventing the flames from destroying his owl
- home. Under such circumstances, we ough
' neither to count the cost nor regard the odd
y which Spain might enlist against us.
5. "We forbear to enter into the question whethe
the present condition of the Island would JUS
% tify such a measure. We should, however, b
a, recreant to our duty-be unworthy OF our gal
:, liant .forefathers, ,.and Hcommit treason agains