Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-08-08
MIR. Buchanan on Cuba.

Extracts from MIR. Buchanans speech in the House
of Representatives, in 1926, on the Panama mission
proposed by Mr.. Adams:
"The vast Importance of the islard 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 agricultural and navigating
interests Of the country. Its Importance has been
rapidly increasing 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 manu-
facture of the United States exported annually to
that island, exceeds three millions and half of
dollars. Of this amount more than the one third
consists of two articles-of pork and -four. The
chief of the other products of domestic org gin,
fish, fish Oil, spermacetlcandes, timber, beef, butter,
and cheese rice, tallow candles, and soap Our
principal imports from that island coffee, sugar,
and moasses, which may almost be considered neCes-
saries Of life, The hole amount of our exports to
it, foreign and domestic is nearly six millions, and
our imports nearly eight millions of dollars. The
articles which constitute the medium of this COM
merce are both bulky and ponderous, and their trans
pora ion employs large portion of foreign ton
mage. More than 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 proportion of the tonnage employed in
our export trade sailed for that island. It's COM
merce is at present more valuable to the United States
than all the southern republics united. How, then,
|
shall be invaded by Colombia and Mexico, and pass
under their dominion Ought we not 10 avert its
impending fate if possible
"Important the island may be TO US in a COM
merclal, it is still more important in political view
From its position it commands the entrance to the
Gulf 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, with small naval force, could hermeti-
| V no of fho fbo
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
A large portion of the people of the State, one of
whose entatives am, find their way to mark ct
by the Mississippi. For this reason feel particu.
larry interested in this part of the subject. The
great law of self-preservaon, which is equally bind
! ing on individuals and nations, commands u.s. if we
cannot obtain possession of this island ourselves not
to suffer it 10 pass from Spain under whose dominion
1t will be harmless, and yet our government have
never even protested against it's invasion by Mexico
and Colombia
There is still another view OF the subject in rela-
ton to this island which demands particular aten-
| ton. Let US tor 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 uni
versal emancipation Have they not always con
quered by proclaiming liberty 10 the slave In the
present condition of this island what shall be the
probable consequence A servile war, which in
every age have been the most barbarous and desruc
tive and which spares neither age nor SEX Re.
venge' urged on by cruelty and ignorance, would
desoiate the land The dreadful scenes of St. Do
mngo would again be presented to our view, and
would again be acted almost within sight of our own
: shores. Cuba would be vast magazine in the vi
cinty of the Southern States, whose explosion would
be dangerous to their tranquility and peace Is
there any man in this Union who could for one mo.
indulge the horrid idea of abolishing slavery bp
the massacre of the high-minded and chivarous race
of men in the South trust there is not one For
my own part would, without hesitation, buckle or
my knapsack and march in company with my FRIEND
from Massachusetts, (N1r. Everett) in defence o.
their causen