Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-09-19
JAMES BUCHANAN
Mr.. Buchanan's Political Record.
THE osTEND CIRCULAR

/ AK LA CHAPELLE, Oct. 18th, 1854.
| Sr:-The undersigned, in compliance
with the wish expressed by the President in
the several confidential dispatches you have
addressed to US, respectively, to that effect,
have met in conference, first at Ostcnd, in
Belgium, on the 9th, 10Th and 18th instant,
and then at AK la Ghappelle, in Prussia, on
the days next following. up to the date
hereof.
There has been full and unreserveI
interchange OF views and sentiments between
US, which, we are most happy to inform you,
has resulted in cordial coincidence of
opinion on the grave and important subjects
submitted to our consideration.
! We have arrived at the conclusion, and
are thoroughly convinced, that an immediate
and earnest effort ought to be made by the
Government Of the United States to pur-
| chase Cuba from Spain at any price for
which it can be obtained, not exceeding the
sum Of 5
THE price here left in blank, as appears
from the argument which follows, was Sl20-
900, 600. The Circular then goes into an
argument to show that Spain would be bene-
fitted by the purchase at that price, and
then concludes as follows:l
Bu. if Spain, dead to tho voice of her
own interest, and actuated by stubborn
pride and false sense of honor, should re-
fuse to sell Cuba to the United States, then
the question viii as;se --h.t .~elt.. l. .i.v
course of the American Government under
such circumstances.
| Self-prcservation is the first law of ma
ture, with States as we'll as with individu-
ais. All nations have, at different periods,
acted upon this maxim. Although it has
been made the pretext for committing fla
grant injustice, as in the partition of Po-
land, and other similar cases which history
records, yet the principle itself, though Of
ten abused, has always been recognized.
The United States have never acquired
a 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 desired
to blend their destinies with onr own.
Even onr acquisitions from Mexico are
no exception to this rrle, because, although
we might have claimed them by the right of
conquest in a 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 tho Island of Cuba without the
consent of Spain, unless justified by the
great law of self-preservation. We must
in any event, preserve our own conscious
rectitude and our own self-respect.
Whilst pursuing this course, we can afford
: to disregard the censure of the world, sc
which we have been SO often and so unjust
ly exposed.
After We shall have offered Spain price
, for Cuba far beyond its present value, and
this shall have been refused, il will then be
time to consider the question. Does Cuba
in the possession Of Spain, seriously endang
or our internal peace and the existence o
our cherished Unioni
Should this question be answered in tn
, affirmative, then, by every law, human an
| divine, we shall be justified in wrestling
. from Spain if We possess the power, aD'
: this upon the very same principle that woul
/ Justify an individual in tearing down th
!. burning house of bis neighbor, if ther
. were no other means of preventing tn
flames from destroying bis own home.
el Uudcr such CIRCUMSTANCES, We ought neitf
: or 10 count the cost nor regard tho odd
; which Spain might enlist against Us. W
i forbear TO sutsr into the question, vheth'
! the present condition Of tho island Uoul
= Justify such measure. We should, hos
= ever. bo reoreant 10 our duty, bs unForst
Of our gallant forofathers, and commit baa
treason against our posterity, ahould We re
nit Cuba to bc Africaniaed and become
svI second ST. Domingo, With all its sttenda
n horrors to the white race, and sufer 9
aancs 70 extend 70 our can neignDor'l
ct shores, seriously to endanger or actually
ur consume the fair fabric Of oar Union .
b-I fThe rest Of the circular Is devoted
IL, enumsraaing Spanish aoatrases, 70.