Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-15
MIR. BUCHANAN AND THE OSTEND CON
FERENCE


Mr.. Buchanan's participation in the Ostend Con.
ference has provoked 80 much indignant Remuneration
from the opposition press that person not familiar
with his character would infer that he had deliberate
y proposed to conduct the foreign policy Of the gov
ernmeut on the principles Of a highwaymau Not
csntent with general defamation bis opponent. en-
poy silly pun to give point to their accusation;
and when they revIle the Democracy as the Bvcha-
n'e' party they intend TO impeach the morality of the
Ostend Manifesto.
1t is essential to just appreciation of the policy
recommended by the authors OF the Os;snd Report,
that we should consider the circumstances which led
to the Conference.
AT that period tho public MUD of this country was
possessed with an apprehension Of some great rovo-
luton in the political relations and social coalition
| OF Cuba. This was 70 mere vague and groundless
fear, but clearly defined and weli-supported con.
victon. Great Britain end France had excited sus-
pclon OF some sinister purpose by their warke de.
| monst:aons in The vicinity of Havana, ard their
proposal to guarantee the possession of CUBA to Spain
The United States refused to become party 10 the
Tripnrtlie Convention, and suspecting some scheme
nmlca To their interests, the attention of cur gov.
ernment especially directed to the movements Of
the European Powers in the waters of tho West In
dies. Then revealed the famous Afr,cnID sation
conspiracy which was plot to lberate The slaves Of
Cuba, AMI to convert the island into 81 aQvai.ced
| post of menace and ggrzssor upon the South. The
acquisition OF Cube had ueeu tbs TRADITIONAL policy of
the United States frora very early period of their
national hilto.y. Incessant disputes and troubles
arising from the msgovernmem Of the island
! the desire of its inhabitants ;,r association with
the States of this consrdcracw and the dan
ger lest il should be wrested from the dGga!i.iou
| of Spain by some maritime Power. multiplied the
inducements to lie eune.hiion. When, at last, il be-
came manifest ha; American commerce in the Gulf
! Of Mexico could rot bs secure as long Caba was
subject to Spain and especially when the .AjricGn'Va
| ton plot was discovered and exposed, the United
States inpeIleI 10 decicsive policy oi self
preservation. The government would have been
false to its mos; imperative duty, if it had neglected
to provide against so alarming contingency.
| II was with the view o coun:eraeling the cunning
diplomacy of the European Cabinets, and OF protect
ing American interests from the irrepnrsbe iiury
Threatened IN :he .chens of Aircauzing Caba that
tn. President proposed consultation of leading
Representatives abroad. The idea of the "Osteud
Conference" suggested by the necessities o self
defence.
| The action OF the Conference was iegitimgtey and
properly responsive to The circunst:a, which call
ed il into existence. Tie yro3.n which the ds:lu
guishcd r.ente:a o TIE Conference had 10 solve was
simply this what policy shall the United States
ADOPT, in order put end to their difficulties "i'h
Spain aud to avert the c.lalnes *. which they are
! threatened By the ;;.r-"'-0''on conspiracy! As
there we "rn,ng aggressive in the origin and design
, of the O,lrud Cur-r"u'e, there WAS m''.i."- Vi
violence o. rapscty in he report d 's deJrr"t'"is
The inlowim. extract f2sents the views 9" the ne'I''
hers Of The Conference and illustrates the spirit 9!
their policy:
Extrem. oppression il Is universally adut'ed
iustifes any neulle III erd-svor'ng To rciepo ih"'
selves fIuru tue yoke OF ;h"ir or:':"ssors Ire SUI
icrn.s which th corrupt. arbitrary and unTrIii ms
local administrator necessarily "lralI- upon ne ~
hnbitgu,S Oi CUBA cannot !hl 10 stimulate ana ktci
ulivo ,IiHt spirit -: resistance hnd revolution htirs
Snaln which has of lne ycars herm r" often maui
| Tested. ~ this cnriIno "t affairs /: i VAN ,t ''
,.r, ria, Tia .v:npathrs Of - Ec"ric ~ :hc nlicd
Stat. viii not be warmly enlisted AZ aVos "t heI'
oppressed ncishh"rs. go
We know TIA, rls i s-i,,eu is justly inseXi'" in
his d"rr,,,!ru 10 execute the E-Giral'!y laws; bn'
-houid IN. ubars themselves rise in rcro' nSa!i-;
,h. u,,;r.s,uu winch :i,oy suffer, human power
could prevent citizens Ut the United States and lhc-
raj ui;dol .,irn OF other countries from rnsh'ng %
their assistance. Be-ids- tl- prr-ent Is an hSoi ~
venture. III which rr.'lrss ana dhFlhr sPE'' ~"""'u
in every portion ui Tie world
II * moi impro!iabr, rhrrcI0re, ,aat Cuba may be
wrc,tcd from SPAN " -Gcce'siu revolution: ana III
that event she vii lo:- both the island ami te pre-"
Which We a.e n". ,rg 10 pay idr tn price ihr
beyond what was ever .'"'t OS one Pe'F1e AZ "'''
for any prOv,IiG..
II ,nsi. also b. remarked that the settlement ct 'Gil
vrx.G question by the ccsaion Of Cuba to til" onted
S,aies would forever prevent the da;-SerUua COM
pcaiiuns between nations to wA~h II m"y otherwise
II is certain tta. should the Cubars themselves or
rap;z. sn instruction against the Spanish govern
meut and should otEer independent Eaions come Il
IN. aid OF Spain in the conteat. no human power
rnuld in our n,,uop, prevent the people and govern
men, Of the United States from taking part III such
civil war in support Of their uelghbors and friends
B,1 IF Span d,1d 10 tie race n hCr o%n interest
and origa,rdb By stubborn pr'd' "nd ialse 'cMS' o
Looo, sh0vd refuse 10 set CHb1 i0 ne Cn'tcd S'd!'%
,Lsp ,b g,,.; r,H arise rhnt oUcht 10 he ihc c0HrS
or TIE !amcricaA gOrc,Nmcm umdtr sRch cTc"n'
stancc,! .,,
States as ,r,l! as ,ndrc'iY0hs. All nations have,
different periods acted upon thi. maxim. Alihongl
il las been made the prsinse for c":ninlinS diagram
! Injustice, as in the partitioE OF Poland anu "iht
similar cases which history records. yet the prnc'
Die itself though often abused, has always been re
cognlzed. ,- ,,,, s,, .
,errorv except by fair purchase, as IN the case
Texas upon the fire. and voluntary application "i h
neoule OF that independent State, who desired Il
blend th .ir des;nies with our own
Even our acquisitions from Mexico are no eScep
tious 10 this rlI-, because, although we might have
claimed them by the right Of conquest in just war
vet we purcha-.d hem for what was then considered
Iy both parties a full and ample equivalent.
(Jur mast history t0r6i1s mat ~c sh0"m oc9n'r' u"
! tt Cub4 rifhoW tic consent Of ) pain, uRLrs
jys,jf,dby the crcG, Ia" ~ sot.pr"srrat'0a. W.
must in any event, preserve our own conScous rec
,i;ude and our own sslf.rssDcct.
Whil.t pursuing thi- course we can aiIhrn 10 disre
yerd the censures OF the world, tn winch We have
he.n 90 often and so uHjusty exp"ged.
After we snail have offered Spain price for Cu0i
nr beyond It's prcseE; vne, and this sal have b"ei
refused i, will then be TO consider the Question, doc.
Cuhs in the po.s.asion of Spain, seriously cndaUge
our internal peace aud the txiscnce OF our Cherished
Union
Should this question r. answered in the affirmative
then by every iaw, human and divine, W.. shall b'
justified in wrestling it from Spain, if possess th
power; and tbis upoE the very same principle tina
would iustify indvdua! - tearing down the burn
ing house nf his n-ighhor. Il there were 30 othr
means OF preventing the flames from destroying MI
| own house.
Under such circumstances, we ought neither Il
count the cost regard Tho odds which Spain nigh
enlist agains; We ivrbear to enter into the cues
tion whriher Tie present condition Of the island Tou!'
Justify such measured We would, however, bc re
creant to our duty. BE- unworthy OF our galan: tore
fathers, and commit base against our pos;efl
Is, should permit Cuba TO be AtricanlzeG ami Ge
come second s.. Dom ago, with nil i's attendHn
horrors Tie white race, Gd suffer the a'n.s to *
tend IN our own ucghbDrlng shuTes, seriously 10 Ell
danger actually 10 the fair fabric OF ou
Union.
We fear that the course and current Of events mr.
rapidly tending towards such catastrophe. We
however, hope for the best though ought certain
ly 20 be prepared for the worst.
Now, we demand if there be anything in this Ian
gaage which should offend The most tasiilious con
SCIENCE Is any principle implied here which COZ!
ict with the rights OF nation, aad the duties oi III
highest politics. mnrG';ty! VIII any man undertake
TO oppose this policy the ground that it dero
,nes from the character Of the nation' On the con