The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-28

Whilst pursuing this course, we can afford
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 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 answered in the affirm
alive, 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 individual
in tearing down the burning house of his neigh
Dor if there were no other means of preventing
the flames from destroying his own home.
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
condition of the island would justify such a
measure We should, however, be recreant to
our duty, be unworthy of our gallant forefathers,
and commit base treason against our posterity,
should we permit Cuba to be Africanized and
become second st. Domingo, with all its at
tendant horrors to the white race, and suffer the
flames to extend to our own neighboring shores.
seriously to endanger or actually to consume
the fair fabric of our Union.
We fear that the course and current of events
are rapidly tending towards such catastrophe.
We, however, hope for the best, though we
ought certainly to be prepared for the worst.
We also forbear to investigate the present
condition of the questions at issue between the
United States and Spain. A long series of in
juries to our people have been committed in
Cuba by Spanish officials, and are unredressed.
But recently a most fragrant outrage on the
rights of American citizens and on the flag of
the United States was perpetrated in the harbor
of Havana under circumstances which, without
immediate redress, would have justified resort
to measures of war in vindication of national
honor. That outrage is not only unatoned, but
the Spanish Government has deliberately sane
toned the acts of its subordinates, and assumed
tho responsibility attaching to them.
Nothing could more impressively teach US
the danger to which those peaceful relations it
has ever been the policy of the United Statos to
cherish with foreign nations are constantly ex-
posed than the circumstances of that case.
Situated as Spain and the United States are,
the latter have forborne to resort to extreme
measures.
But this course cannot, with due regard to
their own dignity as an independent nation,
continue; and our recommendations, now sub
mitted are dictated by the firm belief that the
cession of Cuba to the United States, with stip-
ulatious as beneficial to Spain as those suggest
ed, is the only effective mode of settling all past
differences, and of securing the two countries
against future collisions.
We have already witnessed the happy results
for both countries which followed similar ar
rangement in regard to Florida.
Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
j. Y. MASON.
PIERRE SoULE.
Hon. William L. Marcy,
Secref1ru of State