Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-12-18
Our Rotations with Spain.

The Evening Post gives the following birds eye
view of our recent diplomatic Intercourse with Spain
which will be found interesting:
The most decisive paragraph in the message re-
lates to Spain, and, if interpret the Presidents
language Alright, he is much dissatisfied with the
supnehess of Ministerat Madrid, and is deter
mined to replace him with vino will carry
into effect the policy in regard to Cuba which the
President has had so much at heart ever since he
took seat in the Cabinet of Mr.. Polk. Dir. Blu
chanan evidently parts with Mr.. Dodge without
tears and is not unwilling to testify to the country
his dissatisfaction with the Cuban policy which that
Minister was sent out to uaugurate at the Spanish
Court. To appreciate the significance of this pas
sage of the message, the recent history of this mis-
sion needs to be borne in mind.
In I845, when Mr.. Buchanan Secretary of
State, Romulus NJ. Saunders of North Carolina,
was sent out to Madrid to buy Cuba, aud was Sc
crety authorized to offer $l0O,0000 600 for the Is
land. The negotiation not only unsuccessful,
but the proposal and bearing of Mr. Saunders to-
gether, rendered Madrid hot for him, and his
residence there unpleasant, that he spent most
OF his time and salary in cultivating scquaint
ance with the other capitals in Europe These in
sructious of Saunders kept secret until Pres
ideI Pierce renewed the application through Mr..
Soule, Who sent out in the interest of Mr.. Blu.
chanan and against the Judgment of the Secretary
of State, Mr.. Marcy. Mr. Soule found the Span
iards indsposed to trade upon any terms, the sum
of $3.50, 900 no; appearing to be any tempta-
ton to them, whereupon the Cuban party in Con-
eress and in the Presidents councils of which Mr.
Buchanan was the head, resolved to Brighten Spain
into the sale.
Mr. Sickles, Secretary Of legation to Mr.. Buch-
anan, who was our Minister to London, sent
over to get the Presidents approval of the plan of
the Ostend conference, which, as our readers re-
memb, r, resulted in declaration that Cuba was
necessary to the safety and well-being of the Uni
.. L.. g.Ha
for a reasonable consideration, should justi-
fed 10 taking possession of the island By force Of
arms This declaration surprised the whole civil
ICED world but no one so much as its effect sur
prised the conspir tors who signed and COUNTIES
nanced It. Wall street was conVulsed. Our gov
eminent seemed to be upon the verge of war
with all Europe without any proVoeItiOu, and in
prosecution OF policy never before avowed by
any civilized nation, and only worthy Of pirates
and highwsymen. The capitalists from every part
Of the country rushed TO Washington 10 alarm the
leading commercial men OF bis Own party assured
the President that the country would not sustain
him.
He was frightened, tore up what Was known as
the "war message which be had actually written,
aud SouIe, whom he had previously protected, he
handed over to the tender mereies Of Mr.. Marcy,
by whom he Was speedily ,yed alive and sent
home to bis friends in Louisiana. And from that
day until yesterday, not word has been lisped by
the national Executive looking to the acquisition OF
Cuba. Mr.. Buchanan found himself sharing with
MIR. SOule in the general disgrace attending the
Presidents desrrtOn of the Ostend negotistoFs
and the policy be had himself h,lped to mark cot
for them, and naturally eltindignsnt at the treach~
cry and the traitors Of whom he bad been made
the victim.
Mr. Dodge vac sent to Madrid to reverse the
entire policy prescribed TO Nj. Soule. His pres
euce ia Europe Official rebuke to all the
Ostend COnierenc,s and it is not strange, there
a nf urfaf iv
and without any waste OF NOfds. dis successor Is
likely TO be man who will give TO the Cuban qaes-
ton the political prominence which it occupied
some three years ago and hcneetorth it may oe
regarded % an element in our financial anxiety,
for which large allowance must be made.