Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-12-11


Madrid esJ ttialy hen the very iir-t sicpio by
ihkeu tiprt is 10 itItf u back 10 Cuba.
Theuuih d That Cuba. N iis existing colonial
condition. isn conslant sunfce q iniu y nnd an
nolapce TO the A'heiican people It's ne only
spot IN the civilized world where the African
slave trade il tolerated and we are bound by
treaty with Great Britain 10 maintain q naval
force ON the cUasi oi Airlca atsnuch expense both
Of life aud tr a-ure, solely for the purpose Of
resting slayers bound TO tain island. TIE late Sc
fous difficulties between the United Slaies and
Great Britain respecting The right ui search. now
~ happily termmaIc could never have arisen II
Cuba had noi Afforded market for slaves As
lopg rs this nation shall remain open, there can
be hope Tor Tie civiliz1tinn ~ behi{hted ARR.
en-, Whilst the demand for slaves cuniinues IN
Cuba, wars will be wsged amoug the petty aad
barbarus chiefs in Area. eDr the purpose Of seiz-
Ing biecis o supply this ttale. In such con-
diliun Of affairs. Il is impo-s ble That the yht Of
citihzation and religon can ever penetra,e these
dak aboles
II has been made kaown to the world by my
predecessors that the Uaited s ales have. on sew.
eraloce4sious en- eacored TO acquire Cuba from
Span by honorable negotiation. lf this we're
accomplished, The la-t rellc ri the African slave
trade would Ipstenlly disappear. Wewould not
II we could. acquire Cuba ia any other u anner.
This is due 10 our national character. All the
territory which we have acquired since the ori-
gin of the government, has been by hur purchase
from France, SPAN and Mexico. on by the free
and voluntary acl ot The independent State of
Texas, in blending her destinies with our owu.
THIS course we shall ever pursue. unless cifcum-
stances should occur which we uu not now anl ic-
ipaie, rendering departure iroiu II clearly sti-
table under he imperative aud overriding law
OF sI'li-prcservalion. Tie island OF Cuba fvn its
geographical position, commands the mouth of
The Mississippi,and us immense aud annually in
creasing trade, fOrtigD aBd coaStwise, from the
valley nf that nubie river. now -empacing half
r.
land under he ,lomininn ofa distant foreign pow
er,this raie. of vital itnportunce 10 these States,
is exposed to the danger OF being destroyed ia
time OF war, and It has hitherto been subiecied to
perpetual injury and annoyancrin time OF peace
Our relations with Spain, which ought 10 be OF
the most friendly character, must always be plac-
ed IN jeopardy whilst the existing colonial gov
ernmtnt over the island shall remain in its pres
cnt condition.
Whilst the possession Of he island would be of
vast mpOftonce TO the United States, its value TO
Spain Is, comparatively unmpOnant.f Such was
the relative situation Of the parties, when the
great Napoleon transferred Louisiana to The Uni
led States. Jealous he ever was, of the ma
tioDal honor aud interests of France, no persun
throughout the world has imputed blame 10 him
for accepting pecunary equivalent Tor this ees-
sion. The publicity winch has been gwen to our
former negotiations upon tins suhieci, and the
large appropriation winch may be required 10 eff
fact the purpose. render il exledehi, before ma
king another attempt 10 renew the ntgpfiat on,
that should lay the whole subject before Com
gress. This is especially necessary as it may be-
come Indispensable to success, that should be
intrusted with the means of making an advance
10 the Spanish government immedIa ely after the
signing of the treaty. without awaiting the rati-
tcatUn of 1t by the Senate. am encouraged TO
make this suggestion, by example OF Mr. Jeffer-
son, previous TO the purchase Of Louisiana from
France, and hy that of Mr.. Polk in view OF the
acquisition of territory from Mexico. l refer the
whole subject to Congress, and commend il TO
their carefol consideration. try r.r-s
repuat the recommenda' ion made in my mes
sage of December last. in favor OF an applopra-
ton TO be paid 10 the Spanish government for
the purpose of dstrbu ion among the claimants
in the Amisia case" President Polk first made
a similar reconnen a ion in December, Sl7 and
it was repea ed by my Immediate predecessor in
December, 1853. en- ertain no doubt that in
demnty is ia rly due 10 these claimants under
Gu treaty with Spaa OF the 27ih Ocfober, I795 !;
and whilst deman ing Just ce we ought 10 do JUS
tice. An appropria ION promptly made for this
purp sc, could not fail tu eNeri favorable infu-
ence Un our negO. iaiions with Spain.
Our Position IN relation to the independent
states south OF US this con inent aud especial
ly those thin the limits of North America, is OF
pecGliar charact.r The nUrthern boundary ,f
|. Mexico is cOineident with our own Southern
boundary from ocean to ocean (; aud we must ne
ces>arly feel deep Interest III all that concerns
the well being and the fIie of near "A neighbor.
We'have al ways cherished the kindesl wishes for
the success of that republic. and have INDUCED
the hope that II might al last, after all its iuals
enjoy peace and prosperity under free and sta-
bic government. We have never hitherto inter-
fered dir, ely indirectly. with lis internal af-
fairs, and it is duty which we owe 10 ourselves
10 protect the inlegry Of The territory against the
hostile interference of any other power. Our ge-
Ographlca position. our direct interest in all that
cunccrns Mexico, and our WELL settled policy IN
regard TO the North American continent. render
| this an Indispensable duty. .E
NJ Xlcu ha, beer in constant state of revOlu-
tion, almost ey,r since II achieved lis ndepend-
! Cnce. Que military leader after anniher has
usur ed the government IN rapid Succession. aud
| the various CONSTITUTIONS lroW tneio tIge adopt-
ed have been SIT al naughi alm,sl they
were proclaimed Tie Successive governments
! have aifurtl,-d no adequate protection. eIiher to
Mexican el!Izns, or foreign residents. against
lawiss Violence Heretofore seizure OF the cap
ital by military chlefan has been generally fol-
| lowed by at least the nominal submission Of The
country 10 hlSrule for n brief perlpd, but not 80
at the present CRISIS of Mexican affairs. A civil
war has been raging for sumo lime throughout
| the republ c. between the centrll government at
| the city of Mexico. which has endravored to sub
vert tie constitution last framed by military
power. and those who maintain the authority of
That constitution. The an as"nist parties each
huld pOS>fSSlOn OF dittcrCni States OF the RepuDs
lie, and the fortunes of war are constantly chan
ging. Man While The m,,l reprelI-n,lble means
have bera employed 10y both parties 10 exturt
money from Foreigners, as well aS natives. 10 car
ry on this run1us con est. rhe truth is thai
tins tiue country. blessed With piUductive soil
and a benign climate has been reduced by civil
dis9ension to a condition of hopeless, anarcay and
inbcclily. II would he vain tor thus gnrern-
mint to attempt to eAiorce payment IN money
of the claim, of AnerIcan citizens. niw ainnuni-
ing 10 than ten million dollars, against Mex
leo, because She Is destitute of all pecuniary
means 10 satisfy these demands.
Our lare minister was furnished with ample
powers and instructions h,r the adjustment Of all
pendIng questions with the central government OF
Mrxco, aud he performed his duty with zeal and
| ability. The claims of our citizens. some ufthem
arising out of violation of an express provision
of the treaty ot Guadalupe HidaIgo, and others
from gnss injustice TO persons as we'll as property
have remained unrcdrcssed aud even unnotcvd
Remonstrances against tlcse grievances have
ben addressed without effect 10 that governments
Mraatlme.ln various paris OF the republic. in
stances have been numerous of the murder, i'm
prisOnment and plunder OF our citizens, by dill
iereRt parties claiming mad exercising local ju-
rIsdIclIun but the c+ntral government, although
repeatedly urged thereto. have made no effort el-
ther to punish the authors Of these outrTlges, or
to prevent their recurrence. No American clu-
zen can now visit Mexico on lawful business