Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-07-28
The AcanIeItion of Cnbn.


The London Tines, which always foreshadows the
policy Of the English government, has an able edi
tOrisl article recommending that Great Britain
should favor the transfer of the Island Of Cuba to
the United States. The Jealousy which that ma
ton has long cherished against US, is at length
yielding to more liberal AID enlightened policy
Her statesmen and rulers begin perceive that the
growth and prosperity of this country contribute
almost as much to the advancement of her CONNER
cisl and manufacturing interests as the extension
Of her own possessions. Every new acquisition
we make is an addition to the wealth Of the worlI
Wherever our institutions spread, civilization fol
lows The soil which had been barren and unprO-
duotive, blossoms beneath the hand Of American
industry, and pours its abundance into the lap Of
the nations Plains which only fed the wild herds
that wandered over them are converted into fruitful
fields BY the enterprise Of people, and feed the
famished millions of the old world.
Great Britain at length recognizes these facts
She feels the necessity Of supplantiDg the ndOlent
races Of Spanish America, with population that
viii develop the resources Of the country and in
crease the agricultural productions Of the world.
She needs for the supply of her factories the eIa
ployment of her laborers and the prosperity Of her
commerce. larger amount Of cotton than the ter
ritory now devoted to the production of that staple
can produce. She is convinced that the region TO
the South of US would supply that demand il it
should pass into the possession Of our government
The acquisition of Cuba, will be the first step to
the extension of our territory into Mexico and
Central America, and our English neighbors in
yielding their consent to the measure, must antici
pate these results
The immediate benefits which the Times expects
Great Britain derive from the cessiOn of Cuba TO
the United States are the increase of their trade
with that island under our liberal commercial poll
cy, and the suppression Of the slave trade. Both
of these objects would doubtless be effected, and
although our government would not enter into any
treaty with Great Britain the subject Of the
slave trade, We should have both the disposition and
ability to enforce existing laws against that traffic
To the United States the possession of Cuba is a
matter of the grayest Importance. 1t lies in the
very channel of Southern commerce. It guards the
gate to the Gulf. Of Mexico, and in the possession
of hostile nation, might be made the basis Of the
most formidable operations against our neighborng
coasts. As early as 1925. Mr.. BUCHANAN advocated
the policy Of acquiring Cuba and in an able speech
delivered in the House of Representatives, he Ge>
mOnsrated the necessity of that measure. The
OsTEED MANIFESTO contains his later and more ma
ture opinions the subject, only re-afirmiDg the
sentiments, however, which he had hitherto enter
tanned and expressed We esteem it fortunate that,
in this important crisis, when opportunity is
offered for carrying out the resolutions of the Ose
tend Conference, that we have statesman at the
head Of the government, who has long since ident-
fed himself with a policy that now receives the
sanction Of the nation, and the appreciation of the
world. We trust he may be permitted in his old
age to cOnsummate his noble object which enlisted
the ardOr and energies of his youth, and that the
realization of his early hopes may be the GROWING
glory of his administration.