The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-13
BALTIMORE.
MONDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1858

will undoubtedly attract most attention abroad,
that devoted to the consideration of our Foreig
Relations. These, it would appear from the PREs
DENTS account of them, are far from being in
settled or satisfactory condition. 1t is reall
alarming-quite so--the number of nations
against whom it would seem that we have jus
cause of war; and it affords US positive relief to
told-not only, that in no case is there any par
ticular danger of immediate hostilities, but that
in most cases, the powers with whom we are a
variance, altogether too feeble to call 70 any
serious apprehension on our part.
First and foremost in this list of nations, VIII
have been 'insulting' our fag-committinl
''outrages'' on our citizens and "depredationS'
on our commerce, and abusing and maltreatin:
US generally-s Spain. Against that unfortunate
country, the PRESIDENT produces array 0
charges, the bare recital whereof ought to max,
the cheeks Of Spanish Majesty-if they have no
long since forgotten how-bush with shame. II
the first place, it would appear Spain owes u;
money, and has forgotten to pay it-althougf
frequently and urgently requested so to do. Nay
more-ater repeated promises to settle in full the
pecuniary demands Of our citizens upon her
she has recently had the effrontery to offer Us
thirty cents in the dollar in satisfaction of hel
debt. This is grave cause of complaint, UNI
doubtedly-and would come with much better
grace from our lips if we, ourselves, not
similarly indebted to Spain, in the matter of the
Amistad claim, which we are pleased to see,
the PRESIDENT urges Congress to settle with
out delay. We only regret that he did not
also see proper, to base his recommendation to
that effect upon grounds of Right and Justice,
instead of those of expediency merely. But to re-
turn to Spain-the next charge which is brought
against hers, that-contrary to our expressed
wishes,-she obstinately persists in governing Cuba
in her own way, and in retaining that ''sienpre
.feL isla' in condition of colonial vassaage,
which has the effect of putting US to the serious
inconvenience, whenever we have any little COM
plant to make-of applying to Madrid, instead
of having the matter settled, as aee think could
be much better and more advantageously done
at Havana. Cuba, III fact, is Spain's greatest and
objectionable offence, into which all minor causes
of complaint disappear and are merged. If it
had not been for Cuba-for eXample-we should
not have been, on the eve of a quarrel with Eng
land, last sGmmer-respecting the Right of Search
nv
the expense of maintaining a squadron on the
coast of Atrica-tor the suppression of the Slave
Trade. Its geographical position" is "a constant
'source of in Jury and annoyance to our people
subjecting our commerce to perpetual Interruptions
and petty restrictions, in time of peace, and ex-
posing it to the hazard of being totally destroyed
III time Of war. Its possession by Spain, is in
fine, an impossible barrier in the way of African
civilization, and serious stumbling-block in the
path of our national prosperity. Who can
WONDERLAND, under such circumstances, the
PRESIDENT should recommend to his ''fellow-
''citizens of the Senate and House of Representa-
''tives the purchase of Cuba? Its possession by
US, he does not hesitate to affirm, ''would be
"of vast importance" while to Spain, he
thinks, ''its value is comparatively unim-
'portant.' What opinion the Spanish Court
and people may entertain upon this latter
point, the President does not say. In his eager
ness to demonstrate the necessity of our buyinp,
he torgets to say one word about the Willingness
OF Spain to sell. The only intimaton which the
Message contains-of any possible doubt existing
upon tscore, is to be found in the suggestion
that 1t Is absolutely Indispensable" to success in
our negotiations, that the PRESIDENT 'should be
Entrusted with the means Of making an advance
Ito the Spanish Government, Immediately after
1.-THE signing of the treaty, without awaiting the
ratification Of it by the Senate" Why this
hurry, or where the necessity President
omits to explain. Is it thought to be indspensa-
bic" that in a Convention between two great
nations, earnest-money should be paid in order to
l. lind tho ,ror, J
purpose Of facilitating and expediting the negota-
tonS2 The language of the Message leaves US |
il doubt whether the advance in question is TO
be paid into the private pockets of Her Maiesty's
Minister'S ornto the public Golfers of Her Maiesty's
Government. If the former be the meaning of the |
suggestion, We can only say that it is not the least
unfortunate reflection upon the character of the |
Spanish nation-which The Message contains. The |
whole tone and language of the PRESIDENT is any
thing but friendly and conciliatory and but little
likely, in the Judgment of those best acquainted
with the temper of the Spanish people, either to pro-
cure for Mr. PRESTON cordial reception at Madrid
or for the objects Of his mission a favorable con-
Sideraton. Whilst haughtily proffering the purse
with one hand, the PRESIDENT has not taken suffi-
,ient pains to conceal the sword which he
grasps with the other.
independently, however of these and any other
ritling difficulties which may suggest themselves
n the way of the easy and peaceful accomplish |
nent Of the object on which the PRESIDENT has so |
evidently set his heart we cannot admit that the |
'easonng by which he endeavors to demonstrate |
he necessity of the acquisition of Cuba, is at all !
satisfactory or convincing. He assumes, for ex-
lmpIe, that so long as Cuba remains colonial
dependency of Spain, our relations with that Gov
rnnent, (which ought to be of the most friendly
character, must always be placed in jeopardy"
las the PRESIDENT forgotten, or is he unaware
whose fault it is-that difficulties have so frequently
risen between our citizens and the Spanish Off
laIs? Making every due allowance for the ignor-
NEE and the insolence of the latter, have not
hose difficulties, at bottom, had their root, in the
reasonable apprehension-the we-grounded sus-
'lclon and distrust, created in the minds of the
Julian authorities, by the flibuserng propensities
u our people, and their undisguised sympathy in
avor Of every scheme of Cuban patriotism or
reason-call it which you please-it is success
'niy that makes the difference between the two
lad we shown little more consideration for the
e!i-love of sensitive and high-spirited people,
whose pride is now almost the only relic of their
ormer greatness-and little more respect for
heir rights and obligations, it is probable,
hat not one-fourth Of the difficulties 10 which the
RESIDENT alludes, would ever have occurred,
IND that but little of the delay, of which he
complains, would ever have been interposed in
heir adjustment
Equally nenabe, in our opinion, is the argu-
ncnt which the P2EsDEsT Pounds upon tie
geographical position of the Island of Cuba,
commanding, as it confessedly does, the mouths
Of the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, and by
consequence, the whole of our foreign and coast
wise trade IN those waters. This fact, of course,
Is Oh no Importance to us, in time of peace The
argument has reference only to q state of war.
No"-ln the event of any such contingency oc-
'urflng between this country and Spain, we i'm
'gine that any possible annoyance to which we
hlght be subjected by reason of our enemy having
possession OF the Island of Cuba, would be of
mort duration, and would terminate with the in
'eS'ment and conquest of the Island In the case
u war with any OF her power we cannot conceive
.n"t anything could be more for our advantage,
nan that Cuba should remain in the possession of
leeoie neutral like Spain. In our own hands,
% Tar from adding to our military strength it
'ouId De our weakest and most vulnerable point
As all troops and munitions of war; needed for its
License, would have to be transported thither by
ga, II could only be kept in the event of our