The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-27
The Purchase OF Csibn-nIr. Brnnch's HILL
The Peace Policy OF the President.

The Purchase OF CObn-Mr. Brnnt MS HILL
The Peace Policy OF the President.
Our readers win have perceived from our
Congressional reports Of last week, that Mr.
Branch, Of North Carolina, in pursuance of the
recommendation Of the Presidents annual Mes
sage, has introduced in the House bill au-
thorizing special loan of million Of dollars. to
be placed at the discretion Of the Executive, in
view of the re-opening Of negotiations for the
purchase Of the island Of Cuba This Is prac-
teal movement in the right direction and should
not be confounded in tic spirit or purpose, with
the filibustering proposition Of Mr.. Reuben Davis,
Of Mississippi. authorizing and requiring the
President to take and retain possession Of the
island of Cuba, unless within the next six months
the sum of sl2s,635 "a. acknowledged in the
year 1854 by the Spanish government to be due
to citizens Of the United States for duties IN
justly exacted from American vessels at different
custom houses in Cuba, be paid, and satisfaction
be given to the President for insults heretofore
offered 10 Our flag and injuries inflicted on the
persons and property of our citizens"
This proposition il simply preposterous,
and was doubtless put in as an offer.
ing to that belligerent Buncombe of Mis-
sissippi of which Mr.. Reuben Davis finds
it his duty and bis policy to be the active
advocate in Congress. On the other hand, Mr..
Branch. representing the conservative democracy
of North Carolina, the prevailing public senti-
ment of the whole Union, and, we hope, the ma
jority Of both branches OF Congress, is content
to limit his proposition to the preliminary mil
lion of dollars asked for by the President in be-
half of the purchase of Cuba in the way of far,
peaceable and liberal business transaction. We
hope, too, that, notwithstanding the brief limits
Of the present session, the heavy calendar of re-
gular business measures awaiting the action Of
the two houses and the decentralization Of our
political leaders cliques and parties, in refer
ence to the next Presidency, sufficient time and
a competent vote will be found to pass the in
dicated bill before the 4th Of March.
We are aware Of the fact that many men,
within and without the democratic camp, enter
tain the belief that this appropriation, and the
negotiations with ii, will he so much money and
labor thrown away-that Spain will not sell this
most precious jewel Of her colonies at any price,
and, las, Of al, to the United States. There
arc other inquisitive politicians who suspect
that these proposed negotiations are not in
tended as measure Of good faith, but
as q pretext for the contemplated seizure
of the island, according TO the ultimatum
of the Ostend manifesto. Upon this point
The Richmond Wing, the leading opposition Jour
nal of Virginia, declares the purpose Of the Pre-
10 10 - no he cbac
can by force If We must" and that. sin spite Of
all that Mr.. Buchanan may think he knows to
the contrary, we believe the first mode Of acqui-
,ition to be political mpcssibility, be must, Of
course, resort TO the last"
Our Richmond philosopher next proceeds to
show that war with Spain would inevitably in
volve US in war with France inasmucb as
Spain has become. under the Empire. nothing
more nor less than French prosectorate that in
such war our commerce would he swept from the
ocean by the war steamers Of France, and that
England during this long and disastrous contest
to the belligercnts would monopolize the carry
ing trade Of the world. But why should war be
ure to purchase Cubal And Why should
the purchase be considered as political
impossibility.'' We hold that a million ex.
pended in well directed effort to buy the
leland might open the way to a successful and
satisfactory transfer of the island. The necessi-
ties ofspain, and the manifest policy of England
and France. may thus be brought into 'happy
accord with the views Of our own government.
Within the last twelve months some Of the lead
ing political journals Of England, including the
London 7ymss-n We are not mistaken-in their
remonstrances against the connivance Of the
Spanish government in the matter Of the Cuban
African slave trade, have earnestly suggested
the policy OF the transfer Of Cuba to the United
States as the only efficient remedy for an intoer-
able public nuisance. We presume, too, that In
his pointed illusions TO the extingrishment Of
this African traffic as Q Leading inducemeut to
all parties concerned for the cesson Of the island
Mr.. Buchanan did not speak at random In regard
to the underlying sentiment OF the Cabinet Of
st. James We incline to the opinion, accord
ingly. that his faith In the probable success Of
the negotiations proposed restsupon q more inti-
mate acquaintance With the present sentiments
and inclnations Of England and France than is
possessed b. any other person In the country,
and that The tone Of his Message upon The sub
jcct Is that Of an advocate who thoroughly un-
derstands bis case, the strength Of his witnesses
and the pulse Of the jury.
II is only the negotiations suggested which
can settle the question whether the pur-
chase Of Cuba is OF is not political i'm
possibility" But in the event Of failure
war by no means win be the inevitable alterna
tive. Spain viii at least be brought 70 some
terms Of accommodation which win cover our
outstanding accounts against her I'm connection