The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-12-17

American vessels al different custom houses in
Cuba, 50 long ago as the year 1914. The PrIn-
clples upon " hicil they rest are SO manfestly
eouiiabl,, and inst that after period OF nearly
ten wears. in 1854, they were recognised by the
Spanish government. Proceedings were after
wards Instituted to ascertain the amount and
This was finally fxeu according 10 their own
statement iWilh which were satiShed) at the
sum OF one hundred and twenty weight thousand
six hundred and thirly-fre dollars and ffly-iour
cents Just al the moment, alter a DELAY oi
fourieen years, " hen we lad reason 10 expect
that thu sum would be repaid With Interest, We
have received a proposal Offering 10 refund one
third. 6t that amoun! tto-ty-two thousand eight
hundred aud seventy right dollars and iortr-one
cents,) but without interest, ii We would accept
this in full satisfaction. The offer also accom-
panied by declarat on that This in8emnifcaion
is not founded on any reason Of stfict justice
bat is made as a special idvof.
One alleged cause 70: procr5sinaioH in the
examination and adjustment of our claims, arises
from an obstacle witch il is the dely Of the
Spanish government 10 remove. Whilst The
captain-genera Of Cuba Is invested with gener-
al despo;ic authority in the government of that
island the, power is withheld from him TO exam
inc and redress wrongs committed by officials
NO't'tC's
States Instead Of masking our complaints di-
rectly to him at Havana, we are Obliged to pre-
sent them through our minister at Madrid
These are then referred back TO the captain
general for information and much time is thus
consumed in preliminary Investigations and cor
resnondtnc between Madrid and Cuba, Before
the Spanish government will consent TO pro-
ceed to negotiation. Many OF the difficulties
between the two governments would obvlated
and long train OF negotiations avoided, if the
captain general were invested with authority
10 settle questions OF easy solution, on The spot,
where all the facts are fresh and could be prom
pity aud satisfactorily asceraned. We have
hitherto in vain urged upon the Spanish gov
ernment 10 confer this power upon !he captain
general, and our minister 10 Spain will again be
instructed TO urge this subject on their notice.
Ia this respect, we occupy different position
from the powers of Europe. Cuba is almost
within sight OF our shores; our commerce with
II is far greater than that Of any other nation
including Spain itself, and our citizens are in
habits ofdaily and extended personal intercourse
with every part OF the island. II is therefore,
great grievance that. when any difficulty oc-
ours no matte how unimporGur, which mIght
be readily settled at the moment we shoulG be
obliged to resort to Madrid, especially when the
very first step 10 be taken there is TO refer it
back TO Cuba.
The truth is that Cuba, n its existing colon-
al condition, is constant source OF injury and
annoyance TO the American people. 1t is the
only spot in the civilized world where the IAf-
rican slave trade is tolerated and we are bound
bv treaty with Great Britain to maintain a ma
val force on the coast of Africa, at much expe-
nse both of life and treasure, solely for the pur
Il, Il to,,p g. 4 thog,
The late serious difficulties between the United
States and Great Britain respecting the right of
search now so happily terminated, conId never
have arisen if Cuba had not afforded a market
for slaves AS long as this market shall remain
s,Hsus tBare=can be no hone for the civilization
slaves continues in Cuba, wars will be waged a
among the petty and barbarous chiefs in Africa
for the purpose OF seizng subjects to supply
this trade. In such a condition of affairs, it ia
impossible that the light OF civilization and re-
ligion, can ever penetrate these dark abodes.
II has been made known 20 the world by my
predecessors, that the United States have, on
several occasions, endeavored 10 acquire Cuba
from Spain by honorable negotiation. If this
were accomplished, the last relic OF the African
save-trade would instantly disappear. We
would no, if we could, acquire Cuba in any
other manner. This is due TO our national
character. All the territory which we have
acquired since the origin Of the government,
has been by fair purchase from France, Spain,
and Mexico, or by the free and voluntary act of
the independent State Of Texas, in blending her
destinirs with our own This course we shall
ever pursue, unless circumstances should occur,
which we do not now anticipate, rendering a
departure from il clearly justfable, under the
imperative and over-rulinE law of ofsei-preserva-
ton.
The Island Of Cuba, from its geogra phical po-
siton, commands the mouth OF the Mississippi
and the immense and mountaineering trade,
foreign and coastwiSe, frcm the valley Of that
noble river, now embracing half the sovereign
States Of the Union, With that Island under
the domination OF distant foreign power, this
trade, Of vital importance 10 these States is rx-
posed TO the danger of being destroyed in time
Of war, and it has hitherto been subjected 10
perpetual Injury and annoyance in time OF
peace. Our relations with Spain, which ought
to be of the most friendly character, must al
ways be placed in jeopardy, whilst the existing
colonial government over The Island shall re-
main in its present condition
Whiis! the possession of the Island would BE-
ofvast Importance to the United States, its VAL
ne to Spain IS, comparatively, unimporiant.-
Sach was the relative situation Of the parties.
when the great Napoleon transferred Louisiana
TO the United States. Jealous, as be ever was,
of the national honor and interests Of France,
no person throughout The world, has imputed
blame TO Elm, for accepting pgcuniary cquiva-
lent for this cession.
The publicity which has been given to our
former negotiations upon this subject and the
I,r- II