Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-04
Rifbmon0 Enquirfr.

R08KR u. HUNlhCu6tO r hlUUL6SEA.
FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL,
JoH RANDOLPH TUCKER. OF FREDERICK.
WAR WITH EUROPE o THE SAKE OF CUBA.
N WILL BEAR TIE BRryT OF ITf
In our editorial of yesterday we exposed the
state Of affairs, which not only renders the &C
QUESTION Of Cuba impossible, at this time, but
which may entail a war with maritime Europe,
even on the occasion of an empty handed grasp
on our part at territorial encroachment.
We propose now. very briefly, TO consider
the nature of such a war, and its probable con-
equenceS.
The Presidents message already involves an
attitude of open menace towards five American
nations, and a very palpable hint to Spain that
the acquisition Of Cuba, by violent measures,
may become clearly justifiable, under the i'm
perative and overriding law of selfpreserva-
ton" The immediate bearing Of the latter
question of Central American affairs naturally
puts on the qui rirs every power which repre-
sents, or aspires to represent a maritime ma
ton. Thus, if Cuba shall involve us in a war,
we may look in vain to any quarter OF the
globe for allies
The probable alliance against US will be one
such as the world never saw. England, France
and Spain, backed by three minor European
powers, may also, without much difficulty
merely by expunging n few bad debts
bring Mexico into the league, threatened as
she is with a forced protectorate. Me1icans
and Indians would be employed to harass our
frontier and keep the larger part Of our little
army of 1900 men engaged in guerilla strife.
vancouver's island would be the stand point
from which to cut off even our supply of gold.
Canadian troops could vex our northern
frontier. Such would be the little vexa-
tions by which the extrcmities of the
nation would be annoyed, while an army
and navy such as have never approached
the American continent, would be employed to
strike at some vital and central point. small
c~oast-guard around Cuba and on the Central
American coast, would leave a mighty arma-
ment of war steamers and transports free to
proceed Immediately to the mouth Of the MIS-
sissippi.
The lesson Of lSlf-'l5 would be repeated
with disasters multiplied a thousand fold. In
the days of hemp canvass, when cunbrous
frigatcs had to convoy lubbcrly transports, and
concentrate an army at Havana, before it could
be conveyed en- masss to Louisiana, the genius
of Andrew Jackson, and the intrcpidity Of
Cofee's Tennesseeans, backed by cotton
bales piled by negroes, were indeed suf-
fcient to save the city Of New Orleans
But cotton canvass has since superseded
hemp canvass, and, in its turn, has been
left to wing the slow flight Of mere SHIPS OF
burden. Steam power has wrought a ravolu-
ton, which renders the immediate transporta-
ton Of an army Of 500, 900 trained ,nen, direct
" from the ports Of Europe to the mouth Of
the Mississippi, a much easier task than was
the tardier transportation offorty-four ycarsago.
Six months warning would now be in
sufficient to save the city OF New Orleans
from the combined assaults Of English and
French armies and n%avieS, such Us are sent
forth at the present day. With New Orleans,
then, in the hands Of hostile force, with the
great aorta of commerce choked at Its outlet,
with every important seaport or the At
lantic and or the Pacific, subjected to 4
strict blockade, what would be the conse-
quence? BreadstuffS would be ehcap-very
cheap. The population OF the Northern and
Middle States could subsist on home--a:s.d
food and wear homemade sarm mis-
More than that, the fishermen of The Mott
could derive, perhaps, a brisk profit, from de-
~predations on the commerce tf the enemy
But what would twelve months blockade
do for the South? When the production Of
cotton, sugar and tobacco, should be estoppcd,
and even the quantities on hand rendered a
drug in the market, would a score Of Cubas be
sufficient to reimburse the South for her
losses?
And where would it end? Would England
and France be content to make a treaty Of
peace, leaving affairs even in statu quo ante
6etlum' Would they not push their alvan-
tage. demand perpetual remuneration of all
future attempts to acquire Cuba by purchase
or otherwise, fix the integrity" of Mexico, as
they have done that of Turkey, and dictate
g~rievous conditions of ~subordination in Gen.
trail America? Nay, more, might not their
"philanthropic" schemes be pushed to the ut
t.rmost and, backed by the voice Of the whole
Black Republican party of the North, and not
q few traitors at the South, might they not de-
mand that the emancipation Of our slaves
should BE- made a condition of peace:
When Andrew Jackson abruptly offered an
O~rleanist King the alternative Of war, or the
payment Of n small and just claim Of some
5000. 900 francs, he was denounced as a rash
man. There was policy in his rashness, and
the result justified his wisdom. But if An.
drew j, ckson were now alive, who believes that
he would commit the ultimate impolicy of rash
ncss-that he would dash a single gauntlet Of
defiance in the face Of every maritime nation Of
the ~globe-that he would spear the English lion,
hungry for an immense commercial advan-
tagc, offering England at the same time the
most favorable opportunity for a French alliance,
with a Napoleon on the throne, and then pub.
lish to the world the intent to step between
both nations and a transit to the Pacific, by in
sulting a Spanish Ministry with the ostensible
tender of a 10000, 600 bride?
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. I'm pursuance Of q
resolution adopted at the Democratic caucus,
last night, Messrs. Garrett Nallandigham,
Crowford and Marshall of Illinois. have been