, 1859-02-04

If anything remains to bc said about Cuba
and the Cuba question, we aoprchend it is
this that the premises on which all the argu-
ment IN favor Of purchase or seizure rests,
are utterly fictitious and worthless. Wehave
had pages Of demonstration that Cuba is
wanted to manufacture s1aye States, slavery
Senators, slavery Representatives and slavery
Presidential votcs; that VIC are not in condi-
tion to purchase the Islaud that Spain would
not sell it if wc were running over wltl dol
lara to pay for it; that We cannot presume to
lay our hands upon it without calling upon
Ourselves protractcd and unequal wRr With
the 11st class powers Of Christendom that
the doctrines of the Oslend manifesto, the
perpetual bullying Of Spain in Presidential
messages, and tho MISUNDERSTOOD plans lurk-
ing behind every proposition for purchase,
are detestable and felonious; that Mr. Bu-
chanan's call for thirty millions Of dollars
can only refer to the bribing Of Spanish mio-
listers and ministers pimps, etc, etc. But it
has hardly been thought worthy Of investiga-
tlon, whether the clamor of Slldell, Buchan-
an, Douglas ard the rest Of them concerning
the imperative requirements Of the case, the
political md commercial necessities demand
ing our speedy possession Of the island, are
true or false.
We take the position at once, that, in SO
far as they declare any immediate or impera.
tive need, they arc sheer fahrications. The
only reason which oommends itself to tue
common sense and the interests Of tue people,
viz, that the acquisition Of the island will
lnsure us cheap sugar., is precisely the one
which the Cuba party full to press. Even
this has no more weight than an argumens
fos the seizure Of Brazil to obtain cheap
coffee, and neither amounts toanything willie
We have the power to throw sugar and coffee
into the free list. The balance Of the axsump-
tions upon which our requirements arc pred
icated, are these: Cuba mounts guard over
the Gulf OF Mexlco-she commands;' - the
commerce Of the Mississippi Valley-she
stands in the way Of our route to the Pacific
and lastly and 1eastly, the places high
duty on American -four. These positions We
propose TO examine, consecutive]y and lriefy.
1t is true that Cuba stands sentinel ut the
entrance to the Gulf Of MEXICO. But how
that fact should trouble us OF any other pence
ab!y disposed nation, does not appear. Ja.
1nalca, Hayti and the Bahamas do the same;
yet We have NO disturbance on their account.
Cuba is not to blame for having been planted
under the eightieth instead Of the sixt,cth
meridian, nor isSpaia culpablo to that de-
gree Which merits the blackguarding admin.
istetcd to her by. American Presidents and
Senators. The declarations that Cuba @con1-
mands" the commerce which aoHs from The
mouth Of the Mississippi, and that she stands
in the course Of our Pacific mail steamers,
are hut different statements of the preceding
proposition. They all amount to nothing
while there is water enough to sail around in.
and it Ia not known That our possession Of
tue island would put her an inch on. Of the
way. In the hands Of a powerful and war
like nation, We grant there would be danger
OF m1suse Of these accidents. But Spain has
no power to harm rs nor has she manifested
the least inclination to do 30. While Cuba
remains in her present keeping she is inca
pacitated! for damaging Us, and her "com-.
mand'' Of the Gull, amounts to aa much and
no more than the like command Of the Isle of
Pines.
"hat shall we say Of her revenue laws
which impose restrictions on the importation
ol American -four and grain, except that fhe
mas equal right to complain Of our revenue
laws which levy toll on West Indih sugar
and molaases1 Moreover, we arc as fully
called upon to make xar upon China for her
Commercial regulations, as upon Cuba for the
method she chooses to adopt to rafse The
wind. Thus much aud no more dies Al, n.
Cuba clamor Of our pro-slavery cabinets and
caucusea amount to.