The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-30


more important to them than that of Louisiana
la 1903.
Owing TO adverse currents intricate chnnes aud otle
causes controlling the Of mariners the maon
" o vessels navigating between the ul and the AtIan
tic seboard pass the southwark the Island Cuba
and the island therefore, bears the same relation 10 The
track Of our aysatos thai Florida would bear ifey
could pass to the north OF the island Ii is practieai
the salient point OF the Florida peninsula and defensive
iy the Florida cape ID Of value to us than posi-
ton on the northern border of the Everglades because
there Is much stronger position in advance of 1t held
adversely. t&
Nothing be more Irritating to an independent and
spirited nation, better calculated precipate cos
ion than to have such and delicate interests
most important coastwise intercourse compelled to pass
almost within hail of foreign Notifications and to run
the gauntlet Of alien fleets Hence, our relations with
Spain constantly Of semi hostile character and
minister at Madrid do little else than wrngle with
the government to which he Is accredited about high
handed outagos aui petty grievances inieted npon
citizens, which Spanish officials in Cuba armed with
iull power To innict but none To redress
The following list Of unrediessed cases, pending in
1854. resembles the criminal docket of county
court than the portfolio of minister plenipotentary
l. The barque Iulette.
2. Claim of the heirs of Alexander d Harang
3. The barque Goderoy.
4. Imprisonment OF Mr. West
8. Shipwreck of the North Carolina.
g., Prisoners taken at Contoy
z. The Crescent City
g. Schooner Manchester.
10. Seizure and detention OF the Black Warrior,
III. large number of claims arising of the hregu
lar repeal Of order admitting grain and timber free Of
duty.
IL, Reclamations for port and navigation duties i'm
If OF these cases have been settled since 1854
Others have been added to the docket and 1t likely
that It will be reduced whilst present relations to the
island maintained
II Long Island was in possession of foreign power
rs trIs tipus cuuII
be heard in great commercial metropolis would it
not be the signal to battle How long could foreign
flag float there whether defended by twenty five thou
sand or thrice twenty five Thousand troops! What gov
ernment here could keep the peace with the intruder
Our government has kept the peace with SPAIN and its
ability to do is proof of scrupulons respect for the
rights of Others and Of the obedience of and
southwestern citizens to law and the constituted author
ties. 1t is well known that large bodies of men IN the
United States have been eager to assl the Spanish power
in the West Indies and have only been restrained by the
stern mandates Of their government They have
passed and repassed, in peace and in once when
turning flushed with victory and armed with the weapons
that had wested from Mexico indemnity wrongs no
greater than have been inflicted by Spain. More
recently our squadrons have passed to ayenge Para
quay insult to the flag Yet what has Paraguay done
comparable to the insults that have than once
received in Cuba t
Under any circumstances, the geographical position of
Cuba would render OF annoyance and irta-
on to u.s. long 1t remains in the hands of foreign
power and 1t would constantly disturb friendly rcla
tons with its posscssor But the Spanish government
has seemed dcsros render It little SO as pos
sble 1t will neither guard against wrongs to US nor
rsdrvsa themvr lins Pfssk4ssss says $780, sass,-
whist the captain general Of ppba is Invested with
general despotie authority in the government Of that
sand the jowcr is withheld from him t, examine and
pednss wrongs committed by officials under his control on
citzl ms OF the United States Instead of making our
complaints directly to him at Havana we are obliged
present them through minister at Madrid These are
then referred back to the captain general for information
ulne1in n nr,u
cations and correspondence between Madrid and Cuba
before the Spanish will to proceed to
negotiation
The committee entirely concur with the President in
the following sentiments
''It has been made known to the world by my prcde-
that the United States have on several occasions
cndeavorcd to acquire Cuba from Spain by honorable
gotiations. o We would not If we could
acquire Cuba in any other manner This is due To our
national character All the territory which we have ac-
quired since the origin of the government has been by
fair purchase from France Spain, and Mexico by the
free and voluntary act Of the independent State of Texas
in blending her desnies with This course VIC
shall ever pursue unless circumstances should occur
which we do not nov anticipate rendering departure
from u clearly usiaIle under the imperative aud over
ruling law of seIfWcseryation. ,.
The attempts oacaure it, alluded to by the President
have been made by tic Executive without the express
sanction Of Congress- though is not doubted that they
have met its hearty appreciation and that Of the Ameri
pSople. Perhaps proposition made with the ex-
press SANCTION Of Congress may recciye more favorable
consideration from the Spanish government Until such
proposition has been made and rejected ought
70 consider "honorabe negotiation exhausted nor
would IL be proper to discuss what course would be de-
mandcd of us "under the imperative and overung law
Of self preservation 1t is certain that the Executive
will take and Congress will sanction no st,p which will
not be sanctioned by The practices if by the public
sentiment, Of all civilized nations.
In addition to commercial privileges { n limited time
in the ports of Cuba similar 10 those granted Spain
the ports of Florida and t, France In those Louisiana
and greater privileges ii Spain should desire them
the United States could afford to pay an equivalent in
money for the change Of flags IL is that the prn
cipal pccuniary gain from the acquisition would to
those classes OF citizens engaged in oommerce
cation, and manufactures, whom the taxation to pay
the equivalent would TALL with the least weight but The
Is not doubted that in consideration Of the political and
commercial advantages ta the whole nation they would
cheerfully bear their proportion of the burden.
No prospect of pecunay gain could induce the people
of the United States to sanction act of wrong and no
arguments will be necessary to reconcile them to
pay the cost OF national security But as the sum pro
posed to be appropriated is large and the people under
government demand and haye fhe right 10 receive
from the representative body full explanations as 20 every
Legislative act it Is our dnty to lay before the House thc
information which has guided In settling the amount of
appropriation recommended.
The committee, therefore, present to the House stats
isal facts drawn from official and reliable sources
showing the advantages which may be expected TO result
country
| To the agricultural
2. To the manufacturing.
3. 10 the navigation.
4 TO the commercial.
N,at cf tl,a u,ta ara l.avy,, f.e, oeso;.t