The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-04
The Purchase or Conquest OF Cuba.

ANOTHER REPLY TO THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
SPAIN RECOMMENDED TO BUY OR SEIZE KEY WEST.
Translated from La CrOnca OF New York. Jan g. for the
NEW YORK HERALD
We learn from reliable that of the deputies
intends submit, within short time TO the
OF that body Proposition conceived in the following
similar TERMS
"That negotiations shall be opened with the govern
ment OF the United States for the immediate cesson
Spain of Key West, in Florida, in consideration OF
Of money to be stipulated the time since pecu
liar situation Of the said Key within few hours sa Of
HAVANA and other circumstances Of less importance,
make ts possession by us excessively desirable for the
protection OF our national interests in the island OF Cuba
The above proposition in fact very rational
and worthy OF being attended to- provided shall be acu
any shaped INTO definite form; besides, II would have
the advantage "a being 0pportune in every respect.
There is no doubt but that the possession o.
Key West would procure for Spain many and
considerable advantages not only especially
OF it's being close neighbor ~ the Spanish island for
besides this, there Is very particular motive which
would Of itself justify the proposaLviz that Key West
belonging to-day TO the United States, permanent
Of grievance and Inconvenience 10 the Spanish
people Mr Buchanan will permit US for once 70 ,ntlte
his official laDguage)-and II anybody should doub
it, we shall mention in passing, amongst many other
cases, one which occurred in 1850 when the steamer
Creole, having board band of pirates who had jus
puDdered and set on fire port OF Cardenas, found
the port and from the authorities OF Key West the
cordial and efficient protection against steamer
FL Pizarro, which went in pursuit Of her, What happened
in September, 1851, when the same population
tit OF pratca fervor against Cuba endeavored TO seize
Spanish bark recently arrived In their waters, with
the charitable intention OF setting her on fire and
assassnatng her crew. on the pretext that they
Spanish, be kept mlnd as also that being
unable TO carry out their project, they attacked the
houses Of several OF rural citizens, paged them,
and destroyed without pity many valuable articles winch
they found there. And SO have mlny otner exploits
by those already universally famous rdqueros. =
On the other hand, NOBODY absolutely knows any
thing whatsoever about the title To the property its
degree Of validity the part OF the United States, with
reference TO Key West We suspect they merely
and simply in the fact of the government OF the Uucl
States having taken possession OF that territory then
S22) abandoned, without any other government,
not excepted paying the least nton it, although
Key West evidently lies within the waters that consti-
ute the Spanish dominion in that part We should be
very much pleased II any OF our North American col
leagues, generally rigid and scrupaous in apprecatng
and recognizing foreign rights should furnish with
some explanation on this po,nt.
AT all events there is in favor argumentoue OF
those that do not admit contradiction, ana which sub
init with pleasure TO the excellent judgment of the
Washington Cnionthe imperous and uoconquerabie law
of self preservation (words that comprehend aud include
the whole of public right according ~ President Buchauan
advises and demands from the acquisition Of Key West,
no matter in what way; and for this the Spanish
government ought not in the least for any
ration whatever, not the will of the Unoa excepted
As 10 what is vugaIly called "natonal dignity the pro
position could contain thing offensive the United
States, since they would be offered in exchange
pondng sum of money, not TO mention that there
modern history precedens such the cesson Of Louisiana
by Napoleon the Great and "nobody IN the world blamed
him for having accepted for this pecnnary cquva
lent as also Mr. Buchanan in his message reminds
On the upposon that the proposition Will be rtaned
and government submit IL to its Consideration, would
be well that in Madrid they should think of the choice Of
clever special agent who, provided with respectable funds
voted for that purpose by the Cortes ought 10 repair
advance to Washington, and devote his efforts turning
upside down the corscences Of the members Of the federal
government by those means which there and
generally known in order to conduct matters to happy
ISSUE To better would be amss that
this special agent should with himself
intelligence from some "obby member" among those
who at all hours flock numerously in the select
Of the Capitol and there people who think that the
bargan thus managed cannot fail to succeed 10 all
lection.
But at all events the Spanish government is under the
necessity of adopting, as soon as possible, measure of
high national justice, since the United States account
OF having consented TO pay for many years the just
ndemnes for damages and losses caused there
TO the Spanish schooner Amtad, may be considered
an absent fugitive fraudulent debtor to make
Of the words Of the Washington Union relative to Span
the latter should proceed without loss of time, TO the
sequesraon Of property belonging to the United States
by invading, for example, Key West and with much
better reason we peremptory want to possess IT, until
receive the indemnity, and by formally and perma
nenty appropriatng 70 herself that point 70 join
with our possessions in America. Whether in this sug
gestion which naturally offers itself to US, right
and equitable let Senator Davis of Mississippi
the Washington Unon his worthy sympathiser and ad
yOcate tell