Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-01
MINORITY REPORT ON THE PURCHASE OF
CUBA

Royce, and Arson Burlingame, adverse to the
recommendation of the President for the pur-
chase of Cuba. The minority consider three
reasons urged by the President for this meas
ure. The first is, that we may put stop to
the slave trade by the acquisition of the island,
and remove the serious difficulties that have
recently arisen between Great Brit ain and the
United States, growing out of this trade. To
this the minority reply, that while they feel
themselves to be quite as much opposed to the
slave trade as the President, they do not feel
called upon, under existing circumstances, to
acquire Cuba, either by purchase or conquest;
and further, that we should first suppress the
slave trade between Africa and the United
States before interfering with the trade to Gu
ba. In regard to the difficulties growing out
of the right of search they remark that the
President himself states that these difficulties
have been happily settled On his own show
ing therefore, the possession of Cuba is not
necessary for that purpose
The second reason assigned by the Presi-
dent is, that the acquisition Of Cuba is neces-
sary to the safety Of the United States. The
minority consider this proposition an error,
and remark:
Cast of Cuba lie the Bahama Islands, and
South and East, the islands of Jamaica and
st. Domingo, which, if the United States had
Cuba, would still command the immense and
annually increasing trade, foreign and coast.
wise, not only of that noble river, the Missis-
sippi, but also fthe noble island of Cuba itself.
In fact, the acquisition of Jamaica is much
more necessary at present for the security of
our commerce than that of Cuba. The great
body of the commerce to and from the Gulf
OF Mexico passes along the Southern coast of
Cuba through the channel between Cuba and
Jamaica. Cuba is owned by Spain-a govern
wpolr a vol o,,J
might be easily shut up by our fleet in case of
war whereas Jamaica belongs to Great Brit
ain, the leading naval power of the world and
for that very reason the possession of Jamaica
Is much more important to the safety of our
commerce than that of Cuba Great Britain,
too, is quite as distant from the Gulf of Mexico
as Spain and when difficulties occur in the
West Indies between the United States and
Great Britain, we are obliged to negotiate
about them either in Washington or London.
The British minister moreover, has no right to
make treaties or settle difficulties, except in
pursuance of authority from home, and cases
frequently arise where we are compelled to wait
till he can write to London and receive an an
swer. But this is not ALL The possessions of
Great Britain lie along our Northern boundary,
all the way across the continent, from the Pa
cific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, and endan-
ger our safety the whole way. Hcl posses
Sions also in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
and Newfoundland, from their geographical po-
stion, command the main body of our COM
merce with Europe. IT. them the theory of
the President be correct, that it is necessary to
acquire Cuba for safety, it is still more neces-
sary for our safety that we should acquire Ja-
maica and the other British possessions in
North America. But it is manifest that, I'M
der all the circumstances, the fears of the Pres
M
the possession of Cuba by Spain, are ground
less :"
The third reason adduced by the President
Is, that -" whilst the possession of the island
would be OF vast importance to the United
States, Its value to Spain is comparatively I'M
important" In other words say the minority
" Cuba would, in the Presidents opinion, be
worth more to us than to Spain and therefore
we ought to have it. This they regard as
theory more novel than just, and remark that
they prefer to stand upon the theory of the
rights OF property, as generally understood
throughout the civilized world, and upon that
theory it is a complete answer to the President
and those who hold with him to say that Cuba
belongs to Spain, and that she is not willing to
sell it or to part with it on any terms. Spain
Is herself the disposer of her own property
and has the absolute right to say whether she
will sell it or not
In regard to the frequent troubles which the
PRESIDENT says arise from the present colonial
nature of the government of the island. the
minority express the opinion that the President
may easily maintain friendly relations with
Spain by retaining from offers to purchase or
threats to conquer Cuba. g The moment that
the Spanish government perceive that he has
laid aside all thoughts Of acquiring Cuba, and
desires merely to foster an amicable CONNER
cial intercourse, it will doubtless be ready to
aid him to the utmost of its power. Instead
of fears, suspicion, and mutual complaints. we
shall have the interchange of benefits and mu
tual confidence"
But, supposing that Spain were willing to
sell Cuba. the minority consider that if wonld
be bad policy to purchase it. at present. The
acquisition of the island would add another to
the already large number of discordant ele
ments in the United States. which now distract
the administration of the government. Re
sides, the idea of pecuniary profit to the United
States tbov ragard nc f,IIoc;pus All +bo LII,
of Cuba worth haying are in tho hands Of nri.
waite persons. and the limited States would 90
ouire NOTHING bv its nnrchosa hnt tbe nolit;col
control of the island and wonld no cbargod
with its nrotact;on apd dofanca i, ,.ot,,rn e..
the right TO levy tayos and imnosts In oil
nrobabiltv the incornn undor tbo 6,ystor, of +i,a
United States would not bv anv means dafrav
the cost. The taxes levied by Spain are said
to be enormous Init no snch taxes would he
levied by us, ana our expenditures would ne
cessarily be very heavy.
In considering the subject of purchase, the
population of the island is a matter of impor-
lance. The population of Cuba, in 1854, was
composed of sol 1888 whites, 176,647 free color
ed people. and $50, 425 slaves, A very consid-
cradle portion Of the slaves, says the report,
may be said to be entirely savage, and ali the
inhabitants Of the island are utterly diverse
from the people Of the United States, in Ian