The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-02-19

Towards Cuba. Mr.. Jefferson in 1909, in q
letter to President Madison declared that. Cuba
was wanting to complete the empire of libert
on the Western Continent, and that's its oes {
patton and possession by the United
could be held and defended in all fus sim
without a navy Again, in writis ~ Pres
dent Munroe in the summer Of 1913, he hi
forth the idea that the addition Of Cuba ~
contcderacy was the great desidnatup%
vance our power as a nation to its utHR
terests. In the fall Of the same year,
letter to the same; he looked upon Cuba a.
most interesting addition which could ever
made TO our system Of states.
John Quincy Adams, Secretary Of
under MIR. Munroe, in a diplomatic ct~
dence with our Minister at Madrid iii
considered the local position of Cuba as
natural appendage to the North Ameyican
Continent, and expressed his conviction that
its annexation 10 our Government in less than
half Of a century from'that time would be alb
solntely Indispensable to the integrity Of the
Union itself.
Mr.. Clay, Secretary of State in 1926, in a
dispatch to our Minister at Madrid, remarked
that the United States at that time were sat
isfcd with the possession of Cuba by Spain,
but should a war spring up between Spain and
some unfriend'y sovereignty for the conquest
Of Cuba, the United States could not remain
an idle spectator on q scene which might give
her an opportunity to secure this Island.
Mr.. Van Buren, in 1929, in a correspon-
dence with our Minister to Spain, regarded the
transfer Of Cuba to any foreign power as emf
nently inauspicious to the commerce of the
United States in that quarter, and as such il
was the policy, Of this government to keep it in
the hands of Spain, and in the event of a
transfer of possession the United States, by
reason of proximity should not let the oppor-
tunity pass to secure it.
Mr.. Buchanan in 184S, in o diplomatic note
to Mr.. r. Saunders, our Minister 10 Spain
expressed his conviction that the time had
arrived, when all effort should be made by the
United States for the purchase Of the Island,
and authorized our Minister to offer one hun
dred millions of dollars for it.
Mr.. Everett in his letter of December LIST.
1852, to the French Minister, Compile de
Sartiges, rejecting the proposition ola tripartite
convention on the part Of France, England
and the United States, disclaiming all intention
Of ever obtaining possession of the Island Of.
Cuba, remarked that it was suicidal to the in
terests of Spain for her to attempt to cling to
the possession of Cuba under such a burden of
as it costs to keep up her sovereignty
over the Island, and that if it was peaceably
to the United States, a prosperous
would spring up between Cuba and
Spain for more desirable than the best con-
triyed system of colonial taxation for its pro.
Mr.. Marcy in 1853, in a note to Mr.. Pierre
regarded the destiny of Cuba, after it
should cease to be q dependency of Spain as
very precarious, and that the United States
would look on its acquisition to her territory
with a deep and direct interest.
From the above authorities, it seems that
the ultimate acquisition of Cuba has long been
as the fixed policy of the United
The only difference of opinion which
exists in the minds of American statesmen is
to the time, mode, and conditions of obtain.
ing it. Tho report of Senator Slidell intro
luces three possible alternatives in the future
Of Cuba FRS. possession by one OF the great
European powers. This The United States
AVE from time to time declared to be incon-
sistent with her iwnterests. aud any attempt to
,onsummate it would be resisted by an appeal to
arms and the God Of battles.
The second alternative is the independence of
he, Island. This if effected would exist only
N name, it never could be permanently main
aimed, 1t would certainly fall under some
nrotectorate, and if under the United States,
would assuredly follow. An Euro
bean protectorate would not be tolerated by
he United States under any consideration.
The third alternative is annexation to the
United States. If this was effected by con-
quest, very possibly the hostile interference not
'nly Of Spain, but the whole civilized would
'e provoked. Besides this catastrophe, seryjle
nsurrection would break out on The Island and
lead to the total destruction of all the
Industrial agencies and elements employed on
Purchase then by negotiation is the only
course to be pursued, and this
annot be effected without furnishing the presi.
lent with the funds to facilitate it, and which
he bill accompanying the report proposes to
10, by placing the specific sum of thirty mil
OF dollars in his hands.
Some of the opposcrs of acquisition contend
hat it would be placing too much money in
he hands of the President. Precedents are
tied in the report which obviate to some ey.
ent the force of this objection.
The act of Feb. Goth, lS03, placed the sum Of
wo millions of dollars in the hands of the
resident to be used in negotiating for the
urchase Of Louisiana. The act of Feb. 18th
SOC, placed two millions of dollars in the
ands of the President for the purchase of
lorida. The act of the 3D. March 1877, placed
he sum of three millions of d~ollarsin the hands
The President to enable him to conclude a
of peace, limits, and boundaries with the
nnnhIla aF AIaNt. Al ~ 49,. -