Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-07-27
THE LATE MINISTER TO, SPAIN ON THE
ACQUISITION OF CUBA.
WASHINGTON, June 81, 1859.

THE LATE MINISTER TO, SPAIN ON THE
ACQUISITION OF CUBA.
WASHINGTON June 81, 1859.
To the Editors Of the National Intelligencer
In your paper, on the oath instant you allude to-
assertions alleged to have been recently made by
me relative to the prospects of the acquisition OF
Cuba, in manner which calls for notice at my
hands; and this not only in justice to myself, but
what is more important, to correct misconceptions
which have injurious effect in their public con-
nections
BY the correspondent of the Philadelphia Ameri-
can, by you, I am made to assert that Cuba can
never be purchased, and even to propose the pur
chase is an indgnity offered to Spain. By the same
gentleman am reported to have spoken in such
manner of the Administration as to show my DIS
sent from the Presidents views on the subject
ferred to, and virtually to endorse your own eX
preston that the acquisition of Cuba by negotiation
lis dormant, if not extinct topic Of political dis
CUSTOM"
1t is true that stated to the correspondent allud
ed to in answer to an inquiry of his Gas have to
Others that the prospect of acquiring Cuba by pur-
chase, under present circumstances, was inauspi-
cious, and that opinion certainly entertain. But
never said intimated that the proposition in any
way involved the honor of Spain or that the pur-
chase might not. at some future period, be effected
However unimportant my opinions touching these
questions may be- cannot but feel solicitude that
they should be correctly represented by those who
deem them worthy of remark and nothing can be
more erroneous than the manner in which they
have been alluded to by the correspondent you have
quoted In no communication to the Admnistra-
ton, verbal or written have made limitations such
as those attributed to me. On the contrary, | APP
prove the course which the President has pursued in
conducting our foreign relations, and especially his
statesmanlke views upon this great American ques-
49, - I
superior to all party and sectional considerations.
The President, in his last annual message, recon-
mends that we should endeavor to acquire Cuba by
honorable negotiation, adding I'VE would not, if
We could acquire it in any other way" He further
rec ,mmends that he should be entrusted by Con-
gress with the means of making an advance to the
Spanish Government on the signing of the treaty,
and before its ratification. | share and approve, in
their fullest extent, these views of the President
believe that if they acted upon, shall sooner
or later obtain Cuba by honorable negotiation; and
believing this l watched with much anxiety and
saw defeated, with great regret Mr.. Sdels bill to
appropriate thirty millions for the object referred
to. Sooner or later, say the time depends mainly
on ourselves. If we go on defeating appropriations
proposed for this object; if we continue to circulate
just such opinions as you, Messrs. Editors are Cir
cuatilg-namely, that it is party, not the nation,
init desires Cuba-if these opinions are taken up,
Spain, and the Spaniards made to believe Gas
they dog that even if a treaty be made the Ameri-
Senate would refuse to ratify it; if by suicd
al policy like this defeating the wishes and efforts
of the Administration, we place stumbling blocks
in our own way, then all must admit that the pros
poet, as to time is discouragng indeed.
But if, as hope and trust, we shall act with I'M
animity and decision; if we appropriate, and each
year continue to do so earnest of our inten-
tha fret a1fh
lied to be made on the signature of the treaty; if
we show Spain that We in earnest, and that we
will persevere in our intention if prove to her
that while we will employ no unfair means to obtain
Cuba We will neglect suitable opportunity to
purchase, then the time may not be far distant when
Spain, becoming convinced that Cuba is worth far
more to us than to her, may follow the example of
Napoleon in the transfer of Louisiana, and Of her.
self in that Of the two Floridas and sell to us, as
most honorably she may, colonial possession, the
value of which to the mother country is very great
ly diminished by the fact daily becoming more ap
parent that its possession by her is constant cause
of Irritation, and an annoyance.
The CorteS, in moment of excitement, resolved
that it was inconsistent with the dignity OF the ma
ton to dispose of its West Indian colony. But you
know, Mcssrs Editors enoug IN of the action of leg
isativc bodies ty be aware of the differences between
Il momentary ebultion Of feeling and "a deliberate
and settled policy And you must also have felt
how far the correspondent of the Philadelphia amer
lean was departing from sound argument when he
asserted that the true way to test the of the
indignant resentment of Spain at proposal, was
to imagine proposition on her part to re-purchase
Florida from us.
The gentleman in question is too intelligent to
maintain seriously such PARALLEL He knows that,
to make the one case in any degree correspond to
to the other, we must imagine the United States
possessed Of large island say in the Bay of Bscay
almost in sight of the shores of Spain, and com
handing of her principal harbors an island
with which she had important commercial relations;
an island in which alone throughout all Europe,
that odous commerce, the African slave trade, was
tolerated. We must suppose this island ours, and
that Spain taught by experience that constant
causes of national quarrel arising from its
occupation by remote country, sought to buy it
from US. We must imagine all this in order to OBJ
tain parallel case. But, if the case thus imagin-
ed should we deem it national indignity if Spain
proposed to purchase from us this island thus me-
nacing her shores? is it not much more likely that
We should take such proposal into serious consd-
pose to Spain, viz; sell to her possession the posi-
ton Of which seemed clearly to indicate it was never
N ended we should retain? | sincerely believe so,
and that our proposal in no way reflects upon the
honor of SPAIN
feel assured, Messrs. Editors, that may trust
to your courtesy for opportunity to correct what
know is not on your part, an intentional mstate
ment l am aware that it has been your policy,
generally, to deprccate an injury, not encourage
benefit all extension of the National Territory;
but in this wholly differ from you. believe the
acquisition of Louisiana, Florida Texas and Cali
forna the greatest blessings which have ever been
conferred upon our Republic since it took rank
among nations. l would that we could to-day pre-
sent an unbroken front in favor of the acquisition
of Cuba and that Congress, elevating itself above
miserable party and sectional controversies of the
day, would strengthen the arm of the Executive. as
it did in the days of Jefferson! thus showing that
union between the Legislative and Executive
branches of our Government, without which the great
measure in question can never be accomplished
Let this course be pursued, OF let us proclaim to
Spain and to the world that we will not receive Cuba
on any terms, and thus put an end to the exertons