New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-25
FROM flashing TON.
TIE ACQUISITION OF CUBA.

From An Occasional Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Jan, q, 1859.
have excellent authority for saying that Bu.
chansn and the Cabinet quite in earnest in their
moyemt Its toward the acquisition of Cuba; th.t
The thirty million measure is not mere feint to
draw attention from embarrassing questions now
pressing heavily upon the Administration and the
Democratic party; and that the President sincere
ly believes that, if large sum Of money is placed
at biz disposal for this object, he regotate sue
cessfuly for that leland. In all this he may he
mistaken; but / have good reason for saying that
be believes he is not and that ho ha, heretofore 10
tended, and does yet iotend to make the acqusi-
ton Of Cuba the leading, the historic measure of
his Adn ostIaton.
The utim,te acquisition of Cuba has long been
a cardr al measure Of the Democratic party. Per-
tons who, for ten years past have been accustomed
10 counsel with the leaders of the party on national
questions, know this fact. Indeed, ever since the
annexation of Texas, the adSentGrers, the uneasy
spirits IN the Northern Democracy, and especially
the Southern negro propaganda, have looked with
longing eyes to Expansion" in the direction of
the TROPICS Though portions Of Mexico and Gen.
tral America have loomed in these visions, Cuba
bar been The chief attraction, particularly among
Sou,heyn polit: :iaps. Cuba would furnish a couple
of save-holdiog States, ready for immediate adns-
sion to the Union; while to make Mexico and the
Istfmu subservient to the schemes of the prOpa-
eanda, would involve the necessity Of .lave colo
nizaon and the danger of defeat as in the Gaze of
Kansas. -Four classes of persons were to be sPe-
ciay spIea!ed 10 in carrying out the plan of Cuban
acquisition, viz. first and chiefly, the shareholders
! and their abettors in the South; secondly, the
commercial and shipping interests of the North;
tbiIely, the uneasy and fiery spirits in the large
cities on the sesboard, the lakes, aud the rivers;
and fourtbly, the great mass Of the population of
the Northwest, the offspring OF emigration, no
ma6ic 10 its habits, and fond Of adventure.
Note some of the obvious data, latent and patent,
10 proof of the assertion that for The past ten or
dozen years Influential portions Of the Democratic
party have contemplated the ultimate annexation
Of Cuba TO the Union just as portions of it looked
for Il e final annexation of Texas for seven years
previous to the coDsuumation Of that event.
J. A secret organization, whose object is the ac-
QUESTION Of Cuba, peaceably or forcibly, has ex-
isted for many years in rome Of our cities, and
having ramifcatiOns TO some extent through
the country. More than one stump orator IN the
Pierce campaign was the agent Of this orgsniza-
tOn, ana travelled with engraved portraits OF Lopez
in bis trunk
III. All the raids Of Lopez and his brother con-
spirators upon Cuba were fomented, patronizsd
ard justified by influential members of the Demo
crsllc party.
Ill. Pierce, contrary 10 the advice Of many of
his supporters intended TO have made tie scqul-
stion of the leland leading measure Of his Ad-
ministration. lie struck the keynote in his inauga-
raj address. After declaring that he should not Be
controlled in his policy BY any timd forebcdings OF
evil from expansion he adds: Indeed, 1t Is not
10 be disguised that our attitude 8 uation, and
"our position on the globe render the acquisition of
certain possessions not within our jurisdiction, emf
''peuty important for our protection, If not, 10 tue
future essential for the preservation OF the rights
" commerce, aid the peace OF the world vi
course, these certain possessions meant Cuoa-
in his frst annual messsge, the President In pur-
suasce of the same line of policy, magnlhed and
aggravated our long standing difte elltes with
SPAN. But tbs question Was soon whelmed oy
another which Sled the whole land with asltat On.
The Kansas. s.N-braska oil (preciPtated upon
Pierce almost b. aeeident) absorbed the nrst ses-
tlou OF Congress 10 hs term. crushed hin al the
elections Of lo54 ief, him powerless in tue next
Honse, and With its cognats and consequent ques
rons, so oc:upied the rut..c attention that 80
far from the measure beiI z consumn.s .sted 5y him.
it could neither DC considered during his admins
tra;op, nor made prominent issue in the Presi-
dental contest Cf lS56.
". In the mt esntime the Ostend Conference had
been held. and ,s celebrated Manifesto, declaring
ior the acquisition OF Cuba by purchase or theft.
issued. Though the Kansas imbroglio possessed
the general rlina in ihe early months of 1885, yet
,ha C,ncir nsfi Conyertinn resolved "that The