Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-02-04
From the Boston JOurns
Minority Report on the Pur-
chase of Cuba.

GudSO VI OAOos
On the 24th ult., Mr.. Richie, from
the Committee on Foreign Affairs Of
the u. S. House of Representatives, sub
mitted minority report, signed by him
self, Homer E. Royce, and Arson Bur-
lingame, adverse to the recommendation
Of the President for the purchase of
Cuba. The minority consider three
reasons urged by the President for this
measure. The first is, that we may put
a stop to the slave trade by the acquisi-
ton of the island, and remove the seri-
Gus difficulties that have recently arisen
between Great Britain and the United
States, growing out of this trade. To
this the minority reply that while they
feel themselves to be quite as much OPP
posed to the slave trade as the President,
they do not feel called upon, under exist
ing circumstances, to acquire Cuba,
either by purchase or conquest and
further, that we should first suppress the
slave trade between Africa and the Uni
ted States before interfering with the
trade to Cuba. In regard to the difficult
ties growing out of the right of search,
they remark that the President himself
states that these difficulties have been
happily settled. On his own showing,
therefore, the possession of Cuba is not
necessary for that purpose.
The second reason assigned by the
President is, that the acquisition of Cuba
is necessary to the safety of the United
States. The minority consider this pro-
position an error, and remark:
East of Cuba lie the Bahama Islands,
and South and East the islands of ia
maica and St. Domingo, which, if the
United States had Cuba, would still
command the immense and annually in
creasing trade, foreign and coastwise, not
only of that noble river-the Mississip-
pi-but also of the noble island of Cuba
itself In fact, the acquisition of Jamai-
ca is much more necessary at present for
the security of our commerce than that
of Cuba. The great body of the COM
merce 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
government weak as a naval power, and
=, whose ports might be easily shut up by
our feet in case of war whereas Ja-
i maica belongs to Great Britain, the lead
ing naval power of the world and for
that very reason the possession of jana
u lea 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 In
. dies between the United States and
Great Britain, we are obliged to nego-
- tiate about them either in Washington or
London. The British minister, more
over, has no right to make treaties or
= settle difficulties except in pursuance of
authority from home, and cases frequent
ly arise where we are compelled to wait
till he can write to London and receive
an answer. But this is not all. The
possessions of Great Britain lie along
e our northern boundary, all the way
= across the continent, from the Pacific
- Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, and en-
= danger our safety the whole way. Her
possessions also in New Brunswick
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland from
their geographical position, command the
main body of our commerce with Eu.
rope. If, then, the theory of the Pres.
TO ident be correct, that it is necessary IL
a. acquire Cuba for safety, it is still more
III necessary for our safety that we should
" acquire Jamaica and the other British
''e possessions in~North America. But
- is manifest that, under all the circum
, stances, the fears of the President O
dangers to our commerce, arising from
81 the possession of Cuba by Spain, ar,
e groundless."
err The third reason adduced by til,
ar President is, that " whilst the possession
on of the island would be of vast impor
Ter lance to the United States, its value t
eS' Spain is comparatively unimportant." -
TO In other words, ray the minority, Cub
hg would, i'll the Presidents opinion, b
TO worth more to US than to Spain, an
It'll therefore we ought to have it. This the
ith regard as theory more novel than JUS
ad- and remark that they prefer TO stan
Is upon the theory of the rights of pronei
nj ty, as generally understood throuobo,
put the civilized world, and upon that tbeor
Il N