Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-01-07
me Purchnse of Cubn.

The Purchase of Cuba.
That portion of the Presidents Message which re-
fers to the acquisition of Cuba, does not seem to
meet with favor from the government officials of the
Capital or from tie privileged and pensioned
classes of the Island of Cuba. We did not expect
that it would The annexation Of Cuba to this coun-
try would deprive them of their power to Cypress
the people, for which they are literally paid by
the Spanish Government. II would destroy their
lOrdly prerogatives and reduce their prineely
nues. 1t would place them on level with the pop
ulace whom they have been taught TO desPise, and
whom they have learned TO trample upon and en-
slave Their Castsl an pride cannot brook this deg
radiation and their svsrice is alarmed st the pros
pective loss Of their profitable sineeures.
Their protest against the sale Of Cuba is a char
seteristo document 1t has all the Spanish pOmpOsy
Of STYLE and all of the parasites of spirit
They PROSTATE themselves at the royal feet their
sovereign in perfect paroxysm Of enthusiasm, and
beseech her majesty not to her sacred slipper
from their loyal necks. They are proud to call
themselves her humble and submissive subjects.
They are hOnOred by being her slaves. But towards
the Government at Washington they are naughty,
indignant, and supercilious. How dare an Ameri-
can President ask the payment of a debt from the
Catholic Court at Madrid How dare he propose to
purchase the Island of Cuba or take it in discharge
of unliquidSted liabilities? They are nation of
gentlemen, they speak the language of Cervsntes,
they boast of noble lineage they repOse ancestral
honors, and serve the Spanish Crown. 1t is an in
suit to propose liberty to them and the benefits of
free government. They are Castslians, and scOrn
to be freemen. They are jealous oftheir hereditary
honor and will not have it sullied By contact with
a republican people.
Thepeople Of Cuba do OF participate in these sent
ments They have testified their willingness to be in
corporstedinto the United Sstesby the secret assist
ancethey rendered LOPEZ, their patriotic country
man. his efforts to liberate the Island from the Span
sh yoke They have manifested theirsnxety to escape
Spanish tyranny their liberal contributions to the
expense of that expedition Even the ladies of Cuba
sympathized ia these patriotic efforts for the indie
pendence of the Island, and actually sold their
jewels to furnish means to the army of liberation.
1t has been stated that over one hundred thousand
dollars was raised from this source alone and placed
at the command of LOPEZ. There is still a strong
revolutionary feeling among the people of Cuba,
which csa only be suppressed by the utmost vigi
lance on the part Of the Spanish Government, and
the presence of strong military force Cuba is
thus heavy expense to the government at Madrid,
an expense which it is by able to bear. 1t
will not be able maintain the requisite force there
much longer, and the simple alternative will be pre-
sented to Spain of selling Cuba for one hundred
million of dollars or losing it by revolution. We
cannot tell which she will choose, for the pride of
princes, especially of Spanish princes, may lead
them to any folly.
Below We give the protest to which we have refer
red, which appears in the Havana papers by the
ders of the Captain General:
MADAME: The AyuntamientU of Havana has not
read without profound surprise the recent message
of the President Of the United States, il which the
nfamousidesis announced that that governme mt has
intended and intends to purchase the island of Gu
be, q pretensiOn which must be looked upon as
doubly insulting TO the nobeness Of the nation and
to the dignity Of the of Cuba wnO it appears,
considered no better than drove OF slaves that
can be sold like private estate.
Allthe Spauiards resident in the territory of the
Island constitute an integral part Of the Spanish
nation, and Cuba is province of the monarchy, in
all things similar 10 those Of Castillo to which our
wise laws of the Indies make her equal The shame
of being sold cannot be supported by those wac al
ways appreciate their existence a part of ma
tiOn to which they have ever been assimilaed in
habit, religion and customs, and which transmitted
TO them the beautiful language Of Ceramics
The government of SpaIn has not heard, and
doubtless will not listen TO ignominious pTeen-
sion which wounds its sense of decency; but nev>
eTtheless, the first principally of the Island has be-
heveG it 10 be its duty 20 raise its voice 10 your
majesty, seeing written this insult to humanity
and the illustrated age in which we lve-an insult
in which, with cool contumely, and total forget
funess Of all the admitted recognized principles
of international relations, the only desire is
isfy the speculative aspirations snd the interested
views of country, by bringing to shame punc-
GlliOus government and people who see in the col
Of their flag long review of gOTes, eternal
remembrance Of greatness and heroism. Madam,
in the last century the English occupied Havana,
and its AyuutamlentO never ceased 10 regard the
throne of your august uncle until Don Carlos III
was induced TO exchange his Lusitauiln laures for
the rescue Of this capital; ami when the Earl Of Al
bermaTle demanded that this city should do homage
to the King of England the CsbildO of the capital
resisted the requirement, notwithstanding that the
foreign officer VINO made it presided at The session
Cuba, madame, is the same Spanish province thatit
has been heretofore. Now and forever will it reject
foreign domination. May the government of your
majesty 30 understand it, for the honor of ALL and
the aspirations of Havana will remain satisf ed
Such, madam, are the sUfrages of the inhabi>
tants of the capital of Cuba, ard its Ayuntamien-
10 hastens to lay them at your Majesys royal feet
through the legal channel anxious TO offer TO your
Majesty a testimonial of the sentiments which have
been inspired by the reading OF the message of the
President of the United States.
God preserve the important life Of your Majesty
for many years [CspituIsr chamber or Havana, Dec
II, 1853 Maiam-at the royal feet of your Ma
jesty.
This document was proposed in the AyuDtamientO
by Count de O'Reilly, its requida, and was sigued
by Gen Echavari, the Governor Of the city, all the
officials, and the great body Of the citizens. For
the latter purpose it deposited At the Cabads,
and the public we're invited atx their signatures,
which was invariably done.