The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-22
WASHINGTON CITY.
sArUnpAY. JANUARY 70, 1860.
rnE rrslpENTs MEssAeE


The following message has been returned to the
Senate by the President Of the United States in
response to resolution OF inquiry from that body
adopted few days ago. From the very nature OF
the case, no proposition for the purchase of Cuba,
and of course no correspondence on the subject,
could have been initiated by the Executive after ali
that has occurred the subject during the few past
years. The fact is well understood in Europe that
our Executive is but a fractional part Of our govern
ment, and that proposition from it. Of such nature
as the one in question, is not equivalent to propo-
sition from the government itself We're the gov
ernment of Spain ever disposed to entertain
proposition for the purchase Of Cuba, il would per
cmptorly decline to do So if it were to come merely
as the proposal of the Executive, which, in case Of
its acceptance, would have to encounter the pub
licity Of a tedious congressional debate and proba
bly, also the notoriety of an angry popular cam
pagn in this country.
We cannot conceive of position which would be
more Illuminating to a foreign government than that
of having ratified treaty making an important ter
rtorial cesson TO this government which would de-
pend for final contamination upon the issue of pro
tacted congressional discussion, well as year
or twos political eanvassng on the hustings before
the people Of the United States,
For the President to have commenced cores
pondence this subject before taking the sense of
Congress, would have been to invite prompt and
certain rebuff The proposal would have been mere
ly that of a branch of the government, and not Of
the government itself From the very nature of the
case might have been inferred before the following
message conveyed the information that no cores
pondence had occurred between the two governments
on the subject.
Even those, therefore, who suppose that the
probabilities at present all unpropitious for the
success of negotiation for the purchase of Cuba
must acknowledge the prudence of comforting in ad-
vance standing authority upon the President of the
United States to open the negotiation whenever cir
cumstances may hereafter invite to the step
Tb the Szaate Of Me United STATES
/ transmit herewith report from the Secretary OF
State in answer to the resout the Senate of the 18th
instant requesting the President if not incompatible
with the public interest to communicate to the Senate
any and all correspondence between the of the
United States and the government of her Catholic Males
y relating any proposition for the purchase of the
island of Cuba which correspondence has not been fur
nished to either house of Congress From this it appears
that no such correspondence has taken place which has
not already been communicated to Congress In my late
annual message stated in reference to the purchase Of
Cuba that the publicity which has been given to
former negotiations this subject and the large appro
prations which may be required to effect the purpose
render it expedient before making another attempt to
new the negotiation that should lay the whole subject
before Congress. still entertain the opinion,
deemng it highly important if not indispensable to the
success any negotiation which might institute for the
purpose that the should receive the previous
sanction of Congress JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON January FL 1859.