The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-08-09
Slave Holders Want More Slave
Territory.

Both wings of the Democratic party are
in favor of the annexation of the Island of
Cuba. Both platforms pledged their res
pective party organizations to that end.
The question very naturally arises, why
they haye adopted this course. We cannot
answer 1T unless it is a bid for Southern
votes and support. We of the North have
no interests that demand the acquisition of
Cuba, but we have interests that do dictate
it should not be acquired.
In its acquisition the south will gain a
slave representation in the Senate Of the
United States.
If the acquisition of Cuba did not thus
offer to strengthen the slave holding infiu,
encei in the Federal Government. the South
would never think Of its acquisition, they
would not desire it, and as consequence,
the Democratic party would not desire to do
it.
To show the financial results of the Dur .
chase of Cuba, look at the efforts Of Pierce's
administration to procure it, and the facts
his efforts developed. In August, 1854, Mr..
Marcy, being then at the head of the state de
partment, directed Pierre Soule, Minister to
Spain, j. Y. Mason, Minister to France, and
and JAMES BUCHANAN, then Minister
to Great Britain, ito meet as early as NAV be
''at some convenient point, to consult to-
'Gether, to compare opinions rs to what
may be advisable, and to adopt measures
for perfect concert Of action in aid of
measures to acquire Cuba. These three
Ministers met in pursuance of this direction.
at place called Ostend, held a conference
for number of days, and prepared, a crcu
lar which they sent to the State Department
Of Our government, at Washington, in Octo-
Der, 1854. The circular, thus prepared took
ITS name from the name of the place where
the Conference was held, and is know
as the "Ostend Manifesto" In which, we
find the following impressive reasons why
Spain should sell out her Cuban possessions
to the United States
Cuba, In her palmiest days, never yielded her ex-
checquer after deducting the expenses of it's govern
ment. a clear annual income of more than a million
and half of dollars These expenses have increased
IN such degree as to leave deficit chargeable on
the treasury of Spain to the of six hundred
thousand dollars In pecuniary point of view,
hereiore the island an incumbr ance, instead Of
source OF profit to its mother country"
UNDER NO PROBABLE CIRCUMSTANCES CAN
guBA EVER YIELD TO SPAIN ONE PER CENT ON
TIE LARGE AMOUNT WHICH THE UNITED
TON"
The party that would recklcssly expend
the money of the people, while the treasury
is empty, and while the ordinary
expenses Of the government are running
the nationinto debt BY tens of millions of
dollars per annum, is not to be trusted. One
per cent, per annum Is too small return
for money invested in the acquisition Of for
egn lands, when we have almost exhaust
less plains of unsurpassing fertility, yet I'm
occupied, and that too when we would be
compelled to borrow the money to be thus
invested, and pay for the same from Ave to
six per cent, per annum for its use
Such financial skill would bring upon the
government tho same fate that the great,
united, national, democratic party have
brought upon themselves, to wit, Bankrupt
cy.