Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-05

as follows; - ..A 4
The Southern Intrigue of ls54-b.-That
grand intrigue of,the South in l854-5, pf
which the Ostend Conference was only an
episode, was in fact the first dangerous form
OF this very Secession business Of 1901.
The soul and center of the plot was Jeffer-
son Davis, Of Mississippi, Secretary Of War.
President Pierce and the remainder of the
Cabinet were his instruments, pliantly doing
his bidding, with the exception of Governor
Marcy, of New York, whose patriotism l
considered could be invoked to some pur-
pose. But the odds were heavy against the
Secretary Of State in that Administration,
and be lacked pewer and means to prevent
its success. The official information sent to
the Department of State from Spain and
Cuba was all made to serve the purposes OF
the faction then striving for war. Our peo-
pie and the Department of State also we're
TO be deceived into the belief settled hos
tility acainst us on the part of Spain. The
Spanish Government was to be convinced OF
a corresponding sentiment on our part to-
ward her. War, after all the preliminaries
and pretexts had then been prepared, was TO
be made suddenly and without consulting
Congress. The first our people were to have
heard of it, apart from the mistaken reports
(officisl and unofficisl) of hostile feeling
agsinst us and outrages and grievances unre-
paired by Spain, was to have been the news
war in the waters of Cuba
Dangerous Character Of the Plan.-The
plan was bold and dangerous. Southern
politicians calculated well, that once the
national flag should be raised in hostile at
titude against that. Of Spain, the whole
power of the country would 60 after it to
sustain it. And when Cuba should be con-
quered for the South by our united power,
/ then was the North to be prostrated by means
! of Cuba. .H-.F l'-r IL -.
| | fought this treason with my whole heart
and strength, and defeated it, so far as its
success depended upon the maneuvers of
our diplomacy here. So soon as the re-
sponsibility of affairs here devolved on me,
not only communicated with Mr.. Marcy,
but with other individuals, and directly with
| various principal newspapers, so as to dis
abuse and enlighten the people as to what
was going on. After my Communications of
September, and the light already let in upon
the plot, the Ostend manifesto OF October l3
could not be answered otherwise than it
was. Our people nobly put their foot upon
the policy Of war with Spain. Mr.. Soule re-
turned. The settlement of the Black War
TioT affair followed him in a fortnight after
his arrival in Washington. The sting was
taken out of the lei Dorado" affair in five
days, and our squadron did not fire on Span
ish ships.
Extent of the Plot-The Southern Conted-
erdcy ForeshddoWed. But l did not myself
comprehend at first the full extent of this
plot. l did not understand until later
that, after the conquest of Cuba by the Uniou,
the Union itself was to be broken up on the
question of her admission, in case the free
and Democratic Moth should hesitate 10
rivet its own chains and deliver itself over
bound hand and foot to the rule of the un-
scTupulous oligarchy which manages the
political affairs of the extreme South . p
did not know that it was then before
hand contemplated to go out of the Union
with Cuba setting up the new Southern
Confederacy, with the whole slaveholdiug
power OF North America united under one
banner. Mexico and Central America to be
/ also immediately annexed and de iveTed
| over TO slavery. Justice to President Pierce
and other Northern statesmen engaged in
this scheme, impels me to state my own
persuasion also, that they were not initiated
into this part of the plot My own opinion
oftbem is that they were instruments bat
bali iDfuI med of the objects for which they
were working, and that they were Gun
ningly and treacherously used BY the South.
b But had already caught sight of this ulte-
rior scheme before writing my letter to the
President of April 81 published in the Ma.
tional Intelkgeneer of May %, 1856, as will
be seen by reference TO that paper.
Six years have passed since the Govern
ment at Washington refused the policy OF
friendship, and its immense advantages to
our commerce and our every interest in con-
nection with Spain.
The ACQUISITION of Caba.-The grand con-
spiracy was frustrated, but the good will OF
Spain had been uncOurteously repelled, and
the lamentable position of our Northern
Presidents, elected by the votes of the South,
has compelled them annually to recommend
to Congress the immediate acquisition oI
Cuba, although the impossibility of such
acquisition was evident, and Spain had de-
claIed she would resent the proposition as 9
national insult. The Legation of the United
States in Spain has thus been paralyzed
even if it has beeninstructed to do any thing
for our commercial interests.
Nevertheless, / have received repeatedly
from personages in power, the assuranc
that, with change of policy on our part
the whole restrictive system impeding ou
commercial intercourse with Cuba would b
removed. have been consulted whethe
the abolition of the discriminating dutie
upon our flour and grain in Cuba could no
b. combined with reduction of our owl
duties on the ordinary cheap wines of Gas
tile, as partial compensation for the de
struction of its -four trade with the colonies
Policy TotOdTd SpGiH.-An indication G
readiness TO abandon the -four duties an
the whole restrictive commercial system i
Cuba has been recently repeated to me in
quarter which leaves no doubt that the OF
tanning of these results still depends princ
pally upon ourselves. A policy of goo
8 faith and good neighborhood on the part {
our Government toward Spain is necessary
6 and any act or measure of the GovernneI
, of the United States which would conVinC
Spain of such a change of policy at hom
/ might now be expected to be followed
a such results here, Without pretending
= sneak for the Spanish Government, or an
: member of it, or to be able TO anticipate
4 any way its ideas or its actions on this {
q any other subject do mean to say and
!. repeat that this is my well founded conY
: ton, and more-thst hazard little in stain
il. Let such a policy be adopted, and int
!. ligently and honestly represented here, al
"a the result may be anticipated with coui
dsnce. .r -..r II.
s Present Condition of SpaiR.-The rap
n and wonderful increase of material prosperi
s in Spain, the no less rapid growth Of liber
IA ideas and principles in politics, have Il
v Spanish statesmen TO look upon the Q
). financial and commercial systems OF th
" country as imperfectly adapted to the nece
;r stiles and interests OF the present day, al
D. they would not be very long or vigorous
= defended against well.directed efforts
h. AS to the sympathies of Spain in our pre-
of ent question at home, l am competent
Is speak. The masses of the Spanish .peOp
Al though they understand little Of our interi
ne politics, are in sentiment friendly TO Z
in United States, which name signifies to the
: the example and practical existence Of th'
own dreams of liberty and political we
being. Their sympathies are sure for
~ flag and Government which bears that mar
of against all rebels and internal enemies
every description. tI.t = -.
-. Spanish statesmen and leaders are beti
M informed about the course of our inter-
=; ~ questions, and the part which belongs
Of them in our flibustering demonstrations
oa the interior as well as the exterior. 10
nss have been made to understand that
% Southern States are those who press for
~, immediate annexation of Ouba as a means