The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-10-23
Letter from John Quincy Adams tg
Rev. DR.. Claiming.
QUINCY, 11th Aug, 1887.
Raw w r. Cu.vvrCa n n Nawnort

NV DEAR SIM
l rejoice to learn that you have it in
contemplation to give the public your
ideas on the appearance in the political
world of the new Republic of Texas.
Mr.. Tuckerman wrote to me as you bad
requested, and / answered his letter, but
he had mistaken the time when the trans
actions to which you desired reference to
be had, occurred, and supposed they had
happened during the administration of my
father. My answer therefore must have
been unsatisfactory to the object Of your
enquiries.
/ It was in September, 1922, that the
events to which alluded in my speech in
the House Of Representatives on the S5th
Of May, 1896, took place. Ii was the
time when the Spanish Government of the
Cortes was overthrow by the French In
| vasion. under the Duke D'Angoule me-
Great Britain became alarmed, lest under
the shelter of that Revolution, the Island
Of Cuba should pass into the possession
of France. The French Government
fabricated, or was imposed upon, by a re-
port that the British Cabinet had deter
mined to send squadron and take pos
session of the island. The people Of the
HAVANA, divided into parties between
the Cortes and the King, were terrified
by premonitory symptoms of negro lnsur-
rec ion, and looking round for prot Fctor-
There was party for resorting 70 ireat
liritain,-a party for adhering to Spain,
and party for seeking admission 10 the
North American Union, - the last OF
which was The strongest. A propoF Fition
was then made by secret agent from
them 10 Mr. Meproe to this eff ct that
they, BY popular movement, of the sue
cess Of which they had no doubt, would
declare the Island independent of Spain,
if the Government OF the United ftaies
would promise them protection, and INIT
them into their Union under state Con
,fitntlon. on tie model of those Of our
Southern States, and with the undets'an-
ding that as the population OF the lkiand
should Increase, they should be at lberty
10 divide themselves into two States. aud
have that proportion OF representa- ion III
the Congress of the Tn ted Sta tes-
A. the injueeinent TO the American Gov
eroment TO pledge their protection, they
/. uera assured that tie alternative would
probably be The prevalence of the party
I id the Island for the colouial connection
, with Great Britain, and resort to her Tor
8 protection. While this proposition was
under consideration of Mr.. Monroe and
bis Cabinet. the French Min,ste er at
Washington, by verbal, irresponsible
communication, not to the Secretary oil
!, State, the only medium of official Inter.
course between foreign ministers and the
Government of the United States. but TO
. Mr.. Crawford, the Secretary of the Treas
ury, asseverated that the French Govern
. ment had secret but positive inform alton
that the British Government had deiiber-
ately determined to take possession ol
Cuba.
e Tho answer Of Mr. Monroe to the pro
position from the Havanpa, was that the
friendly relations existing between the
> United States and Spain did not permi
: them to promise eountenance or protection
4 to any insurrectional movement agalns
J. her authority. Their advice TO the Peo
. ple of Cuba was 10 adhere as long as pos
:, sible to their allegiance to Spain-Iha
y an attempt Of either Great Britain o
g France to occupy the Island, would pre-
sent th@proposal from the Havana unde
! different point Of view,-concernln'
which the President was not authorized
= to pledge prospectively the action of th
y United States. but that the people OF tn
" Havana might be assured of the dee
II interest, winch, under all the circumstan
:, ces which might occur, the American Go
= vernmant would take in their welfare an
- their wishes.
o. It was the opinion Of at least one, mem
IA ber of Mr.. Monroe administrations, tha
the occupation OF the Island of Cuba b.
Great Britain, should be resisted even q
ID the cost OF War. Their unanimous OF
n. iuion was that very explicit though cor
j 6dential communication should be mad
= TO Mr. Canning, that the Uniied Stats
=, could not see with Indifference the occt
o. patton of Cuba by any European pow'
n other than Spaio-and that rumofs ha
reached the American Government th'
snch an intention was entertained by II
n British Cabinet-which made il uecessar
let to ask an explanation of their views.
or Mr.. Rush was instructed accordingly
Mr.. Canning disavowed emphatlcaily {
T intention on the part of Great britain
mt take possessi IN of the Island ; bu, avow'
her determination not to see with indiiie
:, epce its occupation either by France or
'o' the United States, and he told Mr.. ku
Z of the Squadron despatched By LOUIS
W. 10 the West Indies, without notifying ~
b. OF the expedition, and of The schoeh
s.. he had ordered the British Amhassad
~ at Paris 10 give tie French Cabinet
nst that sin Of omission. Mr.. Canning tn
the proposed that by mutual undefstar
On ING between the British. French and A
- erican Governments, without any form
tresty or convention, Cuba should be !
'ai' in the quiet possession Of Spain. with'
interference with the Government OF
-; Island. This was precisely the policy
'' Monroe believed ODE the best adapted
'u'' the interest and the duties Of the Uni
slve States, and he cheerfully assented to II