The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08

nGninet tho9o VtolhHOne OF our rtght
Of sovereignty. and = naval force wa,
at the sam time. ordered to the Gu
ban uators with directions to protect a
vessels Of the United States on the high ses
from search or detention by tho vessels OF wd
Of any other nation These measures receive
the unqualified and even enthusiastic approx,
ton of the American people. Most fortunately
however, no collision took place, and the Bri,it
Government promptly avowod lite recognitio.
OF the principles OF international law upon thI
subject. as laid down by the Government OF thu
United States In the note OF the Secretary a
State TO the British Minister at Washington a
April 10, 1858. which secure tho vessels OF tn,
United States upon the high seas from visitation
or search In time OF peace under any circum
stances whatever. Tho claim has been aban
doncd in n manner roiccting honor on the Brit
ish Government and evincing a just reRari fot
the law OF nations, and cannot fail to strcngthel
the smlcablo relations between the two coun
trles."
It was in this message that President Bu
chanan recommended that Congress should au
thoriEe the purchase of Cuba. which, in Its exist
ing colonial condition. ho described 40 a constant,
source of injury and annoyance to tho Americas
people: ut has been made known to the world
by my predecessors that the United States have
on several occasions, endeavored to acquire
Cuba from Spain by honorable negotiation.
this were accomplished. the last rolic Of the
African slave trade would instantly disappear,
We would not, IL we could, acquire Cuba in any
other manner. This is due to our national char,
acter. All tho territory which we have acquired
since tho origin of the Government has been by
fair purchase from France. Spain, and Mexico. %
by tho free and voluntary act OF the independent
State Of Texas In blending her destinies with
our own. This course we shall ever pursue nm.
less circumstances should occur which we do
not now anticipate. rendering n departure from
1t clearly justifable under the imperative and
everything law of self-prescrvation. The island
OF Cuba, from Its geographical position. com,
mnnds the mouth Of the Mississippi and the i'm
mense and annually increasing trade, foreign
and coastwise. from the valley OF that noble
river. now embracing half the sovereign States
OF the Union. With that island under the do
minion OF a distant foreign power. this trade, Of
vital Importance to these States, is exposed to
the danger Of being destroyed in time of war,
and II has hitherto been subjected 10
perpetual injury and annoyance In time Of
peace. Our relations with Spain. which ought
to be of the most friendly character. must al
ways he placed in jeopardy whilst the existing
colonial Government over the island shall re-
main In It's present condition. Whilst the pos
session of the island would be of vast Importance
to the United States, its value to Spain is COM
paratively unimportant. Such was the relative
situation Of the parties when the great NapoleoI
transferred Louisiana to the United Statea
Jealous as he ever was Of tho national honor
and interests Of France. no person throughout
the world has imputed blame to him for accept
ing a pecuniary equivalent for this ccssion."
The recommendation that the purchase II
Cuba DO authorized was reiterated by Mr.. B,.
chanan in his third annual message. and even
the imminence of civil war did not deter him
frop, roraat{no a. In hia 1aat annual p,asaan
dated Dec. 3. 1860: II firmly believe that such
an acquisition would contribute essentially 10
the well. being and prosperity Of both countries
In all future time, as we'll as prove the certain
means of Immediately abolishing tho African
slave trade throughout the world. l would not
repeat this recommendation upon the present
occasion IL I believed that the transfer OF Cuta
to the United States upon conditions highly IA
vorable to Spain could justly tarnis the national
honor OF the proud and ancient Spanish mon
archy. Surely no person ever attributed to the
FIRST Napoleon a disregard of the national honor
OF France for transferring Louisiana to the
United States for a fair equivalent, both in
money and commercial advantages" In tho
Same message there is a final reference to Great
Britain's abandonment Of tho long.asserted
right Of search. With q reproduction OF tho
paragraph relating to this matter we must take
leave of the present installment of Mr.. Richard-
bohb aiuao SoLhpiIhtiohs AZ 10 -
source of sincere satisfaction to all classes of
our follow citizens, and especially to those en-.
gagged In foreign commerce.. that the claim on
the part OF Great Britain forcibly to visit and
search American merchant vessels on tho high
seas in time Of peace has been abandoned. This
was by far the most dangerous question to tho
peace Of the two countries which has existed
since the war or 1912. Whilst it remained open
they might at any moment have been precipi-
tated into a war. This was rendered manifest by
the exaspcrated state Of public feeling through
out our entire country produced by the forcible
search of American merchant vessels by British
cruisers on the coast Of Cuba in the spring OF
1858. The American people hailed with general
acclaim the orders OF the Secretary of the Navy
to our naval force in the Gulf of Mexico to pro-
tect all vessels of the United States upon tho
high seas from search or detention by the ves-
sells Of war Of any other nation These orders
might have produced an immediate collision he-
tween the naval forces of the two countries.
This was most fortunately prevented by an APP
peal to tho justice of Great Britain and 10 the
law Of nations as expounded by her own most
eminent %jurists." NJ. W. II.