Year: 1859

Cuba, and said 1t is not considered neces-
sary by the committee to enlarge upon the
vast importance of the acquisition of Cuba.
Its ultimate acquisition may be considered
fixed purpose of the United States-a pur-
pose resulting from geographical and politi-
cal necessities, which have been recognized
by all parties and Administrations, and in re.
gard to which the popular voice has been
expressed unanimously in favor The pur-
chase and annexation of Louisiana led, as a
necessary corollary. to Florida, and both
point with unerring certainty to Cuba What
the possession of the mouth of the Mississippi
was to the West, Cuba will become to the
nation. Our leading statesmen have endea
vored, with steadiness and perseverance, to
hasten the consummation of this project


The report here quotes the opinions of JEFF
ferson, Adams, Clay, Van Buren, Buchanan,
in his dispatch to Saunders, Everett in his
celebrated letter to Sartiges, and Marcy's dis
patch to Soule From these authorities it is
manifest that the ultimate acquisition of Gu
ba has been long regarded not only as desir.
able but inevitable The only difference is in
the time, mode and conditions of obtaining
it. The law of our national existence is
growth, which we cannot disobey, while we
should not unduly stimulate it, and should he
careful not to impose upon ourselves a regi
men so strict Gs to prevent its healthy de-
veopment


England, France and Russia are expanding
by the same law of progression, but their
growth is the absorption of weaker powers,
whilst ours is the result of geographical posi-
ton, higher civization and greater aptitude
for government We have neither the right
nor disposition to find fault with this so let
England pursue her annexation in India,
France in Africa or the Rhine Russia subdue
barbarous Asia, and we shall look on their
progress, fnot with favor, at least with in
difference. We claim on this hemisphere the
same privilege. We repeat that the acquisi-
ton of Cuba is but question Of time The
fruit that was not ripe in Quincy Adams day
is now mature, and the question is, shall it be
plucked by friendly hand prepared to COM
pensate its proprietor with princely guer-
don, or shall it fall to the ground? AS Spain
cannot long maintain her grasp, there are
but three alternatives:


First. The possession of Cuba by one of the
great European powers, which is incompnti-
ble with our safety, and must consequently
be resisted


Second. The independence of the island,
which would result in a protectorate more
or less disguised. If under ours, annexation
would follow /; if under European, civil and
servile war would result


Third. The question, how is this to be
done, can only be answered-by conquest or
negotiation Conquest, even without the in
reference of other powers than Spain, would
be expensive, and with such interference it
would involve the whole civilized world in
wcr. Purchase, then, is the Only practicable
course; but that cannot be attempted with
success, unless the President clothed with the
powers to negotiate and pay, as he suggested
in his message. Much has been said of the
danger of confiding such powers to the Ex
ecutive, but we have three examples, in the
purchase Of Louisiana, Florida and Mexico.


Much has also been said of findelicacy-also,
that the offer will wound the Spanish pride.
and be rejected with contempt For many
years our desire for the purchase of Cuba has
been know to the world. We now simply
say to Spain, you have a distant possession,
held by precarious tenure which is almost
indispensable to us for the protection of our
commerce, and which may. from its peculiar
geographical position, the character of its
population and the mode in which they are
governed lead at any time to rupture
which both nations would deprecate This
possession yields you net revenue not a
mounting, on the average of series of years,
to tho hundredth part of the price we offer
True, you have refused to sell heretofore, but
circumstances are changing daily, and our
offer may now be more acceptable than in
l848.


Should war break out in Europe, Spain can
scarcely hope to escape being involved-the
Cubans may seize the opportunity to pro.
claim their independence Further, our Min.
lister will not broach the subject of purchase
till he has reason to believe it will be favora
bly, entertained. Spain is country of coup
detatS and pronunciamentos; the Minister of
to day may be fugitive to morrow. With
the forms of responsible government, Spain
is despotism sustained by the bayonet Her
financial condition is one of extreme embar-
rassment, and crisis may arrive whenever
the dynasty may be overthrown, unless a
large sum of money can be raised forthwith
The President says he would not acquire ex-
cept by honorable negotiations, and he will
not depart from such course, unless circum-
stances which he does not anticipatemay rem.
der departure justifable under the impera.
tive and overruling law of selfpreservation.
He tells US it may be necessary to renew the
negotiations and make an advance in money
without awaiting q ratification by the Sem
ate. This, in point of fact, is an appeal to
Congress for an expression of its opinion on
the propriety of renewing the negotiations
Should We fail to give him the means, he will
consider it as an intimation that we do not
desire the acquisition of the island.


The report then goes on to say that if, as
has been said, the Cubans do not desire a
transfer, it would be very serious objection
to the measure, but the Cubans would be less
than men if they are contented with their lot,
nd ha hoc ha F.
serting that nearly the entire native popula-
tion of Cuba desire annexation.


The report then proceeds at considerable
length to discuss the bearing of annexation on
the slave trade, urging that this illegal traffic
is now confined to Cuba and Porto Rico, and
that Spain could have suppressed it as com
pletely as Brazil has done, but she has not
done SO therefore, those who desire to ex-
terminate the slave trade, may find in the
sympathy for the African an incentive to sup
port this bill. Teen turning round, the re-
porter proceeds to relieve the minds of South.
ern gentlemen of their apprehension of peril
to their institution from the different ele-
ments Of Cuban society, as made up by add
ing that annexation would increase the com
forts of the slave Next, the circu.locution
of Havana-Cuban diplomacy is recurred to
and condemned. Statistics are cited to show
the value of the island, especially as it would
give us the monopoly of sugar, and finally,
the purchase is recommended now as IL mea-
sure of economy before the price is raised.


Since the reference Of the bill to the Com.
mittee, the President has announced that no
correspondence has been exchanged, and he
has taken the occasion to repeat that any ne
gotiation should receive prior sanction of
Congress The emphatic reteration throws