In July, 1853,
William L. Marcy, the
Secretary of State, wrote to
Pierre Soule, American minister at
Madrid, directing him to urge upon the
Spanish government the sale or cession of
Cuba to the
United States.
Nothing more was done until after the affair of the
Black Warrior in the winter of 1854.
In April, 1854,
Mr. Soule was instructed and clothed with full power to negotiate for the purchase of the island.
In August the
Secretary suggested to
Minister Buchanan in
London,
Minister Mason at
Paris, and
Minister Soule at
Madrid the propriety of holding a conference for the purpose of adopting measures for a concert of action in aid of negotiations with
Spain.
They accordingly met at
Ostend, a seaport town in
Belgium, Oct. 9, 1854.
After a session of three days they adjourned to Aix-la-Chapelle, in
Rhenish Prussia, and thence they addressed a letter, Oct. 18, to the United States government embodying their views.
In it they suggested that an earnest effort to purchase
Cuba ought to be immediately made at a price not to exceed $120,000,000, and that the proposal should be laid before the
Spanish Cortes about to assemble.
They set forth the great advantage that such a transfer of political jurisdiction would be to all parties concerned; that the oppression of the
Spanish authorities in
Cuba would inevitably lead to insurrection and civil war; and, in conclusion, recommended that, in the event of the absolute refusal of
Spain to sell the island, it would be proper to take it away from its “oppressors” by force.
In that event, the ministers said, “we should be justified by every law, human and divine, in wresting it from
Spain, if we possess the power.”
President Pierce did not think it prudent to act upon the advice of these ministers, and
Mr. Soule.
dissatisfied with his prudence, resigned his office and returned home.
