Presidents at Peace: Millard Fillmore and the Filibuster of Cuba
The term "filibuster" is typically thought of as a time-wasting device in Congress or some other legislative body in which a speaker speaks for an inordinately long amount of time to delay a vote on an issue. But in the 1850s, filibustering referred to armed expeditions by civilians to international destinations intended to interfere with the political affairs of that region. During the administration of Millard Fillmore, Cuba was the site of a number of intended filibustering expeditions by certain individuals who wanted to get the Spanish out of Cuba. Although there were many in the United States who agreed with this course of action, President Millard Fillmore looked for a more peaceful way of proceeding.
When Fillmore was Vice-President, President Zachary Taylor had signed the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty with Great Britain. The treaty prevented Britain and the U.S. from acquiring new possessions in the Americas. But both countries were covertly still attempting to gain influence in the region. The situation reached the point that after Taylor died, as President, Fillmore ordered several warships to guard American merchants in the Caribbean, in an attempt to prevent British interference.
Fillmore had competing pressures when it came to Cuba. Many southerners wanted to expand slave territory in the U.S., but the Missouri Compromise and other laws prevented that. Cuba was a colony of Spain where slavery was practiced. Some of these southerners tried to get Cuba annexed to the U.S. as a slave state. Northerners were opposed to this.
Venezuelan adventurer Narciso López wanted to liberate the Cubans. He recruited Americans for three "filibustering" expeditions to Cuba, in the hope of overthrowing Spanish rule there. His first attempt took place in 1849, but it suppressed before it got off the ground on orders of President Taylor. López tried again a year later. He led a force that reached Cuba but was chased off by Spanish troops. The invaders disbanded when they got to Key West. López and several of his followers were indicted for a breach of the Neutrality Act, but they were acquitted at trial by friendly Southern juries.
Many southerners felt that Fillmore should have supported the invasion. Instead, Fillmore issued an apology to Spain, while angered both southerners and some northern Democrats as well. The filibuster caused France and Britain to send warships to the region. Fillmore sent a stern warning demanding their removal and saying that any American involvement in Cuba would only occur if "essential to [America's] safety."
López tried a third filibuster in 1851. This time his force reached Cuba and most of it was captured by the Spanish. Lopez and many of his American followers were executed, provoking outrage among American sympathizers and causing further problems for Fillmore. Even those who did not support the expedition found the Spanish treatment of military prisoners brutal. In New Orleans, an angry mob attacked the Spanish consulate in protest. Despite its failure, López's expedition inspired other filibuster attacks on other Latin American countries throughout the 1850s. Many believed that if he had he been successful, López could have giving the US a strong Caribbean foothold, spurring its further expansion. Faced with the inability of slavery to move southward, many Southerners turned away from expansion and talked instead of secession. The incident and its aftermath led to a withdrawal of political support for Fillmore, who did not receive his party's support for re-election in 1852.
When Fillmore was Vice-President, President Zachary Taylor had signed the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty with Great Britain. The treaty prevented Britain and the U.S. from acquiring new possessions in the Americas. But both countries were covertly still attempting to gain influence in the region. The situation reached the point that after Taylor died, as President, Fillmore ordered several warships to guard American merchants in the Caribbean, in an attempt to prevent British interference.
Fillmore had competing pressures when it came to Cuba. Many southerners wanted to expand slave territory in the U.S., but the Missouri Compromise and other laws prevented that. Cuba was a colony of Spain where slavery was practiced. Some of these southerners tried to get Cuba annexed to the U.S. as a slave state. Northerners were opposed to this.
Venezuelan adventurer Narciso López wanted to liberate the Cubans. He recruited Americans for three "filibustering" expeditions to Cuba, in the hope of overthrowing Spanish rule there. His first attempt took place in 1849, but it suppressed before it got off the ground on orders of President Taylor. López tried again a year later. He led a force that reached Cuba but was chased off by Spanish troops. The invaders disbanded when they got to Key West. López and several of his followers were indicted for a breach of the Neutrality Act, but they were acquitted at trial by friendly Southern juries.
Many southerners felt that Fillmore should have supported the invasion. Instead, Fillmore issued an apology to Spain, while angered both southerners and some northern Democrats as well. The filibuster caused France and Britain to send warships to the region. Fillmore sent a stern warning demanding their removal and saying that any American involvement in Cuba would only occur if "essential to [America's] safety."
López tried a third filibuster in 1851. This time his force reached Cuba and most of it was captured by the Spanish. Lopez and many of his American followers were executed, provoking outrage among American sympathizers and causing further problems for Fillmore. Even those who did not support the expedition found the Spanish treatment of military prisoners brutal. In New Orleans, an angry mob attacked the Spanish consulate in protest. Despite its failure, López's expedition inspired other filibuster attacks on other Latin American countries throughout the 1850s. Many believed that if he had he been successful, López could have giving the US a strong Caribbean foothold, spurring its further expansion. Faced with the inability of slavery to move southward, many Southerners turned away from expansion and talked instead of secession. The incident and its aftermath led to a withdrawal of political support for Fillmore, who did not receive his party's support for re-election in 1852.