The Express.
London, England, 1865-01-27 00:00:00

THE SPANISH SENATE.

,
Worn% muss.

MADRID, JAW. 22.

In the Senate on the 90th inst. Duke Torre made
a speech of great 'math, opposing the pAhry of the severe.
meet. He demanded • new electoral law ; the remain.
tation of the Spanish Antilles In the Costes ; liberal solu-
tions of foreign qualities, ; sad the preservation of Santo
Domingo to Spain. The speaker dwelt chiefly upon the
latter point. He believed the annexation to be spontaneous
and national, and that the insurrection might have been
avoided. He considered that there should have been a
regular expedition commanded by a general of distinguished
ability. Nothing had been gained by the acrid= made in
Santo Domingo, but, on the other hand, the Mem had been
exaggerated. The Duke de Torre said also that according
to his information, a secret treaty for mutual support
existed between President Geffrard, of therepublic of Hayti,
and the Dominican imargents, and he believed that upon
the evacuation of the Spanish part of the island
by Spain, it would be occupied by the Haytians
He furthe4pointed out the serious consequences which the
abandonment of the island might have for Spain, and
said :—" Oa the day that the blacks (thanks to the treaty
concluded with the United States) take possession of the
Bay of Sanaa& the Spanish trade between Spain end Cuba
i. isaiseriel, since a Team' of three or four gum posted
there mould altogether prevent navigation between the
peninsula and the coasts of Cabe. The Bay of &mans is
the most important port of America, and the peninsula on
which it stands forms an exttheive slip of territory where
refuge and land might be afforded to thaw families who,
from their attachment to oar mum, might be obliged to
quit the interior of the island. Here might be constructed
fortifications which Would make it a second Cronstadt or
Gibraltar. and, with this and three or four other points on
the coast, we should, in the *vest d abandonment, follow
the same course in Domingo ,as in the Philippines, where we
only hold the meat and do not control the interior." The
speaker ooncladed by expressing his firm conviction that the
evacuation of the island would be tantamount to the Ices
of Spain's inhumes in America and her consideration in
Europe.
Marshal Harems replied, maintaining the patriotism and
neoseeity of the abandonment, and statieg that he expressed
this *sign to the larthodi, and Mon cabinets,
and would do se is a setuell d Oaplaine-Outeral if crayoned
by bee Ma,

tisity.

ANOTIMA Lamm Dunctrzzy.—lt would appear
that the redectioa of she wages of the operatives engaged in
the finished iron trade throughout Unload resolved upon
by the masters et the nailed meeting is not to be brought
about with so little difficulty as was at first expected, At
the present time the extensive mina aid forges in North
Staffortiehire badmen to the Forl Greaville, and the other
similar verb in that district which are owned by other
proprietors, are dill at a stand, owing to a strike of the
men against the reagens° fee whisk the masters gave notice.
That reduction was la. a week in the wages of puddler., and
10 per cent. on the wages of minims. When the notice
expired a meatieg of operative delegates from most parts of
the kindom was held. and it was proclaimed that the 'Mice
would be accepted. The North Staffordshire men, how.
ever, it was secretly resolved, should ask to have the
redaction reduced ass-brit, and it they could sot make
those WWI tem that they should strike for the full wages.
Without knowing the alternative, the masters in North
Staffordshire resolved not to give way, and their men, who
number about 2.000, have been on strike nearly a lodated,
necessitating the forced idleness of perhaps throe times
their comber. They have large local fends is head, sad
they are also supported by the respective using embraced
is the executives of Gatesbeed and Beadey.hill. seek ere-
entire Inkier ese.half of the works wader Ito wing. The first
mask's pay is said to have amounted to 11. per head, and at
this rote it is affirmed that the mos ma be mapported for
sit month: The masters held a meeting at Seeke.apcia-
Treat oa Wednesday, shad ladiguativ refused I. give way ;
but, backed as the mea are, it is difficult to me how the
employers ma camps a ruinous struggle seam the other
• mestere throughout the kingdom look out.