Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-06-14
Three Days Later from Europe.

Three Days Later Europe.
The Steamer Canada arrived at Halifax on the
lth inst. with from Liverpool to the 1st inst
There is political news of much Importance to
our readers. The Russian ambassador has been or
dered from St. James. Cotton has advanced &c. per
h. the quotations of the goth ult. Corn is ed.
lower. Not word said about Naval Stores We
do wish that our Northern exchanges would pay a
little more attention to the Naval Store market
Interesting CorrespOndencc-InstructI to tho A.
Consul q Havana.
The New York Herald contains several official doc
uments laid before Congress by President Taylor in
relation to the invasion of Cuba. Mr.. Clayton Sec
rotary of State, in letter addressed to Mr., Camp
bell, the American Consul at Havana under date of
the 31st ult, says:
1.-The duties devolving upon you in consequence of
the fate of the hostile expedition against Cuba will
require the exercise of all the prudence and rmness
which you can command. 1t is the Presidents de-
termination to sustain the honor of this government
by the faithful discharge OF obligations towards
Spain. For this purpose prosecutions will be
menced against any persons within our jurisdiction,
who may have been concerned IN the expedition,
contrary to the existing laws. Whilst actuated by
this spirit of good faith towards mel hbor, how
ever the President expects that the Spanish author
tiles will not allow themselves to be mised by exu1
tation or vengeance, to nure in the persons OR pro-
perty, of any of citizens in Cuba against whom
no prODaDle cause OF proceeding may eXlSG ana ne
demands that those who may be charged with guilt
shall have fair trial. different course would be
sure to feeling in this country which might
defeat the administration of justice towards such per-
sons as may be arrested for offending against the
laws and indeed might render it impracticable to
permit further violation of those laws to extent
much more likely to result in peril to the Spanish
dominion in that Island.
But, although your duties will be at once arduous
and delicate, you will bear in mind that they must
be such strictly belong to the Consular character
under the law of nations The Spanish government
has refused to consider your functions in any
spect diplomatic You will, however, be viglant in
ascertaining who among your countrymen, in your
Consular district charged with crimes against
the sovereignty OF Spain. You see that they have
fair trial. and if in any instance, this shall be refu-
sed, you will report the fact to the Department. in
order that the Spanish government may be held &C
countable.
Foreigners detected on board an American vessel
equipped and armed for invasion of the territory
of friendly nation, cannot be allowed to use our
flag as fraud to conceal their purpose to protect
them in the act of invasion.
It is true that the 18th article of our treaty with
Spain, of 1885, Declares 1t is also agreed that the
same liberty be extended to persons who are on
board free ship so that, although they may be en-
ers, OR taken out Of that free ship unless they
soldiers, and in actual service of the enemy" This
stipulation expressly acknowledges the right of Spain
to take armed enemies out of the United States ves
SelS. lnaSmuch however, as this rlghG may De anu
sed in the event of any abuse of that character
ing to your knowledge you will take suitable steps
for obtaining redress. -
" In general, the protection of the government is
due to those only who their allegiance. IT, there
tore any persons not citizens of the United States
shall have been arrested upon charge of being
cerned in the expedition, they will have no right to
your interposition in their behalf.
There may, indeed. be cases in which humanity
ght require, and would warrant, the exertion of
tn nd
us Still it would not be advisable to interfere
to this extent without reasonable prospect of sue
cess and the expediency ofany interference will de-
nand the exercise of your best discretion. am sir,
very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
"(Signed) JOHN NJ CLAYTON"
In another letter, dated the lst inst, Mr. Clayton
instructs Mr.. Campbell to impress upon the Count
of Alcoy the distinction between prisoners who have
committed crime and those captured under the
appearance of an intention to commit a crime, and
reads to him legal argument on the subject and
then he says:
THE President means to claim, for the American
occupants of the Mexican island, that they are not
guilty of any crime for which, by the laws of civil
: zed nations, they should suffer death. They may
have been, and probably guilty of crimes for
which this government ought in good faith to pun
ish them under the act Congress Of April 90 1878
But supposng the facts relating to their capture to
y be they represented to us, the President has
resolved that the must and shall protect them
against any punishment but that which the tribunals
of their own nation may award Tell the Count OF
Alcoy to send them home, to encounter a punish
l. ment, which, if they are honorable men, will be
worse than any he could irfict in the indignant
J., frowns and denunciation of good men in their OWL
country for attempt to violate the faith and hon
or of nation which holds it's character for integrity
D of more value and higher worth than all the Antl
les together But warn him in the most friendl,
manner, and in the true spirit of our ancient treaty
blood at this exciting period it may cost the tw
countries a sanguuary war"