The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-18
The United States and Spain.

Notwithstanding the contrary reports of the
various letter-writers and newsmongers about this
city, which we see published in the Eastern
papers within the last day or two, we learn, with
much qualification, that there is nothing in the
aspect of affairs between this Government and
that of Spain to warrant the apprehension of a
rupture between them at this time. The Cuba
expedition has been god-send to these letter.
writers, in the dearth of other and interest
ing information, and they have made the most of
it. Vague rumors are often seized upon by these
gentlemen in the streets and hotels in this city,
and he is generally considered but sorry cores
pendent who cannot occasionally communicate
something more novel and exciting than his con-
temporaries. A story will start from Willard s
Hotel, at one end of the avenue, and, before 1t
arrives at the National, it will beat the " three
sback crows"
The government has no knowledge Of any tor
ture or death inflicted upon the Contoy prisoners,
as reported in letters thus despatched from this
city, and we trust that in few days the comrhu-
nications with Cuba viii put an end TO the runors.
But what nexti Why, in less than a week after
the present alarming apprehensions have been
Quoted, something else will be seized upon for
letter-writing capital and to satisfy the demand
for fresh excitement.
But to address ourselves more directly to the
alarming statements transmitted from this city in
Washington correspondence during the last week,
we feel authorized to say, that, rom the just and
NnlC0Dle temper OF the opdHnSli near
Government, and the prudent advice which it may
be presumed that he has given to the younger and
probably more impulsive Goyernor-General of
Cuba--as well as from the unequivocal language
addressed to him by Secretary of State, through
our Consul, Gen. Campbell-there is no reason
to anticipate any harm to the men who embarked
| from the island of Contoy, and were captured by
the Spanish cruisers and carried into Havana.
These men Though the Creole marauders were
recruited7n part from among them) committed no
act of hostility against Cuba, nor is there any
sufficient proof that they designed any, but the
contrary land, therefore, though they had sailed
from a foreign port, and not from the United
States, when they We're captured, yet, being
known to be in part at least American citizens, il
is the duty OF our Government to extend its pro-
lection to them, and avert or punish any harm to
| life or limb.
The Spaniards of Cuba have, it is true, reason
to feel deeply aggrieved. A lawless banditti has
landed on their peaceful shores in the dead Of
night, burnt their houses, murdered their people
and escaped by hasty flight to the United States
and, had they captured and executed every one Of
the invaders, no one could have Justly complained
/ But in their Indignation against these violators o.
| law and humanity, the Cubans must take care no
/ to confound the innocent with the guilty, and
bring down on their own heads the penalty of Of
Tended justice. --Nahonai h,teiiigencer.
! Lady Franklin is getting vessel fitted out a
i her own expense, at Aberdeen, to proceed To- Re