The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-11
Our Washington Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 1851.
Complete Exposition Of oar Relations with Spain
n Trlfing Difficulty in the pay of achieving
Great Triumph of Humanity Great Aversion of
Mr. Webster to Gwrpoird9.
You were right in your surmises that our difficulty
with Spain might be amicably adjusted, and the
friendship of that power secured, by waving
question of mere diplomatic etiquette, to which an
old and once powerful, but now weak, country is
assuredly better entitled than young, vigorous,
and powerful one 1t is easier to brave Spain than
England and France, but there far less merit in IT,
The piratical attacks on Cuba have naturally
irritated Spain, but she ready to forgive them,
and even to pardon the American prisoners still in
her possession, when the news OF tho insult her
Consul and tag, at New Orleans, awakened in her
all her ancient Castilian pride, and caused her to
demand, perhaps in an imperative, yet, ! am GER
tain, respectful manner, immediate reparation Now
what do you think Spain demanded? Perhaps
money No. She left that to the President and
Congress- according to the proofs she is to furnish
of the actual damage sustained by her subjects. AL
she asked was, that when new Spanish Consul (she
has the delcacy not to force the old one the in
habitants of New Orleans) shall make his appear
ance on board Of Spanish man 0twar, tina, her
flag, and her Consul, or if you please both; or the
ship the officers, or the tout ensemble, shall be
received with salute, which salute would, ofcourse,
be instantly returned by the Spanish man Of swar.
When our new Consul shall arrive at Havana, he
shall receive like treatment, and is of course, ex
pected to make like return, should he proceed to
Havana in L. :. man of war
And, in consideration of this act of justice and
polteness-it is nothing more, considering that the
Queens flag was dragged in the dust by lawless
mob at New Orleans, and that the Consul had to
fee for his hfe--the Queen, who is . true and
hundred and fifty or sixty mercan prisoners who
are now confined in some dungeon in Spain, per.
haps awaiting transportation to Africa.
Spain can, of course, not stipulate, as term of
agreement, that the prisoners shall be pardoned,
and returned to the United States; Blu. there is no
doubt in the world that the State departm snt has
received an intimation to that effect from an Off ,al
source (; and under these circu instances, it would
be an act OF humanity towards our own American
captives, as well as towards Spain-a power which
aided us in our war of independence-to terminate
the matter as soon as possible. We can well afford
to be courteous to Spain, especially after our
citizens have given her such just cause to be
angry with US.
It would seem, however, that Spain has not yet
received the amende honorable, and the Spanish
minister's note still remains unanswered, and the
fate of the American prisoners still undecided.
[Query y Which is the most humiliating to
powder, worth $40 or s25, or the sight of Anne
rican prisoners, in chain gangs, in Spain and
Africa! And shall we sacrifice, to mere pune.
tiio the lives, or, at least the liberty, were it but
The Spanish Minister here, has received instruc
tions from his government to leave Washington, in
case no answer is returned to his note; and having
waited for nearly month, without receiving such
answer, is about t. take his departure. He may
possibly be succeeded by a moustachoed general,
utterly unacquainted with our institutions, and
who may embroil the two counties, in less time
than it would now take to settle the whole
difficulty.
AS matter of craftsmanship, it would be good
policy, on our part, to isolate Spain from England
and France, ,; and to prevent, By al possible
or hereafter. unless the United States is the pur-
chaser. If Mr.. Webster looks to the purchase Of
Cuba, let him, by all means, treat Spain Z" on the
footing of the most favored nations.
Message of Gov. Powell, of Kentucky.
The first message of Gov. Powell was communi-
Gated to the Legislature of Kentucky on the ith
inst. Speaking Of the late agitation, he says
1.-The dark and lowering clouds taat recently
threatened the existence of the union Of the States
of this glorious confederacy, are happily passing
away. kentucky is the firm and devoted friend of
the Union. and is for maintaining inviolate, and
carrying out, in strctness and in truth, in letter
and in spirit, the compromise measures passed by
the last Congress of the United States. She &C
knowledges the high and inestim able blessings
which the Union, under the national constitution.
confers each and all the States, and holds that all
the provisions and guarantees Of that sacred instru
ment are binding upon each and all. She invites
no aggression and places the cause Of the Union on
the binding obligations Of the federal constitution
and declares to the citizens Of all the states, that
good faith, in strictly and justly carrying out the
provisions Of the constitution is essential to its
preservation. The general government is one of
limited powers, and II was never designed that it
should interfere with the domestic Institutions Of
tie States, and every attempt on the part Of the
national government to interfere with the right Of
property abridye the free exercise control Of
property in the states, is violation Of the national
compact, and an encroachment upon the sovereign
ty Of the States-nor has Congress the right TO in
terfere with the question of slavery in the terri
tories; it is matter OF domestic Government and
its settlement should be left exclusively to the peo
pie Of the territories.
alt is deeply to be regretted that portion of the
citizens Of some ofthe Northern States of the
federacy have resisted and attempted to resist the
execution of the Fugitive Slave law. All forcble
acts OF resistance to the execution Of the laws,
treason against the United States, and thos, who
advise aid, or abet such resistance are traitors to
the constitution and enemies to the best interests
Of the republic II is to be hoped that a rigorous
prosecution and punishment OF such often ies, will
cause the constitution and laws to be respected and
that their execution will no longer be resisted from
any quarter. Kentucky expects from her sister
states faithful and impartial execution Of the
laws, and while she most cheerfully ackno Wedges
and aceords to the Northern States all the guar
antics Of the constitution, she demands that none
Of the guarantees Of that sacred instrument DO
withheld from the South.
Happily for the cause Of the Union, and for the
Of human liberty, the factisnsts, whose bane-
ful teachings threatened the existence Oh tne
Union, have been rebukcd by the potential voice
OF the people in every quarter Of the republic.
So far, the constitution and the Union have full
filed their high des.inies Under them We have
grown from weak to strsng power, distinguished
alike in the arts ofpeace and war. Our progress In
agriculture, manufactures, commerce, art, and
science, has parallel In the history Of nations
In a little over sixty years, our people have in
creased from four to nearly twenty -four millions
we have grown from thirteen to thirtyone so
vereign States. Our territories have been widely
extended-our domain now reaches from ocean to
ocean, and, everywhere, over our broad land, our
people are protected in the enjoyment Of civil and
religious liberty, BY the strong aud broad shield Of
oonstitutonal law. We are indebted TO the constr
tuition and the Union for the countless blessings
have enjoyed nation, and for the proud and en-
viable stand we have assumed amongst the nations
Of the earth and under the auspices Of heaven and
the precepts Of Washington, kentuaky will be the
last to give up the constitution and the Union"