The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-11-19
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
FRIDAY MORNING, NOV. 10, 1861.
The Crescent City Anair-The Avowed Poll
cy Of the Administration.

From the Republic and the Naiional Iaisligeaeer oil
Wednesday morning last copy. in another column, the
material portions OF two articles ia which the policy OF
the administration in relation 10 the recent mail
ship difficulties between the United States and Cuba is
set forth explicitly, and apparently by authority
BY this statement il appears
lst That the administration has now come TO the con-
cuson that in excluding the Crescent City from the
OF the privileges OF the port OF Havana for the transac
ton OF her regular and lawful business by OF
Puser Smiths presence board. the Cuban authorities
did deed which " admits OF no justification = deed
which is "a blow aimed at ordinary commercial inter-
course ]" deel which is unfrendly, ndiscreel, alb
suri and offensive 10 the government OF this county,
deed. in ne which violates the spirit if not the let.
ter OF the treaty existing between Spain and the United
States"
I'd That in the judgment OF the administration there
is nothing in this action OF the government OF Cuba
that can be construed into reasonable ground OF quar-
rel!"
Sd. That " the administration will not surrender nor
qualify, but will maintain to the last. the right Of the
Crescent City, other American vessels, TO enter and
trade in the ports Of Cuba; and tina. in doing The ad
minsraon will also vndcae TO the full the rights OF
commerce and trade, and The personal rights OF every
ering Cuba"
4th. That the administration recognises, as il must
recognise, the right of the Cuban authorities to ex-
clude Purser Smith at their pleasure and avowedly
upon suspicion! which suspicion is opposed 10
the express declaration Of Captain Porter which
Picon the administration, upon Captain Porer's author
lily, sis willing TO believe" to be unfounded and which
suspicion, in fine, the Cuban authorities continue 10
terrain in spite OF the positive denial OF Captain Porter
but themselves to be ready TO renquish upon the
denial of Purser Smith himself In other words,
the Cuban authorities in spite OF Captain Porer's word
to the contrary suspect Purser Smith of participating
sin reasonable movements" and while so suspectng
him, they admit that in their judgment, he is man
whose mere word is quite enough TO purge him OF all
such suspicion This the administration jusiifes
The Cuban authorities in excluding from their port and
while avowng that is neither prepared disposed
call question the prerogative claimed BY Cuba with
gard TO the exclusion Of Purse Smith, the administration at
the moment avows its determination TO maintain TO
the full all the rights of commerce with Cuba, and ''to
guard untnchngly" all "the personal rights" of every
American citizen within Cuban jurisdiction who does not
violate the laws of nations or the local law Of Cuba !.
Among these personal rights of American citizens which
the administration thus proposes unnchingy guard
there TO be Of very peculiar character tits
the liability OF Purser Smith, if he goes back to Ha-
vana in the Crescent City, be seized" on The deck Of
that ship, as if he were Cuban Subject" and tried
upon charges based avowsdly on a mere suspicion en-
tertaned against "he esmony of his superior officer"
which testimony, the judgment OF the administrator
"should be enough" TO clear him OF all suspicion And
this suspicion. which. in the judgment of the ad-
-.
ship, and "seze and try him" il he Cuban, is
suspicion which Cuba herself agrees to renSunce upon
his mere denial
5lh. And this whole polcy-if that name be given
to such conflicting opnions-s the policy the sub
ec which the administration has maintained for the last
fifteen months II may believe the special organ,
there has been change in the executive counsels du
ring that period Thus ii appears that the transfer OF
Captain Poriehmsef too an object OF suspicion-from
the Crescent City 10 another shp the declaration BY Mr.
Acting Secretary Conrad 10 the Spanish minister that
Purser Smith either would not should not sail in the
Crescent City again. the two short and sulky letters oil
the Acting Secretary 10 Mr. Law 10 The effect that
the Crescent City would, in the judgment OF the State
Department not be permitted 10 land either her mails or
passengers il Purser Smith board, and that The
State Department had nothing to cay in the prem
ses The disregard OF Captain Porers official protest on
the facts OF The case including the official statement male
by the Cuban authorities themselves OF their in
the matter the subsequent mission OF Judge Conkng TO
look into and report upon the subject mere private
individual before the administration would make any
declaration Of its policy admit ha, il had any satisac-
tory informalion and, finally, the leaving mean lime the
Mail Steamship Company the authorized and recognised
agents OF this government without single word OF
surance that it would in any way protect them in the
performance OF their public contract duties al these
things are now avowed only to be consistent with
bat to form part and parcel of, policy which has been
cherished for fifteen months without change, and which
has from the first regarded and regards the exclusion
of the Crescent City breach of treaty obligations
and which furthermore is resolved permit no nirac
ton whatever OF any American right, either personal
or commercial
Such is the statement which the administration now
puts forth OF its past and its present policy
in this grave matter OF our relations with Cuba and with
Spain. The claim OF anything like e9nsiseney in the
o,se is merely absurd Not only ia there the most fla
rrant contradiction between the action OF Mr. Conrad
and the present ayowas OF the administration, but there
ia also a plain inconsistency between the different
grounds which the administration through II organs,
now assumes The position now taken by the admins
ta,op in regad TO the unla witness and unjusthabe
ness OF the exclusion OF the Crescent City IT, far
i, ooes a sound position In so far as this new tone OF