The southern press., 1852-01-06
Release Of the Cuban Prisoners.


The Administration organ of yesterday, is ia
perfect ecstacies with {" the PRESIDENT and his
advisers" the Queen of Spain, and Senor CAL
pKkoN DE LA BARcA, bu: does not mention the
name Of Mr.. WEBSTER, nor publish the oilicis
account Of the reasons for this act of grace. We
will, therefore, supply the OMISSIONS OF the
Republic, by inserting the Spanish statement OF
the matter, as set forth in the Spanish court
journal, the Madrid Gazette.
From that statement, it will be seen that the
pardon was extended as an act of clemercy, in
consideration of the ample satisfaction given to
the offended dignity of Spain by Mr.. WEBsTER's
reply to the reclumations Of the Spanish govern
ment. 1t will also be apparent that the thanks
of the captives are justly due to the Queen and
her able and humane plenipoteniary here, rather
than the Administration, for whom the organ
attempts to turn it into capital.
While we find no fault with the disclaimer
of approval with the act of the New Orleans
mob, nor the courtesies to be extended to the
returning consul, we yet can see no reason why
the spontaneous act of clemency" on the part
of the Queen should be credited to such di
plomacy as that Of The Administration.
The Republics article is such pretty speci
men of court journalism-so blandly selfcom-
placent and eulogistic of every body concerned,
that we subjoin it for The benefit of those not
blessed with breathing SO bland an atmosphere,
nor gifted with such microscopic minuteness of
vision in discerning the merits Of the PREsI-
DENT and his advisers"
The RELEASE OF THE CUBAN PRISONERS
We published on Saturday a telegraph de-
spatch announcing the release "f the Americans
who were taken prisoners in the recent eXpedi-
ton against Cuba. The result demonstrates
the wisdom of the policy pursued by our gov
vernment, and refutes the charges of inditfer-
ence and inhumanity that have been 80 reckless
ly made against the administration. If differ
ent policy had been adopted, if sn unjus!itiabe
tone Of menace and elimination had been as-
sumed, there is no reason to doubt that we
should have been met in a similar spirit by the
Spanish authorities, and that the consequences
would have been fatal to the unfortunate men
who had forfeited all claim to the interference of
their own government in their behalf, and were
reduced to dependence upon the magnaninity
anu Cleulency OI Tile lTlcuuIy power whose leTrl
tories they had wantonly invaded.
There are many aspect. in which this result
is matter of just congratulatun to the Pres-
dent and his advisers. The friends Of the
prisoners are acknowledgements and brethren
are made glad-the sympathies of the American
people with the victims of a false enthusiasm
have been satisfied; and yet no wrong has been
inflicted on the dignity of sovereign with
whom we are connected by the ties of uninter-
rupted amity and kind regard. The adninis.ra.
ton has been consistent, Just, considerato; has
vndicated its self.respect by the respect which
1t has manifested towards Spain, and has main
tanned the supremacy of it's own laws; while al;
the same time it has Il aniiested an unfiinching
determination to reconcile tie sympathies and
the passions of its own constituency with the
most strict observance of the laws of nations.
While rendering this praise to the adminstra-
ton for the part which they have acted, We
cannot withhold from the Queen of Spain the
expression Of our sincere md cordial admiration
for the temper that she has manifested in this
matter, and for the grace and dignity with which
she has illustrated this act of benefcence and
mercy. The manner of the net has added. ten
fold to its merit; and the crowning beauty of
it, in comforting distinguished mark of conf.
dence and honor upon her minister, Don Calde.
ron de la Barca, 30 highly esteemed among u
for his virtues and accomplishments, cannot fail
to render it in the highest degree acceptable to
the American people The policy of the Queen
has been in all respects generous, conciliatorv
and benevolent; and, while it will carry unmixed
pleasure to a thousand households, we have little
doubt that it will prove more potent in protect.
ing her transatlantic dominions than an array of
an hundred thousand bayonets.
Now after such a flight as this, it must be idle
to ask the facts of the case from the enthusiastic
puffer of the Prssident-but as our readers will
probably prefer the unvarnished statement we
append it:
From the Madrid Gazette.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The reply which the government of the Uni
ted States has given to the reclamations of her
Majesty's government, has just been received
by an extraordinary channel
The frank and honorable manner with which
the federal government has conducted itself on
this occasion, acknowledging the insult offered
to the Spanish flag by a sedtious crowd, appre
ciating it in the same terms as The government
of her Majesty, and offering to the latter all the
reparation which is just possible, and decorous
for both countries, and in the most satisfactory
terms, has decided her Majesty to consider her
self as fully satisfied on this subject. ordering
the note addressed by the Hon. Mr. Daniel
Webster, secretary of foreign affairs of the
United States, to Don Angel Caderon de la
Barca, minister plenipotentiary of her Majesty at
Washington, to be published in the Gazette
Her Majesty has ordered the publication of
this important document, because in it is con-
signed an act of justice which satisfies Spain as
much as 1t exalts the government of the United
States, OF which her Majesty's government never
ceased to expect that it would disapprove sucb
painful events, and that the LOYALTY of its con
duct on this occasion would offer new onaran.
tees and greater securities for the maintenance
of the friendly relations which, with reciprocal
advantage, have constaatly existed between the
two governments. That of her Majesty consid |
ers it as an event of the highest importance. r.
both countries, that the negotiations relativx{pI
this grave subject, have terminated in so salts.
factory manner.
Mr.. Webster's note, which is a long one, is
dated Washington, November l3, and commen
ces by giving an account of the affair at New
Orleans. stating such circumst inces as, though
not excusang them in any way, to put them
under the least aggravating aspect as not pre-