Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-11-16

of 2stb, upon the relations of the United States
with Cuba,-the Crescent City affair, Purser Smith,
ETC.: E
From the London Times, Oct IS.
II has been obvious, since the discontinue of
the Lopez expedition against the Island of Cuba,
that the people of the United States were only
waiting an opportunity to crafty the double pas
sion of acQuisitveness and revenge, and that the
very first opportunity would be eagerly seized to
implcate, If possible, the American Government
in these culpable designs. Upon the return of the
American prisoners, who had received a free par
don which they had not deserved from the clemen-
cy of the Sovereign whose doninons they had
wantonly invaded, these adventures were received
with enthusiasm in the cities of the South, as mar
tyrs for the cause of Cuban Independence, and
their presence and harangues served to stimulate
the passions in. VIII CHI cir lawless enterprise had
originated. a secret society was formed, under
the title of the Clone STAR" which was the ensign
of Lopez, and tis association is reported TO have
its ramfcation in all parts of the Union. Wecan
scarcely credit the statements which have been
transmitted to us of the power and extent OF this
combination; but is extremely discreditabe to the
American people that such body should have
been formed at all for the deliberate purpose of
plundering foreign State; and there's no act of
aggression which such an example would not JUS
tify. Under these circumstances, it was certain
that repetition of the attempt on Cuba would be
made, and in the meantime all means were employ
ed to sow disaffection in the island and to engage
the United States, nation, in the undertaking.
In fact, conspiracy to promote these osjects has
recently been discovered at the Havana.
The Spanish Government has, OF course, been
roused by this palpable danger to prepare, best
it can, for the defence Of its possessions; and the
present Governor Of Cuba has thought proper 10
resort to the strongest repressive means which could
be employed Numerous arrests have takenplace,
the connexions and relations of Lopez and his
gang have been closely watched and the external
Communications of tn. island with foreign ports
have been more than once closed by the police and
military authorities of Spain. In the discharge of
this duty, as the Governor Of Cuba no doubt con-
ceved it to be, it Is asserted by the American agi-
tators that even the flag of the United States has
not been respected. A search was made on board
the Cornelia, an American merchant vessel, which
led 10 the seizure of some correspondence implica
ting persons Of rank in the iSiandj and, soon al
forwards, the passage steamer Crescent City was
warned off altogether, and not allowed to land
either goods passengers because she had on board
as purser Mr. Smith, who had taken some part in
these reasonable schemes. This occurrence has
kindied afresh the madness of the American peo-
pie, rather 1t has been laid hold of the unscru-
pulous conspirators who had already staked their
lives this enterprise, and the consequence Is an
amount of excitement which may drive the present
Government into hostile measures, or will at any
rate concur with the Presidential election 10 pledge
the Administration to further acts of violence
AT sucha moment especially, candidate profess
ing moderation on this subject will have little
chance of obtaining the suflrages of the American
people.
The Governor of Cuba may have acted with VIC
lence, and it is indiscreet on his part 10 nun the
risk of converting this affair into national quarrel;
but as far acquainted with the particu-
lars there smoothing in the principle on which he
acted which can be attacked on legal grounds
1t is the unquestionable right OF every sovereign
power to prohibit access TO its territory to aliens,
or rather all access to the territories OF foreign
State is the result Of permission granted by that
State, which may at any time be withheld OF with
drawn. 1t is proper, however, that notice OF this
prohibition should be duly given by the refusal OF
passports or some such means, abrfss
We cannot wonder that the Spanish Governor
of Cuba, who receives public Information by every
mail from the United States of meetings and ascot
atoms formed for the express purpose OF wrestling
the island intrus,ed to his care from the Crown OF
Spain, should look with great vigilance ana SuSp-
cion on all persons who arrive from that quarter,
and should endeavor TO intercept reasonable
correspondence, if he can. Suppose that, at
moment hen .inSurrecton was impending III
Ireland American vessels should arrive IN the port
Of that country strongly suspected OF design TO
open communications with the dlsafected, and
having on board men who had already been obliged
to fly the country; it cannot be doubted that the
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland would be justified In
sending back vessels to the place they came from
or his first duty is to preserve the tranquility of the
Queens dom:nons. But, if such IN act were Ie-
sorted to- il could never be admitted that the oifen-
ding party entitled to take advantage OF its own
" O0S, anu resent ualiOual Insult NIiut ID Ho
II: than legitimate measure oil defence we
ii nothing in the existing treaties between Spain
d the United States to limit this right. BY the
iI article of the treaty of 1895 it was stipulated
.ihe subjects and vessels oil the two States snouid
! subject to no embargo OF detention on the part
of each vther, either for any military expedition
or any other private or public motives" but this
clause does not extend to refusal at access TO
suspected vessel.
In the case of the Cornelia il seems that the ship
Io,r cd hyf he (yubau outhOritieS their
waters Just after she had weighed anchor for New
York. Two persons were taken out OF her, the
one Creole named Guzman. who was conveying
letters from the island TO New York, and the other
a runaway engineer. These persons were de-
tanned, and the vessel proceeded on he- voyage.
This step may have been harsh and imprudent, but
it cannot be termed an illegal outrage. foreign
merchant flag does not shelter vessel from search,
for persons suspected of violation OF the laws,
so long she is in the waters OF another country!
The vessel is subject 10 all the regulations of po
lice as long she remains there. Suppose, for
instance, runaway slave were TO take refuge on
board British ship in the port of New Orleans, 1t
would be no outrage to the British flag if the A
lnerican authorities searched the ship and detained
the fugitive. This question, however, will not be
disposed of by the rules OF international law
The passions Of the people and the political inter.
ess Of the two States are touchedi and even these
incidents may bring collision, which the pres
ent temper of the United States Will sutier to
be permanently averted. .rsz..
Powerful as the American people unquestionably
are in the defence Of all that belongs TO themselves,
no nation has in these days the strength or the
means to run riot in the world and crafty its
lust and caprces at the expense of others. This
rash and dangerous course will, if adopted, bring
them into collision with other States besides Spain,
and they would enter into such contest degraded
in the eyes of the world by the popular violence
and injustice which have dictated these aggressions.
The conquest of Cuba will not easily he effected
by mere band of freeboolers, if, indeed, another
Lopez expedition were allowed to quit the shores
of the United States. But we fear that the Amerl-
can Government will be gradually led on to do, as
it did in the Of Texas, what every man of
honesty condemns. Let them MT suppose, how
ever that such measure are to be taken with
because Spain is no longer the power she
once was. Spain has still the means of destroying
the trade of America with the Mediterranean and
of inflicted tremendous losses upon it by means of