Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-19
PROCEEDINGS In THE SENATE.
MONDAY, MARCH Ia, 1858,


The PRESIDENT Of the Senate laid before the body
communication from the Postmaster General made in
compliance with resolution of the 18th utmo trans
mtting further statements in relation to the contract
made with Messrs Ramsay and Carmic for the transpor
ation of the rails from Vera crz 70 San Francisco VIA
Acapulco which was referred 10 tho Commttec on Inc
Mr. JAMES submitted documentary statement in re-
lation to the Imprisonment of Mr. James West and the
seizure of hrs property by the Spanish authorities Of the
Island of Cuba which referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed.
The correspondence in relation to this subject is quite
voumnous between the State Department, the Spanish
Minister the American Minister at Madrid, and the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs at that Court
The history Of this case in brief, is follows: Mr.
James H. West native of Rhode Island, AYERS that he
migrated Cuba in December, 1849 for commercial pur
poses and it appears arrested at Sagua La Grande
the 28th January, 1850, by the military authorities
charged with political designs against the Government
and his property seized at the time After trial
by military tribunal he fully acquitted Notwh-
standing his acqutt and certified innocence his arrest
continued and his property and papers withheld and
three of his employees imprisoned and treated with such
cruelty the death of of them that series
ofyexaous and expensive proceedings had been continued
up to the present time, depriyng him of his personal
liberty, involving him in heavy losses and embarrass
ments and dishonorng his good in the community by
branding him arrested and suspected person. He
claims an indemnity of $4,000.
The Spanish Minister in letter dated March ID 1852,
states in effect that the Captain General of the island had
been written to by the Minister OF Foreign Affairs at
Madrid, directing him to examine imparially into the
complaint of Mr. West and to punish those who had been
guilty of rregulariy violation of law if any such had
been committed
He says further that the information did reach Madrid
and the went to prove that there had been ir
regularity i'll treatment act of injustice whatever
committed and that the exparte complaint of the accused
was destitute Of foundation
The Introductory remarks Of Mr. West go into detailed
history of this affair." and say The harmony of feeling
heretofore existing between citizens of the United States
and those of Span relative TO the Island of Cuba has
been disturbed by the late existing that those
who have had causes of complaint either side could
scarcek hope for patient and impartial hearing The
interc Of American citizens in Cuba and the just admin
itraon Of government in that island have Gke suffered
from this political agitation On the hand the public
nconarcs Of Cuba have had occasion to suspect that
real imagined wrongs have been converted into pre-
text for disturbing the existing order Of government
aRd the other the American citizen has there found
himself liable TO be suspected without and to suffer
oppressoa withovt rsdDs~sn The claim Of Mr.. West
against the Spanish Government forcbly illustrates the
above remarks and its history tends to show that those
who have been engaged heretofore IN unlawful exped-
tons and illicit traffic have entaed disaster upon the
loyal citizen and honorable merchant while it no less
clearly proves that the administrators of government
when their suspicious Of hostile and illegal designs have
once been strongly roused quite liable to commit
hasty of injustice towards the innocent and to per-
severe with obstnacy in Of oppression, rather
than condescend TO acknowledge a mistake.
Mr. West contends that all his interests adverse
those of the busicrs who neither received aid nor
countenance from him, and goes to Howl he has
requied for his peaceful and orbearng course the
documents that follow will disclose From them it will
appear that the proof of his wrongs has been resisted
from the beginning that the mistake in which the alleged
outrage originated has been either overlooked kept out
of sight that the testimony of American citizens
been branded the passionate relations OF in
terested parties and that in the face of deliberately
formed opinions Of American Secretaries of State Minis
tiers, and Consuls, gross and unjnstfable outrage
has been pepetrated by Spanish functonares in Cuba
upon American citizens Spanish Minister has venured
to declare his judgment the American Government that
there has i'll treatment and injustice whatever
committed and that the pare statement of the accused
is destitute of foundation declaration like this de-
mands the most unsparng scrutiny Of the American Go
vernmen and should il be found to be the language not
of usce but of diplomatic zeal and partaty then must
the Spanish Government be held to rigid accountability
for the outrage and injuries complained of
Mr. ADAMS submitted the following resolution for
consideration
Resped That the Senate viii at th session elect secre
tary and Sergcant-at-Arms
Mr.. .GWIN. Let il lie over.
The following resolution submitted by Mr. CHASE was
considered and agreed to:
eoI4a That 1000 additional copies of the report Of
Capt R. b. Marcy of his exploration I the waters of he Red
river ordered be printed by the resolution of the Sc
ofthe 4h Of February last be printed for the Of the
Senate 2so copies of which be furnished Capt. Marcy
and that 400 copies Of the report Stgeave ordered
be printed for the Of the Senate be furnished to Capt
Sitgreaves.
CLAYTON AND BULwEE TREATY.
Mr. MASON, who was entitled to the floor, rose and
addressed the Senate at length in reply to the romarks OF
Mr. CLArroson in defence Of the peport Of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. CLAYTON rejoined At length and without
cuding gave motion go intO Executive session
The Senate proceeded to the consideration Of Executive
business aRd atar very brief period spent therein the
doors were opened and the Senate adjourned
TuEspAV, MARCH 15, 1853.
Immediately aftor the reading Of the Journal the Sen
ate proceeded en- molten by Mr. MASON, to the con-
sderaton of Executive busness and after some con
siderable time spent thercn, the doors opened
CLAYTON Asyp BULwER TREATY.
Mr. CLAYTON rose and concluded his remsrks com
menoed yesterday IN reply to Messrs DoUGLAs ana
Aftar explanations by Messrs DOUGLAS and MASON,
tho Senate adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1858.
Mr.. ADAMS moved to take up the resolution submit
ted by him on the 18th instant in relation to going
az elecuon LOT secretary snd SerGeanatArms of the
Senate which was agreed to.
MF. A., in Offering the resolution did not wish il to
be understood as casting any reflection on the present
ncumbens would he have IL intimated that he in
tended 10 vote either for against then His cbiect
simply TO test the principle whether the Senate should
not proceed to elect its officers the of
every Congress.
Mr. BADGER would suggest that the eleot;or he nost
poned until tomorrow, at o'clock, 80 that ge,ators
ght know the precise hour which would take
Mr MASON was opposed 10 going into an election Mt
that time. He thought the more appropriate seaso,
would be at the commencement Of the next Congress-
The Senate unusually thin and IL had been the
practice heretofore to elect their officers at the com
mencement OF each legislative Congress. Mr.. NJ de-