Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-27
FROM AN OCCASIONAL ooRaEspoxDEsr

Letters from Washington continue to state that
our relations with Spain are in very unsatisfactory
and critical position that Mr.. SoULE has managed
to embroil them in very unnecessary manner, and
so committed the Government that it will be diff
cult to arrange them, even if the Administration
were DESTROYS to do so, and that majority Of
the Cabinet, including the President are not
sorry that things have taken this turn, as war with
Spain is scheme which they not only do not wish
/ to avoid, but rather are DESTROYS of promoting.
Such is the tenor of the Washington letters received
in this city from highly intelligent sources, and
the information greatly increases the anxiety of
the commercial community, and will continue to have
an increasing prejudicial effect upon the general
business trade, and prosperity Of the country. |
am really unwilling to believe that the rulers Of our
country can intend to act with such faulty as to
involve the country in an uncaled-for and unne-
cessary war, which would undoubtedly result in vast
injury to the general interests of the country to
| the ruin Of its commerce, the arrangement of its
finances and the general interruption of its bust
ness, to say nothing of the loss of valuable lives
and the enormous expenditure of war establish
Gnents and warGke preparations 1t would also
be difficult to point out nation less prepared for
than the United States ut this moment partcu-
Elary in naval means, which have not been more
inefficient for long series of years than at this time,
and, with merchant ships scattered over and filling
every ocean, be easy and rich prey to the fleets Of
privaeers which would in every direction; for in
SPAIN who has 5000 seamen in her mercantile marine,
and whose commerce of would be driven from the
ocean by war with the United States, these could
only find employment by entering into national and pri
waite armed ships to upon the rich commerce Of our
country, which would offer such strong and irresistible
temptations to their cupidity.
The Black Warrior case has been the immediate cause
of producing this state Of things and it is hardly pos
sble for any who has examined into that affair to see
any sufficient in Il for producing such results II
is not denied that she violated the laws and the
extent Of the defence is that she had been allowed to
with impunty for long previous PERIOD and that this
law unexpectedly enforced against her after having
been allowed to remain in allegiance Even this the Spa
nish authorities deny and declare that her previous yo
latons of it were unknown to them. But, admitting
the fact is such thing sufficient cause of war? At
this moment and in this port the American Government
is acting the very principle only in much more
CALLING and oppressive manner and that too upon its
own citizens Within the last few weeks the custom
house or rather Mr. CocHRASE, the Surveyor for it is
understood here the Collector dsapproves of the pro-
ceedngs has seized American vessels to the value of
than million Of dollars for alleged violation
of the passenger law and that too for adopting plan
land, and without which they would not permit the
sells to clear at the regulation which
duced the comfort Of the passengers and to the safety
of the vessel and which has been adopted and admitted
from the passage Of the law under Mr. PoLKs admins
tration through the whole of Gen. TAYLoR's and Mr.
FLMoREs and down to the present time, nearly fifteen
months, under the present Administration; and now,
without any previous notice. these vessels suddenly
bounced upon, and seized right and left and the
cruel attempt made to ndic the captains crminally
before the grand jury in order to subject them to mpr
sonment and fine of two thousand dollars The indig
nation felt here on this subject very great and you will
probably have that the merchants have had meet
ing and appointed five among the most prominent Of their
number to proceed to Washington to represent and
monstrate against this most oppressive proceeding.
As of oppression and injustice the Black Warrior
case sinks into comparative insignfcance to say no.
thing of being pracsed upon own citizens
1t is not pretended that the revenue was injured that
the passengers were incommoded, but the contrary;
that the safety Of the ship endangered that the
owners or officers Of the ships any way benefited
or that the practice had not been allowed under the
last and the present Administrations down to this time;
nor is it even an admitted violation Of the law but on
the contrary if it to the decision Of jury
every confidence felt that they will decide that
laton. In the Black Warrior it was acknowledged
violation Of existing laws 1t was, besides practical
fraud upon the revenue it the vessel avoided pay
ing certain tonnage transit duties, and therefore the
owners of that vessel derived pecuniary bentft from
| the evasion of the law.
Whilst we are thus camoring for with Spain for
our Government turns round and acts in muth more
oppressive and unjust manner, precisely under the
circumstances, not in one, but in tceay instances to
vastly greater extent and upon their own citizens The
practice is being continued upon every passenger
sci as it arrives f it be in the position and be-
fore notice reach Europe the passenger vessels
on the subject probably hundred more, AID to the
value of millions of dollars will be under seizure,
/ libelled for forfeiture
The case is one Of too crying injustice not to be
died when the facts properly brought to Of
the President but the deep interest of certain officials
here in their share Of rfeitures if they be enforced
to the amount Of two or three millions will naturally in
duce great efforts prevent favorable nteppstion of
Executive action
was really in hopes that the troubles and excitement
in the House the Nebraska bill at an end when
the additional time for debate given but by the
telegraph report oday it would appear that we may
next week renewal Of the late scenes. There
any thing in it, if any important practical results were
involved in the passage the rejection Of the BILL
should feel much surprise at the excitement but
as for the soul of me- can nothing which either
ton of the country is to gain to lose by the BILL it
certainly does excite Especial wonder" The South,
think contending for loss and the North fighting
against gain. For myself would willingly pitch up
"copper" "heads tails for the passage or rejection OF
the BILL and cheerfully and ndierenty abide the result
When the excitement has passed shall expect to
see the opposing parties OF Washington look each other
in the face and break into laughter the mutual ques
ton as what they had been quarreling about is
really astonishing witness the intense and ndg
nant feeling which peryades this community the SUBJ
iect and during recent visit into the interior Of the
State find it stronger there and almost unanimous
against the BILL and if it passes all earth will not con-
vince them that slavery will not be extended and prevail
over all the region of the Mississippi and they will