Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-18

not believe IL because on the records Of the committee
which he had the honor to preside there
upon Of Spanish aggression in which the most rr-
tatng and harassng violations Of their laws had been
committed by the Spanish authorities in the West India
Islands upon our marine.
This was not isolated il was one Of constant
occurrence The Committee Foreign Affairs had be-
fore them several of similar character That
mtee believed, to homely but at least express
sive phrase, that Spain Uhpng this Government,
from feeling Of jealousy dislike, the backs
| Of our unofending citizens.
He desired say that he entirely satisfied from
investigation that in Of this kind there
had not been bona d intention to execute the
laws the part of the Spanish authorities but dspo
sition to embarrass and harass commerce The fire.
quency of these in respect to our vessels
which did not occur with England France showed a
disposition to harass and embarrass commerce
prevent far possible communication on our part
with the island of Cuba without taking the proper course
by putting end to present treaty stipulations.
Mr.. STANTON, Of Tennessee, asked if it was not
tomary with all vessels touching at Havana when pass
ing part Of the United States to another to
out their manifest precisely that Of the Black
Warrior made out and if the change in this
by the officials at Havana had not been done without
thority and without notice?
Mr. BAYLY replied that the information received on
that subject not entirely complete or precise but
then he had pretty good information such as he relied
on which showed that it had been purely vexatious
evasion of their former practice.
Mr. SMITH, of Virginia, asked If it was not true that
the authorities refused to permit the officers of the Black
Warrior to change her manifest within the twelve hours
which had always been heretofore allowed to vessels
correct their manifests !?
Mr.. BAYLY. That was so, and worse They under
took to enrap, Ibeieve, by show of legal excuse,
this precise vessel into the difficulty in which she has
been involved. The regulation to which my colleague
referred modified before her arrival and believe
though dislike to be unchartabe in anticipation Of it,
and promug until after that occurrence
Mr.. CUTTING. desire to make one suggestion Is it
right to endeayor to name the country upon this ques
ton, when have only e1-partc statement Have
heard word yet from the other side? respect
fully submit the chairman of the Committee Foreign
Affairs whether all discussion tending to such namma
tory results ought not to be suspended? Let the country
act with dignity, with frmness, and with patience
submit that oil this discussion end in good and is
of most dangerous character.
\ Mr.. BAYLY replied that he had not introduced this
subject Had he sprung it upon the House, had he
acted in any other than the most cautious manner,
he would have felt deeply rebuked at the remarks Of his
friend from New York
The whole of our intercourse with Spain, from the
formation Of the first treaty between the two Govern
mens had been Of fidelity to treaty obligations
and neutrality laws while the return we had received
had been thai of irritating annoyances.
In conclusion, Mr.. d. moved to lay the motion to re-
consider on the table; which agreed to.
DEFICIENCY BILL.
On motion of Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE, the House then
went into Committee of the Whole the state of the
Union r CHANDLER, of Pennsylvania, in the chair and
resumed the consideration of the bill supply deficiencies
the appropriations for the service Of the fiscal year
ending June SO, 1854.
The entire sitting of the committee consumed in
the discussion Of appropriations for customhouses and
marine hospitals. Without making any progress,
The committee and the House adjourned.