The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-23

your written comm anioauon 10 which you have referred
This motive allows sasfac lion 10 offer you my as
sistance and services praying God 20 guard your HE
thousand years Maysguez, Porto Rico, April is iooo
"JUAN Q. CASTANoS.
81 Senior Don v. M RAsDolrH.
Commanding Frissie Albany"
The following extract from Captain Randoiph's reply
to this specimen OF cool Spanish mpudenee Will show
how American viewed the case;
"Novv sir may again ask, where is authority for
so cruelty using the poor American mariners whom the
ele ments thrown upon your shores and by what
law do you hold from them their private ELECTS The
portions treaty which have quoted for your Inform
alton expressly declare that distressed soi either
county (Span the United Staes) shall respectively, be
received and treated with humanity enjoy all favor pro-
tecon and help and tina, they are at liberty TO refresh
selves and shall be permitted Freely TO depart win
their property And now have these spnations been re-
garded in the present case Some ten unfortunate Amer-
cans wrecked upon your shores they are arbitrarily
commanded by Senior Don Luis Joganes, captain OF The
port OF Mayaguez 10 remain at the spot where they We're
cast on shore and IL with extreme difficulty that this
cruel order revoked, and they length permitted to
come what alas they deemed hespttabts portion OF
the island But may well be doubted whether their con.
don would have been less tormenng had they re-
aimed upoa (rock) where they by the
clements (ahough exposed thecupdiyo unscupuious
weckes rather than have thrown themselves, as they did
upon the hospitality of the authorities Of Mayaguez, by
whom they were imprisoned in vile dungeon. a sheep
thrust In among them additional ndlgnlty and de-
| MED the possession Of their private property.
"You have been pleased speak OF the five Americans
who have gone home, and who formed part Of the crew OF
the Inflated North Carolina, runaways" This Is ABB
surd unless, indeed, may be sugmatized as run
always who fly escape dungeons and every other magi
nable annoyance You had right to delain the master
mate supecargo and OF the schooner North Carolina
keep from the former his private papers, chronome
ter and spy glass The treaty existing between my
and yours have placed themselves and
property under your kind protection whilst here and gives
them perfect right depart at their will and pleas
BY your acknowledgment. they have done moth
ing in violation of your laws How dare then, incar
in oathsome dungeon four ship-wrecked American
| citizens, whom you had unustiy detained in the town Of
Mayaguez full month"; and also seize upon their private
papers and effects and next, TO stgmatize as run
arrays the five others who without your leave, returned
(as they had perfect right dog 10 the country
In conclusion, sir wish you understand that shall
i'm edatey report your conduct to my government and
have firm conviction that you Will yet have cause deeply
regret that you maltreaed American citizen
| Mark the concluding words OF Captain Randolph !
He did report the TO his government and at the end
of four years the negotiations still unfinished Our
minister at Madrid, Mr. Barringer, commenced the ne
COLLATION. the 18th of August, $780, in which he said
to the Spanish Minister OF State:
"Your exceency will fail perceive how unworthy
of the government Of her Majesty the conduct of an o
capable of violation only of the express
stipuations of the treaty of 795 between Spain and the
Iity-subecng pecunary loss, to insult and personal
indigny, American citizens guilty of offence against
the laws OF Span but cast by the elements upon his hos
pality, in disaster which overlook them whilst in the
peaceful prosecution of dangerous but honorable indus
| try
1.-THE said Beecher claims from the government OF her
Majesty just and full reparaon for the illegal seizure of
his property for his detention during thirty days.
| and for the cruel ana degrading imprisonment he
made to undergo as herein stated"
The Spanish minister replied that the rregulariiy of
the conduct of Dr. Joganes, the captain OF the port, had
| been acknowledged, and the captain and OF the
North Carolina set a, liberty and Dr. Jorganes suspend
ed from Office; but nothing said about repara,ion
in damages 10 Captain Beecher Mr. Barringer called
his attention TO this omission the 18Th OF August, and
on the 25h Of the month informed that copy
OF his note had been 10 the commandant general Of
the station at Havana for the information necessary to
enable the Spanish government TO the subject. On
III" 18th Of January, 1853, Mr. Everett, Secretary Of
State, again called Dir. Barrngers attention 10 Mr..
Beechefs claim and on the 23d OF February our minis
ter replied TO Mr. Everett that down TO that time the
Spanish mi mister had received information from The
commandant general at Havana, in consequence, probd
bly,, Of The information haping gone astray On the 18th
of March, 1858, Mr. Bamnger wrote bis last despatch
to our Secretary of State, in which he said;
at will be it has been referred the tribunals
Havana and fiat their decision is then he returned
here be finally acted by her Majestys government
This course, IL indeed actually intended for that
/ purpose, viii result in a delay which will in the end
| amount a denial Of justice to the claimants"
Here the matter ended; and il shows how necessary it
is that some change should be promptly made in our
diplomatic relations with Spain.