Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-05-24
-.Fror1 80 shlI,ond .Enoair,ssr.
Rupture with Spain.

cussion and misapprehensions Washing
ton correspondents set afioat contradicto-
ry rumors with an equal affection of au-
thority in every instance and so the
public mind is bewildered by every absud
story and rash speculation. Among the
most industrious and shameless of these
scribblers. is the K correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun, whose communications
are always unreliable in proportion
as his statements are positive
This gentleman, cherishing an. equal
dislike of Mr.. Soule and the President,
has sought to propagate the opinion that
while the Administration is too timid to
assert the honor of the country. our Min
lister at Madrid is so rash as needlessly
and for selfish purposes to provoke the
anger of the Spanish government.
Without pretending to any peculiar OPP
portunities of official information, we may
venture TO affirm that neither is the Adj
ministration disposed to submit to the in
solent aggression of the Spanish govern
ment, nor does Mr.. Soule in his remon-
STRANGE aud demands. transgress the strict
letter of his instructions.
The public have very inadequate con-
CSpGlOu VI LlS grievances VI butS
ment against Spain. They have beenre-
peated in detail through succession of
years, until they furnish in the aggregate
an ample justification for any retaliatory
or hostile measure. Here is a brief SYM
Opsis of such outrages as this government
has suffered from the authorities of Cuba
within the last four years
" On the 22d of January. 1850. Charles
Peter V. ESnard, an American citizen,
was arrested by the Cuban authorities
and iucarcerated in the prison of Havana;
no charge having ever been advanced
against him. In May of the same year,
two American vessels, the Georgian and
the Susan Lond, were captured at Contoy
by the Spanish General of Marines and
brought as prizes into the port of Ha-
vana their crews were imprisoned. On
the 25.h of March, 1851, John Salinero
an American citizen. was arrested by the
Spanish authorities, no accusation being
made against him. On the l6sh August,
1851. the United States steamer Falcon
was fired into aud boarded by Spanish
vessel, also without assingable motive or
pretext. On 81 October. 1859, the Gre
scent City was driven from Havana, and
prohibited from landing her mails on the
childish and frivolous pretext that the
purscr spoke and wrote i'll of the Cuban
authorities on his visit to New York In
the March following. the Ohio was de.
tanned three days at Havana, under an
unprecedented and ridiculous plea that
she Dug lit to perform quaraLine. On the
18th OF that month the schooner MancheS
ter was boarded by Spanish vessel of war
searched. and detained twenty four hours,
without the shadow of any pGtext whatey-
er. In February, 1853, and subsequent.
ly, the United States mail bags were bro
ken open by the Cuban authorities, many
of the seals broken, and the privacy of
American seamen belonging to the Anne
rlcan bark Jasper, were arrested on vague
suspicious of being concerned in the slave
trade, thrust into prison, and subjected
to inconceivable indignitics and cruelties.
In November, Pedro Raices, NATURAL
zed citizen of the United States, was ar.
rested at Havana. nc crime being charged
against him was tried and sentenced to
a years transportation. Shortly after.
wards another naturalized citizen of the
United States, Isidorc Itichox, was forced
to leave the island Of Cuba, no motive be
ing assigned for his expulsion. The no.
torious case of the Black Warrior com.
pletcs an imperfect catalogue Of the affronts
we have suffered at the hands of Spain
during the last four years."
We may safely affirm that from no ma.
ton Of greater prowess than Spain, would
the United States have submitted TO such
injuries and indignitics. If either France
or Great Britain had displayed such con
tempt for our flag and the rights of oul
cltlzens, we would long since have been
driven to some violent retaliation. In the
case of Spain, feeling of magnanimity ha,
suodued our resentment, and restrained
US from measures of hostility against
weak and contemplate empire. For
less provocation than any one in this ca
lal0gue OF grievances against the Spanish
government, Great Britain threatened L
invade the little kingdom of Greece, and
desisted from its purpose only after ampl,
apology and reparation. Nine-tenths o
the wars that have desolated Europe
kIndled by causes, which, in comparison
with the outrage to the Black Warrior
were Insignificant instances of incivil
~.
The time is come when this country car
no longer submit to the insoIent aggres
sion OF the Spanish government, anc
when some satisfactory atonement mus
be made for past insult and outrage
Emboldened by long IMMUNITY, and sti
muIated by the oficious interference o
the Ang o-French alliance, the govern
ment of Spain has at last pushed its VIC
lence to point beyond which the Unitet
States cannot retreat. The circumstau
ces OF the moment are propitious TO &
nal and satisfactory settlement of all GU
difficulties with Spain and the Admins
tration has seized the occasion to initiate
negotiation which will terminate eithe
in a0ar or in the restoration of a stable ant