The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-28


island was not in state Of revolt they had been led TO
believe they had thrown aside their left the island
embarked in open boats for an American port and We're
captured upon the high and when carried back TO
Havana, trial had charges preferred not even
permitted TO be present before the tribunal pronouncng
Judgment against them but American blood was shed to
CRAFTY the malevoleIce of Spanish assassin.
II is true that the Cuban authorities shield themselves
behnd the proclamation of the President OF the United
States which characterized them robbers and plumber
ers But sir this most unnatural and ibelous proclama-
ton though held up deathwarant for these gallant
men, was no justification whatever for the foul deed 1t
may be well here to refer to the opinion OF Mr. Webster IN
Involving the points Ia letter addressed by
him to Mr. Fox the British minister in ls4 In reference
to the Of the Caroline where certain Americans took
part in the nsurecon in Canada against the British gov
ernInent and who styled pirates by the British
minister, Mr. Webster speaking for his government indg
nanty reeed the charge as slanderous and unjust and
held the following language:
cit quite that for greater part Of the last
centuries subjects Of tho British Grown have been
II has been imagined that England has, any tne al
only indir;daai sees ef Aa gone abroad
70 engage eiUa but ~s hare kole openly
Ms arocd purpose Of aiding rebellion against naoa oita
mhich England mas afpeaee."
Again. he says;
1T is well known to Mr.. Fox that authorities Of the highest
England lrq and dead have maintained that
the general la does forbid The citizens sub
Of another."
Here them is the opinion Of the ables lawyer and the
most accomplished dipomatistin the estimation of his
fiendsof the age In which he lived utterly repudiatng
the idea that such Intervention involved the crime Of pra
cy, anything OF kindred character Were these men
robbers and punderers SO, Lafayette and De Kab
in the category They came to our assistance under
circumstances not greatly favorable animated by the
feelings intending to accomplish the end And
yet who would blacken the memory of those departed he
roes by entertaining such thought much less writing
such an epaph upon their tombs2 Did they die like free
hooters malefactors? Was there any blanching Of
chceks-any cowardly shrinking from their impending
nrf q ord n
No sir On the contrary, when the gallant Crittcn-
den was commanded by the Spanish executoner to knee
down, folding his his breast his American
heart swelling with Indignation he replied Z" knee to
but my Godr So they died, leaving nothing behind
but their regulations viii not the present generation
vndcae their memory from the libellous charge of rob
bers Will not their blood which still cries from the
ground bring down upon the head of that guilty govern
the retrbutye justice due to such acts of atrocy
Whom the gods intend TO destroy they first make mad
saying which has to from high and ancient
thorty. And il would that Spain destaed TO vim
| dictate the truth of this sentiment
But sir as il convinced Of mbecilty aud want of
spirit in permitting these things to pass without
ous remonstrancc Spain determined TO push her in
science to the utmost limit Following close upon these
ourages American vessels the Susan Loud and Geor
gana seized upon by the Cuban authorities while lying
off the island Of Carman in Yucaan with charges against
them but under mere suspicion that they had been con-
cerned with Lopez in his invasion Of the island and the
officers and crew. being Americans, subjected to the
most ignomnious and inhuman treatment On the 10th
day OF August 1851 the Falcon, United States mail
steamer fired into by Spanish vessel without
specous prc,ext On the 2s day of April following three
American sailors taken from board the Lucy
Watts lying in the Spanish port agua Grande Cuba
and without even the form ofa trial. under treaty sp
ulatons were thrown into the dungeons of the Moro Cas-
tie upon charge OF being engaged in the slave-trade;
while 1t is notorious fact that from this trafcso
odious 10 The copangeneral Of The island recohing 10 his
tender sensbilesthat high funeiionary, with many
in authority under him besides many Spanish citizens,
We're and still are, deriving an extensive revenue
Less than two years ago the mail bags Of the United
States were forced open by the Cuban authorities The mail
| oye nd will IN
tents and for the avowed purpose OF preventing the ecc
ton or transmission Of any communication news, except
only such as his hgness the capingenera should deem
proper Within the period Of time the Crescent City
was refused landing with her passengers aud the United
States mail because forsooth Purscr Smith board
who without the sequel showed had become OBJ
noxous the Cuban auihories by which postal
and commercial arrangements were interrupted, and
private citizens deeply injured Soon after several
men, belonging to the American barque JASPER seized
and thrown into prison. had been those OF the Lucy
i Watts and upon the same preext
The Black Warrior had scarcely gotten all sails set and
her stars and stripes unfured before she fired into by
Spanish steamer and compelled 10 round to- 10 CRAFTY
the growing nsoencc OF this silly and faed nation And
now, sir, we have made known TO u.s. in an official form
the fact that the vessel has been seized upon the
property Of citizens conscaed though since restored
our flag insuledand that too In the face OF their
laws in defiance Of their customs and usages and In
violation Of that comfy and good neghborhood which
have pertinacously and perseverngy endeavored
maintain towards her in all intercourse. And in still
more recent information has reached that
tempt made by armed sodcry to wrest from our
consul at Havana by force the pvse dispatches Of
government to him. and their nerous purposes only
thwarcd by the physical resistance and manly determine
ton Of that worthy representative OF our government
Here the important inquiry forces itself upon us what is
the meaning of all this Are these almost daily
the result Of accident? Have they been brought about
by train Of circumstances which Spain had
troll The mantle Of charity broad Il may be- cannot
be made thus these cases No OF creduy
could induce this view OF the subject meets IN
the street to-day ostles violently in my course with
out perhaps exciting particular surprise indgna-
ton upon my part although do not feel comfortable
der his rudeness He meets me again tomorrow and
shoots paper wad into my face On the third day he
pucks me by the beard. Thus, day after day sub
ieced TO these indgntes with apology offered rep
an'on made Now, sir argue myself into the belief
that this has hostile feelings towards me that he
j. my friend2 Can submit to these ndignites wanony
and publicly offered and hope 10 retain my own selfre
spect the respect Of others simple statement Of the
proposition cartes with Il the answer Every honorable
man would say disgrace follow craven sub
mission TO these insults Then sir set II down as truth
not to be controycrted that nation no more escape
the responsibility of asserting its rights and vindangfts
honor than an individual
We left, then to inquire what ought our govern
ment 10 do2
confess feel the weight Of responsibility that presses
upon me at this point and prudence would incline me
follow the counsel Of others without veniurnq any
gestions of my But sir without undertaking TO com
nit those represent upon this floor any opinions which
shall express further than they choose TO adopt them their
own sentiments shall speak with the freedom Of an Amer
lean citizen who is proud Of bis country Jealous OF that
country honor and who deprecaes no public calamity
much rs national disgrace
VI In the FIRST place would have percmptory demand
made upon Spain for suitable apologies for her misconduct
towards and full indemnity for all past injuries either