Washington sentinel., 1855-03-09

tanned IN my despatch to you OF the 22d OF
June last, in answer to that reply, remains un.
changed. 1t does not appear to him that the
knowledge of those views can in any way IN
juriouSly affect the negotiation for the cession
OF Cuba but, on the contrary, that case will
show to Spain the difficulties she will be ex.
posed to by continuing to maintain the present
state of things in that Island, and ought to be
strong inducement for her to yield to the
change proposed to be made.
There is another point in regard to the case
OF the Black Warrior, alluded TO in your con-
versation with her Catholic Majestys Minister
Of Foreign Relations on the 29th of August
last, upon which the President directs me TO
express his impressions. Should the Spanish
Government propose to settle the case of the
Black Warrior, he would not consider the re-
moyal of General Pezuela and the other
Spanish officers who acted in that affair az
presenting an invincible obstacle in the way OF
adjusting that difficulty. When he directed me
10 communicate with you on the subject in
March last, he assumed that the Spanish Govern.
ment would feelit to be due to the United States
as well as to Spain to manifest its displeasure
towards its Cuban officials as soon as it should
become aware of their gross misconduct in
that case. This reasonable expectation was
clearly expressed to you in the despatch of the
18th of March last, but he did not indicate III
it any particular manner in which that displea-
sure should be manifested. In your note to
the Spanish Minister of Foreign Relations pre-
senting the demand Of your government for
satisfaction YOU specified a particular mode in
which her Catholic Majesty ought to exhibit
her displeasure towards these offending officers,
viz: their dismission from Office AS this
would be most emphatic manner of manifest
ing her displeasure at their conduct, this Gov
ernment would have been well satisfied to have
had it adopted. But the President does not
wish you to assume the position that the case
cannot now be adjusted in manner satisfac-
tory to the United States, if, by change Of
circumstances, that precise mode cannot be
literally adopted. There are other conceivable
modes of furnishing the official persons who
participated in that outrage besides removal
from office, which the Government of the
United States might honorably accept, if full
satisfaction for the outrage and ample indem-
nifty for injuries and losses were made. The
dismissal of the implicated officials at Havana
| would have been very appropriate manner OF
manifesting the dispeasnre of their Govern
ment at their misconduct, and wonld fully
meet the Presidents expectation in this re-
spect; but circumstances may have so changed
that strict compliance with the demand for
tuiS particular punishment NOW bcNUiHc
impossible. In that case another manner of
treating these wrong.doers by the Government
of Spain, appropriately selected, may be salts
| factory to the United States.
| The Minister Of Foreign Relations having, in
apparent good faith, officially declared that
| Pezuela, the Captain-General, and Arguelles,
the Intendant of the Customs, were not re-
moved from their official positions at Havana
for the purpose Of eyading or defeating any
part Of our demand for redress the fact of their
having been already removed ought not, there
fore, in the opinion of the President, to be re-
garded as presenting an insurmountable obsta-
Gle to the adjustment of the case of the Black
Warrior Should there be others still in office
who participated in the outrage in that case, il
is expected they will be dismissed for that
cause. Such treatment will be but slight
punishment for their offence, and have q salu
tary influence, it is hoped upon their success
sors. The removal of General Pezuela and
Arguelles on the assumption that it was not
made with view to embarrass the settlement
of that case does not deprive the Spanish Gov.
ernment of the ability TO manifest its dis
pleasure towards them for the part they took
in that aggravated wrong.
Should the Government Of Spain recede from
the grounds taken in Mr.. Calderon's note 10
you of the 7th OF May last, disapprove Of the
conduct of her authorities at Havana in the
case Of the Black Warrior, disavow their acts,
show in an appropriate manner its displeasure
towards them on that account, and offer full
indemnity for the losses and injuries which our
citizens sustained in that affair." you will enter
tain these propositions and signify the willing
ness Of your Government TO adjust the case on
such terms In that event you will be fur.
Hished with proper instructions TO bring it to a
close.
The claimants for compensation for damages
| for the arrest and detention of the Black War.
| rior are numerous, and some Of their demands
are not properly sustained by proof. As Spain
has not consented to indemnify them, they have
not yet gone to the expense of preparing their
respective claims for presentation.
| 1t is not expected that Spain will stop at the
adjustment Of the case of the Black Warrior.
| Our citizens have many other claims, original.
| ing from the conduct of her officials at Cuba,
which in justice and honor she is also bound
| TO adjust. These must be pressed upon the
attention of her Government, and they will
also prepared for presentation as soon as they
can be after il is known that Spain is willing
| to adjust them.
III the cession OF the Island OF Cuba has ID
be hopelessly abandoned for the present an
other very important matter will come up for
consideration. The United States have asked.
and will most pertinaciously insist upon, some
security against the future misconduct of the
| Spanish authorities at Cuba. Looking TO the
past, the reasonableness OF this demand must
be acknowledged by Spain. A compliance with
| it is but an act Of justice to the United States
and Of prudent precaution to herself
| Giving Spain credit for the sincerity Of her
repeated and solemn assurances Of an intention
in all times past to respect the rights Of this
| Government and the interests Of our citizens,
the failure Of all her efforts to effect this object
must convince ber that there ia some inherent
defect in her present system Of governing Cuba,
and that its continuance will unavoidably lead
10 new difficulties.
If Spain persists in maintaining her despotic
administration over this dependency, situated
SO far beyond her immediate supervision, by
vesting in her Captain.G General powers which
have been so often abused, it is incumbent
upon her to provide FOR direct appeal by the
injured citizens Of friendly Powers to him for