The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-01
THE ARREST OF MR.. THOMPSON BY THE SPAN
ISH AUTHORITIES.


ISH AUTHORITIES.
An article in the National Ltsiigocr OF yesterday
makes proper for refer again TO the late arrest of
Mr. Thompson our consular agent at Sagua la Grande,
in Cuba in advance OF the authentic facts of the
That journal furnishes proof of its readiness enlist
its columns against its in each successive
aggression upon rights insult its flag by foreign
officials On the present occasion, its ant-Amercan
imens hardly surprising its strange ignorance
in respect with which be unacquainted
almost objectionable paper which enjoys the reputa
ton Of being the organ of Of national parties
well as of the sentiments and views Of European gov
Its ignorance is not less remarkable than its
indifference say reckessness to facts. After
sering without the least foundation for doing, that the
FL Dorado outrage has expired under the scrutiny Of
truth the hsgener says that "another is conured up
n the shape Of the of American viceconsula
Mr. Thompson, vce-consu Sagua la Grande arrested
the of the United States down. and he marched
of to Havana The Iate,geer then proceeds to expose
its ignorance follows.
Giving credence the story from its circumsan
TALLY, turned to the Gazetteer and the Blue Book to
the whereabouts Of Sagua la Gsnde and whether the
United States had at such place, and were
in finding either We therefore beg ask
Union tell only where Sagua la Grandc is but who
Mr.. Thompson and how he to be reseoasut Of tbs
United States, with the American flag his door, There
such office officer to be found In the Blue Book as
such place, and desire to know how
Mr.. Thompson claim be such Has he any
quatur other commission from governmental fill an
office which be found the official list Have
consu in Cuba elsewhere the to appoint their
own motion and their pleasure -consus com
mereal agents. vice thing else without the authority
Of the Ii they have only there
much in the proceeding and until better informed
doubt whether such officer legally Sagus
oil arm were
placed the door of Mr. Thompson virtue Of any legal
authority for the purpose Of protecting any interest of
the United States. His likely originated
very different cause
The Ingeneer suggests that it will be necessary for us
double daily keep pace with the multiple
cation Of Spanish outragese If we have not only to
keep pace with the multiplication Of Spanish outrages
but with the american outrages perpetrAed BY American
editors upon sound political principles upon universally
acknowledged international laws upon American senti-
ments and upon the rights Of American citizens and the
time instruct the editors Of the hegecey in geoc-
raphy and in the practice of the government under our
consular system shall have 70 do more than double
daily issue" But without promising to do all that
we VIII proceed to enlighen the understanding of our
neghbor the questions which they have addressed to
US in the foregoing extract
The hellgencer, in commenting ON the arrest Of Mr.
THOMPSON by the Spanish authorities Cuba asks if sour
consus in Cuba elsewhere have the power to appoint
on their own notion and at their pleasure vicecon
suls or commercial agents. vice anything else without
the authority Of the government
For the purpose OF answering the inquiry of our neigh
bor which we must repeat exhibits great ignorance
both In respect to the law the subject and the practice
OF Inc government and its agents under for more than
hall century, we quote from the fourth chapter Of the
printed General Instructions, edition of 1898 which is still
in daily use in the Department of State prepared by Mr.
Forsyth TO United States consuls the following articles
ne duties Of conssis eitA respect the appointment Of
ta9 consniar agents.
Art 49, When there several seaports in consular
district to which American resort il Ia the duv o
the consul appoint ct person to be consular
such port who shall correspond and make his
to him. the consn who shall transmit copie. of them with
his own quarterly returns.
Art A. Great be taken in the selection Of
consular agents. American citizens are 10 be preferred
oner quancatons are equal and when persons can be
VINO are not engaged in commerce, they be &C.
consul s to be responsible for the official act OF
the consular agent appointed by him he must inmed
aey give notice to the minister the United States
the Of the country where resides to the
authority Of the place. and to this department. Of such ap
pointment>' |
The duties Of consuls and vce-consuls are particularly
id down in the acts Of Congress concerning consus and
sceconsus approved respectively l4th April I7s2 and
1919, 70 Wncn we refer neighbOr
further information
Under previous administrations great looseuess and
irreguiarity prevailed in the appointment of consular
agents or, as they termed by courtesy vceconsus
Mr. Perkins in his able speech the subject of the consul
lar system, speaks follows:
II has been charged that these appointments have been
sold by some Of ccnsu aud it surprising that
oregner the subject Of another government holding Office
as consul under government with power delegate
authority should do for Offices in msny
Of the countries of Europe disposed Of in this way
" Ia 1907 there In Europe hundred and twenty
i've subjects OF other acting American vice.
consu- and in European two hundred and
fve making three hundred and 6y exclusive OF those in
South America and the Pacific These exercised ali the
power Of regular consuls They granted American
to almost whom they pleased and taxed Americans and
American for their support almost every map
Unable form. should the which frauds upon
the have been practised the consular oace
they have been described to by in position.
making them cognissnt Of the facts would seem almost
incredible"
Such the state OF things when the present admins.
traou into power II of the objects Of Mr.
Marcys wsll-known circular Of June 1852 to correct
these abuses
The following are extracts from this circular:
t has been represented this department upon author
y which Is deemed undoubted, that American consu sr
in the habit Of employing fo1gn clerks assist dis
charge OF consular dntes Mis practice longer