The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-14

Beard Of Councilman last evening. The first order
Of the evening the third reading Of bills, and
among shose passed was the report Of the Commit
tee on Finance, in relation to advertising the pro-
ceedipgs of the Common Council. The report Of
the Finance Committee on the Reynolds contract
was referred back 80 the Committee OF the Whole.
1t was, however, subsequently taken up, amended,
end adopted In CO mmittse.
The Case or Consular Agent Thompson In
Cuba.
The government Of Spain, some years ago,
notified the President that they would re-
ceive only four consuls in Cuba, viz: at Ha-
vaDa, Matapzas, Trinidad de Cuba, and st. Jago
de Cuba.
Under this notification the Department were
obliged, of course, to prescribe the jurisdic.
tions of the four consuls appointed. THAI of
the Havana has Mariel alone as an outport;
that of Matanzas has the port Of Cardenas, and
has heretofore exercised jurisdiction over San
Juan de los Remedies, Sagua la Grand, &c.
The Office, for instance, at Cardenas, is exceed
ingly important, the number of American yes
sells arriving and departing during the year
being little less than at Matanzas, and more,
it is believed, than at Rio de Janeiro. It is
manifest, then, that there is an absolute
necessity that our commercial affairs at Car
denas should be attended to by an agent
of the consulate duly appointed by the
resident Consul at Matanzas In this way
the consulate at Matanzas assumes the char
acter, in fact, of Consulate. General The
agent thus appointed is notified to the govern
ment at Washington and to the Captain General
His recognition by the last named functionary
the agent of the Consul to do the public bust
ness of the United States within his jurisdiction,
and is provided with the arms and flag of the
United States to sgnalize his position. He is
in no way to interfere with the local authorities,
but must leave such business to the Consul
appointing him. His acts are received at the
Custom Houses in this country aud by the
department at Washington, with neither of
which authorities, however, can he directly
communicate.
IL is manifest, then, that whatever may be
the restricted form of the Queens ex-
equatur to the Consul, his agents have legal
right to exercise the functions of the consulate
within the sphere of their appointments. 1t
is right which has been uniformly conceded
right not only necessary to the commerce Of
the United States, but the least dangerous aud
offensive form in which consular acts could be
performed in the several small ports. By
aggregatipg the consulates the Office is made
so much an object of profit as generally to
secure the services of enlightened and liberal
men as incunbents and ia this way the local
governors of her Majesty are spared the often
siye intermeddling SO often the result of dis
tributipg small men at small incomes and
places.
Mr.. Consular Agent Thompson was then the
agent of the Consul at Trinidad de Caba, Mr..
Mclean. He bad a right to the position he
occupied and to demand the removal of
the arms Of the United States, furnished
him by the Department of State, and to
impTison him for refusing to comply with
SO offensive reqnisition, is an outrage
against Mr.. Thompson personally his princi-
pal Mr.. Mclean and the dignity Of the Uuited
States, which DO apology can well palliate.
II this act was recorded alone upon the records
OF Cuban offences, it might be passed without
notice, bat il must be remembered that Mr..
Cross, the recognized Vice Consul at Matanzas
some thirteen years ago, was arrested on the
affidavit of low and degraded woman, and
imprisoned l47 days. The records of the State
Department are full Of these outrages; bat
they have never, except under Gen. jackson,
in the case eff Mr.. Shoemaker at Matanzas, been
turned over 80 the navy for correction. IL that
arm of defence and security is now called into
requisition it will be one Of the first positive
uses to which it has been put for many ears.
The case of Ar. Thompson is susceptible of
no explanation which will at all justify the au-
thorities arresting him. His arrest is not alone
personal afront; it is national insult, which
itis The daty of the President to see atoned for.
u does no. stand alsne, and if the remedy ap.
pied shall be singular in its yigor aud resolu-
tioo it will he subject of coHgrstulation by.
the American people