Washington telegraph., 1858-12-22
ARKANSAS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER g. 1858

expect that this urn would bc repaid with in
tcrest- we have received n proposal offering to
refund onc-third Of that amount, ffcrty-two
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eiEht dol
lars aud forty-one cents but without interest,
If We would accept this in full satisfaction.
The offer i, also, accompanied by declaration
that this indemnihcation Il not founded on any
reason of strict Justice; but ii IL made A. a
special favor.
One alleged cause for Vrocrastinaiion Ia the
examination and adjustment Of our claims
arises from an obstacle which il j. the duty Of
the Spanish Government to rem ye. Whilst
the Captain-G General Of Cuba j. invested with
general dcspotic authority in tie government
of that island. the power IA wifhhrll from him
N examine ani redress wrongs committed Ly
officials under his control, citizens ot the u.
States. Instead Of making our complaints di-
rectly to him at Havana, We are obliged to pre-
sent them through minister at Madrid.
These are then referred back TO the captain
general for information, and much time is thus
consumed in preliminary mcdiations and cores
pondence between Madrid and Cuba, before the
Spanish Government win consent tn proceed To
negotiation. Many Uf the difficulties between
the governments would be Obyiated, and long
train Of mediation avoided. if the captain
general we're invested with authority to settle
questions Of easy solution the case, where
all Tie llEts are iIr-l. anu Cuula De promptly
and satisfactorily nscertaincd. We have hitL-
crto in win urged upon the Spanish Govern
mcnt ID confer this power upon the captain
general. and our minister to Spain viii also be
instructed to urge this subject to their notice
la this respect, we oceup! different position
from the powers OF Europe. Cuba j. almost
within sight Of our shores our commerce with
it is far greater than that Of any other nation in
cluding Spain itself aud our citizens in reru-
.u.s IA
course over every part III the island. II j.,
therefore, n great mistake that. when any diff
Guilty occurs, no matter how unimpOTtant. which
might be readily settled at the time, should
be obliged 20 resort 10 Madrid, especially when
the very frst step 10 be taken there Is TO re-
iuihark - Cuba.
Thc truth ~. that Cuha, III i'll existing colon
It'll condition. ~ a constant source Of injury and
annoyance IL the people. IL IL the cnly SPOT IN
tile civilized world where the African slave
trade i tolerated; and are bound by treaty
with Great Britain to maintain n naval fleet on
the cuast Of Africa, at much expense both Of
lite and treasure, solely for the purpose VI ar
resting slaveIz bound ~ that island. The late
serious difficulties between the United States
hnd Great Britain respecting thc right VI search,
nyw IN happily terminated. cvnld not have
arisen II Cuba had rot Afforded market for
slaves. A. long a. this market shall remain
orcn. there viii be no hope for tie civilization
Of beui iEhteI Africa. A. long a. the demand
for slaves continues in Cuba. wars will be waged
among the petty and harbarou- chiefs for the
purpose Ut -cizinE subjects to supply tii- dc-
maEI in suci p condition XXX affair IL HI i'm
penetrate rhe.r bleak aGodes.
The Island of Cuba, from it, geographical
position. commands the mouth Of the Mississip-
pi and the immense ani annually increasing
trade. foreign and coasiwise, in the valley Of
= fsH=aa half
crciHn States W the Union. With thnt Island
under the dominion III a slant foreign power.
trade. of such importance 70 these states D.
exposed to the danger of being destroyed in
time 81 war. and II has hitherto been subjected
to perpetual injury aud annoyance IN time Of
peace. Our relations with Spain Uhi=h ought
10 be u the most friendly character must ai-
way he placed IN danger whilst Gas existing
Colonial government over the island shall rc-
mnin III it- present condition.
whilst tile Irs session 0f the island would be
of vast Importance 10 the United States. its
value 20 Spain l. comparatively, unimportant.
Such vas the relative situation Of the parties
when the great NAPOLEON transferred Louisiana
to thc United States Jealous. M hc cHer VA
of thR national honor and interests IA France,
no person throughout tic world, In imputed
blame N him. for accepting aPceuniary eqniFa-
lent for this cession.
The publicity Which has been given 20 our
former negotiations upon the subject, and the
large appropriation which may be required to
effect tie purpose, render il important before
making another attempt to renew thc proposi-
tion. that should lay thc whole subject before
Congress. Thi> II especially necessary III 4
may become Indispensable 10 success that
be entrusted with the means II making an ad-
vance to the Spanish government Immediately
after the signing ofthe treaty, without awaiting
the ratification of it BY the Senate. an en-
caurugcd "a make this suggestion hy tbs en-
ample ui Mr.. jefferson previous IN this purchase
w Louisiana from France and by THAT n Nr
Polk In view of tile acquisition n territory
from Mexico. | refer the whole subject q
Congress. and commend it to their careful con
-idcration-
Our late minister was furnished with amrl'
powers anl instructions for the adjustment ot n
pending questions with the central government
af Mexico. ana he performed hi duty with zca
and ability. The claims of cur citizens, some Q
them arising out Of the violation Of an expres
4 provision ofthe treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo an'
others from gross injuries to persons as well a
property. have remained unredressed and evei
unnoticcd. Remonstranccs against thes
1 grievances have been addressed without enec
I ID that government. Meantime, IN varlnn
sections IL the republic, instances have bcei
numerous OF the murder, imprisonment AM
I plunder Of our citizens by inherent Parne
I claiming and exercising local jurisdiction
but the central government, although repeated
IL appealed thereto, have made no effort eithe
to punish the perpetrators Of these outrages
10 prevent their recurrence
~ American citizen can now visit Neric
on lawful business. without imminent DANCE
to bis person and property. There is no ade
quate protection to either; and in this respec
our treaty with that republic Is almost dea
letter This state of affairs was brought TO
crisis in May last, by the PRONUNCIATION Of
decree lcvying a contribrtioHPro rata upon A
the capital in the Republic, between ceriai
specified amounts, whether held BY Mexican
or foreigners. Mr.. Forsyth, regarding lhi
decree in the light Of a forced Loan, fOrna
ly protested against it, application to his cour
trymen, and advised them not to pay the cor
irihution but to suffer il TO be forcihly exacte'
Acting upon this advice, American citize
refused % ray the contribution, and his pr
pcrty was seized by armed men 20 satisfy q
amount. Not content with this, tho goveri