New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-12-13
9c8 Qreaas Gully Crsccut aoudag ong tccmbc 49, 1853

call; and it was my purpose to send out new Min
lister to that Court, with special instructions on all
| questions pending between the two Governments,
and with determination to have them speedilv and
amicably adjusted, if that were possible This pur-
| pose has been hitherto defeated by causes which
need not euumerate
The mission to Spain has been entrusted to q dis.
tnguished citizen OF Kentucky who will proceed to
Madrid without delay and make another and final
attempt to obtain justice from that Government.
Spanish officials, under the direct control Of the
Captain General of Cuba have insIlted our national
flag, and, in repeated instances have from time to
time inflicted injuries the persons and property of
our citizens, These have given birth to numerous
claims against the Spanish Government the merits
of which have been ably discussed for series of
years, by our successive diplomatic representatives
Notwithstanding this, we have not arrived at prac-
tical result in any single instance unless we may ex
cept the case OF the Black Warrior, under the late
| Administration ana that presented an outrage Of
such character as would have justified an immed.
ate resort to war; All attempts to obtain redress
| have been batlled and defeated The freuuent and
oitrecurrlng changes in the Spanish Ministry have
! been employed as reasons for delay We have been
compelled to wait, again and again. until the new
Minister shall have had time to investigate the JUS
! tive of our demands.
| Even what have been denominated 1.-THE Cuban
claims in which more than hundred of our cti-
zens are directly interested, have furnished no excep
ton. These claims for the refunding of duties
unjustY eXaCted from American vessels at different
custom houses IN Cuba so long ago the year 1874
The principles upon which they rest are so nanfestlv
equitable and just that after period of nearly ten
years, in 1Sj4 they were recognized by the Spanish
Government Proceedings were afterwards instituted
to ascertain their amount, and this was finally fixed
according to their own statement with which we
were satsed) at the of one hundred and twenty
eight thousand six hundred and thirty five dollars and
| httyOur cents Just at the moment, after DELAY of
fourteen years, when we had reason to eypect that
this SUN would be repaid with interest, we have re
ceived proposal offering to refund one.thrd of that
amount (orty-twO thousand eight hundred and
seyentyelght dollars and ory.one cents) but with
out interest if we would accept this in full satisfaction
The offer is, asO accompanied by declaration that
this decentralization is not founded on any reason Of
strict justice but is made as a special favor.
One alleged caused for prOcrastinatiOn in the ex-
animation and adjustment of our claims arises from
an obstacle which it is the duty Of the Spanish Coy.
eminent to remove, Whilst the Captain General Of
Cuba is invested with general despotic authority in
the government of thatisaud, the power is withheld
| from him to examine and redress wrongs committed
by officials under his CONTROL citizens Of the United
States Instead OF making our complaints directly
| to him at Havana, We are obliged to present them
through our Minister at Madrid. These are then re
ferred back to the Captain General for information
and much time is thus consumed in preliminary ia-
Vestgations and correspondence between Madrid and
Cuba, before the Spanish Government will proceed to
| negotiation. Many of the difficulties between the
two governments would be Obviated anda lOnr train
Of negotiation avoided if the Captan-G General were
invested with authority to settle questions of easy So
luton on the spot, where all the facts are fresh and
! could be promptly and satisfactorily ascertdned.
/ We have hitherto in vain urged upOn the SPANISH
| Government to confer this power upon the CAPTAIN.
General, and our Minister TO Spain will again he in
structed to urge this subject on their notice In this
respect we occupy different position from powers
OF Europe. Cuba is almost within sight of our shores
our commerce with it is far greater than that of any
other natiOn including Spain itself, and our citizens
| are in habits OF daily aud extended personal inter
course with every part Of the island It is therefore,
great grievance that, when any difficulty occurs no
/ QUlmuDrLant mi rh he Il Y
settled at the moment, should be Obliged to resort
to Madrid, especially when the very first step to be
| taken there is to refer it back to Cuba.
The truth is that Cuba in its existing colonial con-
ditiOn is constant source of injury and annoyance
to the American people. 1t is the only spot in the
civilized world where the African slavemde toera-
ted; and we are bound by treaty with Great Britain,
TO maintain naval force on the st of Africa, at
much expense both OF life aud treasure solely for the
| purpose Of arrestng sayers bound to that island.
The late serious difficulties between the United States
and Great Britain respecting the right Of search now
| so happily terminated could never have arisen if
Cuba had not afforded market for slaves. A long
rs this market shall remain open, there can he no
| hope for the civilization of benghted Africa Whilst
the demand for slaves continues in Cuba, will lie
! Waged among the petty and DarbdrQus chiefs in
Africa for the purpose of seZiug subjects to supply
this trade In such condition of affairs it is i'm
possible that the light Of civilization and religion can
| ever penetrate these dark abndes.
! 1t has been made known to the world bym prede.
cess0rs that the United States have on several coca
sous endeayored to acquire Cuba from Spain by hon.
orable negotiation. If this were accomplished, the
last relic Of the African slavetrade would instantly
disappear VIZ would not, if we could acquire Cula
in any other manner This is due to our national
character All the territory which we have acquired
since tine origin Of the Government has been by fair
purchase from France, Spain and Mexico, or by the
free and voluntary act OF the independent State Of
Texas, in blending her destnes with our own. This
course we shall ever pursue unless circumstances
should occur, which we do not now anticipate, rem