Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-12-17

tR5an claims, IN which more than hundred
OF oar citizens are directly interested, have
furnished no exception These claims were
for the refunding OF duties uniustly exacted
from American vessels ut different custom
houses in Cuba, SO long ago as the year 18Th.
The principles upon which they rest are so
nanitestly equitable and just, that after pc
Rod of nearly ten years. in 1891, they we've
recognized by the Spanish government Pro-
cccdings were afterwards Instituted to ascertain
their amount, and this vas fnally fixed accord
Ing to their own statement with which We we're
satisfedl at the sum Of one hunGred and tweu-
ty-eight thousand six hundred aud ihirty-fyo
dollars and Hfty-fonr cents. Jast at the lnO-
ment, after delay Of fourteen years, when We
had reason To expect that this sum would be re-
paid with interest, We have received proposal
offering to refund onc-third OF that amount,
tforty-two thousand eight hundred aud seventy
eight dollars aal forty one cenis,) hut without
interest, it we would accept this III full salts
faction. The offer is also accompanied by de-
claratiou that this decentralization is not ioun-
ded on any reason OF siriei Justice, but is made
a special ftvur.
Oao alleged cause iof procrasination 10 the
examination and adjustment of or claims,
arises from an obstacle which it Is the duty Of
the Spanish government 10 remove. Whilst
the captains general of Cuba is invested with
general despote authority in the government
ct that island, the power Is withheld from him
to examine aud redress wrongs committed By
officials Jnier his control, On citizens of the u.
States. instead OF maKn9 our complaints
directly 10 him at Havana, we are obliged to
present thcm through our minister at Madrid.
These are then referred back to the captain
general for information and much time is thus
consumed i'll preliminary investigation aud cor
respondence between Madrid aud Cuba, and
before the Sprnish government will consent TO
proc 3ed to negotiation. Many of the Difficult
ties between the two governments would be
obyiated, and long train OF negotiation avoid
cd, if the captain eeuerIl were invested With
authority to settle questions of easy solution
on the spot, where all the facts are fresh, and
could be promptly ana satsfactorially asccr-
tanned. We have hitherto in vain urged upon
the Spanish government to confer this power
upon the elptain-general and our minister to
Spain Will again be instructed to urge this sub
iect on their notice. 10 this respect, We occu-
py different position from the powers of
Europe. Cuba is almost within sight of our
shores our commerce with il Is far greater
than that of any other nation, including Spain
itself, aud our eitizeus are in habits of daily
and extended personal Intercourse with every
part of the island l. is, therefore, u great
grievance that, when any difficulty occurs, no
matter how unmportant. which might be readily
settled at The moment, We 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 ia that Caba, in its existing colo
NAL condition, Is a constant source OF injury
M
the oniy spot IN the civilized world where the
African slave trade i' tolerated anl We are
bonnd by treaty with Great britain. to m1intain
naval force on he coast of Africl, at much
expense both of life and treasure, solely for
The purpose ot arresfing sllvcrs bouhd 70 that
island. The late serou. difficulties between
the Unitel States aud Great Britain, respecting
the right OF searsh, u1w So happily terminated,
could never have arisen if Cuba had not afford
ed lnlFket for slaves. A4 long as this mar
ket shalt remain open, thero can be no hope FOR
the eivilz ,tion of benighted Africa. Whilst
the demand for slaves continues in Cuba. wars
viii be wagei among the petty AMI barbarous
chiefs in Africa, for the purpose of seizing
subjects to supply this trade. In such con.
dition ii atflirs, it is impossible that the light
of civilz ltion ami religion can ever penetrate
those dark abodes.
1t has been nude known to the world by nv
predecessors, that the United States have. on
several occasions, enleavorcl to acquire Cuba
from Spain By hon0rablc negotiation. II this
were accomplished, the last relic Of the African
slave trade woull instantly disappear. We
wouli not, il could, acquire Cnba in any other
manner. This IS due to our GltioDal character.
All tne territory which we have acquired since
the 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 hlenliOg hr destinies with
our own. The course We shall eve. pursue,
anless circumstances SHOULD occur, which we
do not nov anticipate. rendering u departure
from it clearly jastifiable, under the imperative
aud overruIing law of self-pre>eryation.
The Island of Cuba; from its geographical
position, commands The mouth Of the Mississippi,
and the immense aud annually increasing trade,
foreign and coastwise, from the valley of that
noble river, now embrace half the sovereign
States Of the Union. With that island under
the dominion Of a distant foreign power, this
trade, Of vital Importance to these States, is
exposed to the danger Of being destroyed in
time of war, ana it has hitherto been subiec ted
10 perpetual injury and annoyanc3 in time Of
peace. Oar relations with Spain, which ought
10 be Of the most friendly character, must al
ways be placed in jeopardy while The existing
colonial government over the Island shall re-
main in its present condition..
Whilst the possession of the Island would be
OF vast Importance to the United States, its
value TO Spain is, comparatively, unimportant.
Such was the relative situation OF the parties,
when the great N lpoeon transferred Louisiana
to tho United States. Jealoas, as he ever was,
of the nation, honor aud interests Of France,
DO person throughout the world has imputed
blame to him for arrentiny n ncenni,rv .noira-