Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-22
Interview Between Com. II odgers and
the Captain General.

The Havana correspondent of the New
York Herald gives the following account of
the interview between Com. Rodgers and the
Captain General of Cuba:
Com. Rodgers called on his Excellency,
| General Concha, and after the usual compl-
mentary greeting, the conversation naturally
| turned upon the recent outrages committed
on the American and Spanish flags by the
British cruisers that were sent out exclusively
| 10 capture slavers
In the course of his remarks, Concha obser-
| we'd that the proceedings of the British
officers had been in such direct violation of
the treaty stipulatons with Spain, that neces-
| sity had compelled him to call Mr.. Crawford
attention to the subject. and that both he and
the Captain of the Styx had offered every
apology for their remissness in advising him
of the nature and object of their cruising in
these waters, and they assured him that the
lieutenant who searched the American and
Spanish ships in Sagua la Grande would be
sent home to England for trial.
Concha also informed Com. Rodgers that
he had issued orders TO the Spanish squadron
now cruising in the Gulf, 10 prevent further
Interference with American ships in Cuban
waters, by force, if necessary. He had also
assured him that in his correspondence with
the Governors of the different outports of the
island, he had forwarded the same orders. and
he did not hesitate TO affirm that an imme-
date stop would be put to the fragrant abuse
of power.
Commander Rodgers then applied for a
Government pilot to accompany him in his
cruise alang our northern coast, and the re-
quest was Immediately complied with. Official
visits were also exchanged with the British
Consul and the commander of the English
war steamer Devastation, when Commander
Rodgers manifested in plain terms the OBJ
ieci of his cruise in these waters, and the firm
determination on the part OF our Government
to put a stop to the further detention of
American merchantmen. The captain of the
Devastation concurred in the belief that many
useless detentions have originated both from
the i'll construction of orders by the English
captaius AID also from the neglect of some
of our captains to hoist their colors until
shot or Two has been fired to enforce ODE
dience. lie also acknowledged that the com
mander of the Siyx had overstepped his in
structions In many cases, and that he would
doubtless be court-martialed for the same.
When asked By what orders they acted in
everhauling our ships in these waters, he
replied that his Government bad construed
the Ashburton Treaty TO be sufficient au-
thority to allow them 10 examine all vesself
on this coast, who might make themselves
suspicious participants in the slave trade.
Commander Rodgers, referring 10 the Treaty
showed him that this concession by the Amer
lean Government referred only To the African
coast, and even in cases where IL was allow
able the Treaty clearly established way In
which vessel was 10 be hailed, but that her
course could not be stopped by an English
cruiser. under any circumstances whatever,
without positive proofs Of her being pira-
teal vessel.