The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-12-07

s sme Spanish goyernnnent Proceedings were after.
wss nnaIiy nxed according 10 heir own statemert
with whlcn we were satis fed) at the rum of Gre
and Thirty Five dollars and fiftyfour cents Jn., ~
the moment. after delay of fourteen years whsn
we nad reason to expect that this sum would be re-
fering TO refund onehird Of that amount fforty tvn
thousand eight hundred and seventy y-eight dollars
would accept this in full satisfaction The ofer ia
also, accompanied by declaration that this indern.
niacaon u not founded on any reason Of strict jug
nce pot 10 made as special favor.
One alleged canse for procrastination in the ex-
animation and adjustment of eur claims arises from
an Obstacle which It is The duty Of the Spanish go
Of Cuba is invested with general despotc authority
IA the government OF that island. the power is with
led from MIN TO examine aud redress wrongs com
rlitt by officials under his control, citizens Of
tne United states Instead OF making complaints
sent them through our minister at M.drid. These
are then referred back to the captain enefal for
formation; and much time is thus consumed In Pre-
nminary Investigations and correspondence TO-
tween mafrid aud Cuha before the Spanish govern
ment Will consent to proceed to nego iatioD. Many
OF the difficulties between the two goyt rnments
would be obviated. and long train of negotiation
avoided, If the captain general invested with
auholty TO settle questions of easy solution on the
SPOT, whefe all the facts fresh, aud could be
promptly and satisfactorily ascertaiatd. We have
hitherto In vain urged upon the sanish govern
and minister to spain viii again be instructed
70 urge this subject their notice. In this respect
We tocupy different position from the powers Of
EUROPE. tuoa Is almost within sie hit of shores
our with t is far greater than that OF any
other nation. including Spain itself. and citizens
are IN habits OF daily and extended personal inter
course with every part of the island II il. there
fore great grievance that when any difficulty &C.
Curs, no matter how unimportant, which might be
iesai!F setften al the EoC ent should be obliged
to resort to Madrid, especially when the very fret
step 10 De taken there is to refer it back to Cuba
ihe truth is that Cuba. in its existing COLONIAL
condition. ID constant source of ipjnry and suIloy
snce 70 me american peore. II s the only spot in
Tolerated; and we are bound by treaty with Great
Britain, to maintain naval force on the coast o.
AIT ca at much expente both of life and treasure
solely 9r the pnrpose of arresiing slavers bound to
tnat islard 9he late serious difficulties between
the United States and Great Britain respecting the
right Of search. :uow 50 happily terminated, could
never have arisen IL Cuba had not afforded mar
ket for slaves. Asloug this market halI remain
open there can be no hope fer the civil zation of be-
finucs in Cuba wars ill be waged among the petty
and barbarous chiefs in Africa for the purpose Of
condition of affairs, it is impossible that the light of
Givilization ana religion can ever penetrate these
1t hss been made known to the world bv m prs-
dtc ssoIs that the Uni ed States have on several
occasions. endeavored TO acquire Cuba from Spain
cd the last relic OF the African slave trade would
| Instantly disappear. We would cot. if we could
acquire Cuba IN any other msnner This is due TO
our national character. All the territory which we
have acquired siDca the origin of the government
has been by TAR ru chase from France. Spain and
ne8cc or Dy The Tree and voluntary Of the in.
deponden; State Of Texas in blending her destinies
With our own This course we shall ever purs ue,
now anticitsts. rendering departure from il
rl arly justifable, under the imperative and over.
ru lag law OF SelfpIeservation.
Ahe Issnt of Cuba, from its geographical posi-.
ton, commands the mouth of the hiississppi and
the immense and annually increasing trade, foreign
and cosss'sse from the valley of that noble river
now embracing half of the sovereign States Of the
Union: With that Island under the dominion of a
distaLt foreign power this trade vital
10 IEeSo SLat q, exposed to the of h.inp
destroyed in time of war. and it has hitherto been
snelected to perpetual injury and annoyance in
ought 10 be OF ths most friends character must
always be placed in jeopardy, v hat the existing
in its present condition.
Whist the possession Of the Island would be of
vas. Importance to the United States, its value to
Spain is, comparatively. unimportant Such was
the relative situation OF the parties when the
great Napoleon transferred Louisiana to the United
states. Jsaiois as he ever was. of the nationel
honor and Interests Of France no person through
cut the world. has imputed blame to him. for &C.
cepting pScunary equivalent for this cession.
The publicity whi has been given to our former
neS9iiations npon this subject and the larse sppro
ppia'ion % Sni;. !. may 4e rtqutee to effect the pur
attempt to renew the negotietion that shou d iay
the whoic subject bef.re Congress. This is espaci
success, that should be intrustea with the means
of making an advance to the Spanish govern.aent
awaiting the ra'ificai n of it by the Senate. am
encouraged to Ak this fugSesion, by the example
by e ihs e S
the acqui5tiop Of trIitory from Mexico. refer
me whole subject to Congress, and commend it to
1repsst the recommendation made in Iay message
Of btceaber last. in favor of an appropristio: TO
be paid to the pauisi government for the rurros
uf distrbutic ong the claimants Ia the rmslei
case" President Polk first made q similar recon
mendation in Decenibsr, ls47. and it vas repeated
by my immediate predecessor in December lG3 /
entertain doubt that indemnity is fairly Que to
these claimants under our treaty with Spain OF the
we ought to do Justice. An appropriation prompt
" made for this purpose, could not fail to exert
Our position in relation to the independent States
south of us ON this continent, and especially those
within the limits of North America. is Of peculiar
character. 1he northern boundaries of Mexico is
coirciient with cur cwn southern bou ndary from
ocean to ocean; and We must necessarily feel deep
interest in all that concerns tha Webbing and tn.
fate of 40 near nei ,h5or, We have always cher.
shea the klndest wi hes for the succ of that re-
public, aDd have INDUCED the hope that it might al
last, after all its trials enjoy pace and prosperity
under free and stable government. We have
n YER hitherto interfered, directly tr Indirectly
owe TO ourselves, to protect the integrity of its
territory, against the hostile interference of any
rect interest in eli that copeerps mexlco and cur
weil-s eited policy in regard TO the North American
sen Inent. render this an indisp sable duty.
Mexic has been IN state of cOnst ant revolution
a most ever since II ACHE we'd 1 inGe GependeDce-
One military le .der after another has usurped the
government in rapid succession; and the various
constitutions from tine to time adopted, have been
set at naught almost soon an they were pro
Claimed The successive g. vernments Lave f,rded
40 adequate protection either TO Mosican cItizeus
or foreik residents gainst aw.ess violence Here
tofore seizure of the capital by military chief
tain has been generally followed by at leasL the
nominal submission of the country to his rule for
brief period, but not so at the present crisis OF
soma time throughout the republic between the
central government at the city of Mexico which
has G spdeavSIed to snbvert the constitution last
the authority OF that Constitution The antago-
mist parties each hold possession of different states
OF the republic, and the fortunes of the war are
instantly changing. Meanwhile the most repre-
neBsibie means have been employed By both parties
extort money from foreigners as we'll as patlves
this fine country blessed with productive soil ard
a benign climate has been reduced by civil dissen
sion to condition of almost hopeless anarchy ard
mbtc lity. 1t would b, vain for this goyei nrnenI
Q attempt to enforce psspent in money of the
more than ten million dollars, against Mexico be
csus she is destitute Of all pecuniary means to
satisfy ihese demands.
Our late minister was furnished with ample pow
and instructions for the adjustment of all pend
ing questions with the centrai government of Mcxl
co. and he performed his duty with zeal and ability
The claims of our citzt is sumo OF ths n .rsing on
u the violation 81 an express provision of the tTea
tyof Gusdalups HidelGo. nnd others from gross 10
uries to persons Wei as property hare remained
uoredreased and even unp0ticed Renon strances
az sir st these grievances heve been addressed with
ous parts OF the republic. Instances hnre bcon nu-
mero,rs OF the murder, imprisoDmeat, and plumber
OF our citizens, by eiuerent parties claiming and
exercising q local dTislic'ion;s Int the central
government, although roreated'v urged thereto
have made 10 effort either - punish the authors o
these outrages or 10 prevent their recrrrerce. No
American citizen can nov visit Mexico on iswfri tu
siness, without imminent danger to his person and
prop rty. There is no ndcq-ato protection 70 eth
en- and in this respect treaty vita that republic
is almost dead lest6r
This state of affairs wfs brought to crisis In May
last. by the pro mitigation 81 :ecres e7y ing con
tribuicn pro rot1 upon all the capia in the repnb
lie, between cartain specified emounts, whether
held by Mexicans O. foreigners MIR. Forsyth. re,
gardrg this decree IN the light of forced Ioan.
Formally protested against its application to his
countrymeu, and advised the u not TO pay tho con
button. but TO suf5r II to DO forcbly exacted. Act
ing upon this advice American citizen refused to
ray the contribution, and his properly was seized
by armed men TO satisfy the amount. Not content
with this the government proceeded still further
and is ued decree banishinu him from the country.
Our minister Immediately notified them that if this
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