Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-12-14

national flag. and. in repeated instances. have /
from time 70 time inflicted injuries on the per-
sons and property OF our citizens These have
given birth 10 numerous claims against the i
Spanish Government. the merits of winch have
been ably discussed for Series of wears, 10y our
successive diplomatic reiFesen tatlyes- Not /
wIthstandipg this, have not arrived at
practical result IN any single instance. anless
may except the case Of the Black Vi arflor,
under the late Administration and that pre-
sented an outrage Of such character IS would
have justified immediate resort to v ar An
oar attempts TO obtain redress have been baffied
and defeated. The frequent and oft-recurring
changes IN The Spanish Mi3i,try have been en-
ployed as reasons tor DELAY. We have been
compelled 10 wait, again and again, until the
new minister shall have had time 20 investigate
the justice of our demands
Even what have been denomin ated g the Gu
ean claims, IN which thar :. hundred of
our citizens are directly interested, have fur
nished no exception. hese claims were for the
refundlrg OF duties unustly exacted from
American vessels at different Custom Houses in
Cuba SO hong ago the year le44. The prin-
cIples upon which they rest are maHIfestly
equitable and just hat. after a period Of nearly
ten years, in 1854, they were recognized by the
Spanish Government. Proceedings were after
wards instituted To ascertain their amount, and
this bnallv fixed, according to their own
statement with which we are satisfed,) tthe
sum Of Sl2S 635, 81. just at the moment, after
a delay Of fourteen years, when had reason
10 expect that this sum would be repaid with
interest, we have received proposal Offering to
refund one-thlrd Of fhal amount S4211s,4l,3
bat without Interest, If we would accept this IN
iun satisfaction. Tie offer is also accompanied
/ by declaration thar this ndcmnification is not
founded on any reason Of strict Justice, but Is
made as SPECIAL favor.
/ One alleged cause for procrastiuation In the
examination and adjustment Of our claims arises
/ from an obstacle which il is The duty of the
1 Spanish Government 10 remove. While the
/ Captain General Of Cuba IS invested with gen
eral despoilc authority IN the government Of
that island, the power is Withheld from him to
examine and redress wrongs committed hy off
Gals under his control ON citizens of the nited
States Instead of making complaints di-
rectly to him al Havana, obliged to pre-
sent them through our Minister at Madrid -
These then referred hsck to the Captain
General for inf rmaton and much tina is thus
COZ sumed in preliminary Investigations and
correspondence between Madrid ana Cuba be-
fore the Spanish Government will consent TO
proceed TO negotiation. Many ef the difficulties
I between the two countries would be ohviated
and a long train OF negotiations avoided. if the
/ Captain General Were invested with authority
! TO settle questions of easy solution the spot
where all the facts are fresh and could he
/ promptly and satisfactorily ascertained. We
/ have hitherto in vain urged upon tie Spanish
Government to confer This power upon the
Captain General. and our Minister to pain viii
again be Instructed 20 urge this subject their
rotce. In this respect. occupy a different
I position from the powers Of Europe. Cuha is
almost within sight of our shores our commerce
with Ii Is far greater than that eff any other
ton including Spain itself, and our citizens are
! in habits Of daily and extended personal inter-
course with every part of the island 1t is
I therefore great grievance that, when any dit
ticulty occurs, no matter how w. important,
which might he readily settled at the moment.
T oh, to rl.fT rr.al Ir-l
peciallv when the very first step to be taken
there is 10 refer it back to Cuba.
CUBA.
Tie truth is, that Cuba. in its existing colo
nial condition, Is a constant source OF injury and
annoyance TO the American people. 1t Is the
only spot in the civilized world where the At
rcan slave strade Is tolerated and we are
bound by treaty with Great Britain to maintain
4 naval force on the coast OF Africa at much ex-
peDse of both life and Treasure. solely Tor the
. purpose OF arresting slaves bound 10 that island
The late serious difficulties bei veen 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. As long this market shall remain
open, there can be hope foI the civilization OF
/ benighted Africa. Whilst the demand for slaves
continues in Cuba, wars viii be waced among
the petty and barbarous chiefs in A frica for the
purpose Of sezlng subjects 10 supply this trade
I "a such a condition Of affairs, ii Is impossible
1 that the light of civilization and religion can
/ ever penetrate those dark abodes.
1t has been made known to The world by my
predecessors, that the United States have on
several occasions, underworld to acquire Cuba
from Spain by honorable negotiation IF this
/ were accomplished the last relic of the African
slave trade would Instantly disappear. We
would not, if we could, acquire Cuba in any 9TH
or manner This Is due 10 our national charac-
! ter. Al the 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 Inde-
( pendent State of Texas. in blending her destI-
MICS with own. This course we shall ever
pursue, unless circumstances should occur which
We do no DOW anticipate, rendering a depart
urc from it clearly unsuitable under the inper-
alive and everything law Of self-preservafion
! The Island of Cuba from it's geographical po-
/ sition. commands the mouth If the N .ssissippi
and its immense and annual increasing trade
foreign and coastwise from Tie valley ot that
noble river, now embracing half The sovereign
States of the Union. With that island under The
dominion of distant foreign power, this trade
uf vital importance toihese States, is exposed TO
the danger of being DESTROYED in the time of
:, ar, and it has hitherto been subjected 10 per-
petual injury, and annoyance in the time of
peace Our relations with Spain which ought
10 I've OF he most friendly character must always
he placed in ieapordy, whilst the existing colo
NAL government over the island shall remain IN
its present condition
Whilst The possession OF the island would be
Of vast importance to the United States It's value
to Spain Is comparatively unimportant Such
was he relative situation Of the parties when
he great Napuleon transferred Louisiana to the
United States. Jealous, as he ever was of the
national honor and interests of France no per
son throughout the world has imputed blame to
him for accepting = pecunIary equivalent for