The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-12-16

At the commencement Ol yuuE lbet
session, I had reason TO hope that,
omancipoting themselves from further
unavailing discussions, the two govern
ments would proceed to settle the Cen
trail American questions IN a practical
manner. alike honorable and satisfactory
to both; and this hope l have not yet
abandoned Tn my last annual message
I stated that Overtures had been made
by the British Government for this pur-
pose, in a friendly spirit, which l cor
daily reciprocated. Their proposal was,
to withdraw these questions from direct
negotiation between the British govern
lment and each Of the Central American
republics, whose territorial interests are
Immediately involved The settlement
was to be made in accordance with the
general tenor Of the Interpretation plac-
ed upon the Clayton and Bulwor treaty
| by the United States, with certain mod
/ Iifcations. As negotiations are still
pending upon this basis, it would not bo
proper for me to communicate their
present condition. A final settlement
Of these questions is greatly TO be desir-
ed, as that would wipe out the last re-
naming subject Of dispute between the
two countries,
FRANCE AND RUSSIA.
Our relations with the great empires
Of France and Russia, as well as with
all other governments on the continent
of Europe, except that Of Spain, con
tinue to be Of the most friendly charao-
ter.
SPAIN.
With Spain our relations remain in
an unsatisfactory condition. In my
message of December last, informed
you that our envoy extraordinary and
minister plcnipotentiary to Madrid had
asked for his recall; and it was my pur-
pose to send out a new minister to that
court with special instructions on all
questions pending between the two gov
crumcuts, and a determination to have
them speedily and amicably adjusted,
if that were possible. This purpose has
been hitherto defeated by causes which
l need not enumerate.
The mission to Spain has been in
trusted to a distinguished citizen of
| Kentucky, who will proceed to Madrid
without delay, and make another and a
final attempt to obtain justice from that
government.
Spanish officials under the direct con
troll Of the Captain General of Cuba,
have insulted our national flag, and in
repeated instances, have from time to
time inflicted injuries on 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 discuss
ed for a series Of years, by our success
sivo diplomatic representatives,. Not
withstanding this, we have not arrived
at a practical result in any single in
stance, unless we may except the case
of the Black Warrior under the late
Administration, and that presented an
outrage Of such a character as would
have justified an immediate resort to
war. All our attempts to obtain redress
have been battled and defeated. The
frequent and oft-rccurring changes in
the Spanish ministry, have been employ
cd as reasons for delay. We have teen
compelled to wait again and again, uu-
ill the new minister shall have had time
to investigate the justice of our demands
Even what have been denominatCd
"the Cuba claims" in which more than
a hundred of our citizens are directly
interested, have furnished no exception.
These claims were for the refunding Of
duties unjustly exacted from American
vessels at different custom houses in
Cuba, so long ago as the year lS44.-
The principles upon which they rest are
so manifestly equitable and just, that
after a period of nearly ten years, in
1854, they were recognized by the Span
ish government. Proceedings were af-
forwards instituted to ascertain their
amount, and this was finally fixed ac-
cording TO their own statement with
which we were satisfed) at the sum of
SIPS, ,655.54 just at that moment, af-
ter delay Of fourteen years, when VIC
had reason to expect that this sum
would be repaid with interest, we have
received a proposal Offering to refund
onc-third Of that amount, (S42, ,87841)
but without interest, If we would accept
this in full satisfaction The offer, al
so, is accompanied by a declaration that
this indemnifcation is not founded on
any reason of strict justice, but is made
as a special favor.
One alleged cause for procrastiuation
in the examination and adjustment Of
our claims, arises from an obstacle which
it is the duty of the Spanish Govern
mcnt to remove. Whilst the captain
general of Cuba is invested with gener-
al despotic authority in the governments
of that island, the power is withheld
from him to examine and redress wrongs
committed by officials under his control,
on citizens of the u States. Instead
of making our complaints directly to
him at Havana, We are Obliged to pre-
sent them through our minister at Mad
rid. These are then referred back 10
the captain general for information, and
much time is thus consumed in prelimi-
nary investigations and correspondence,
between Madrid aud Cuba, before the
Spanish Government will consent to
proceed to negotiation. Many of the
difficulties between the two governments
would be obviatod, and a long train Of
negotiation avoided, if the captain gem
eral were invested with authority 10 set