Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-16

occasional abuse of the Gag Of any nation is an
evd far less to be deprecated than would be the
establishment of any regulations which might
be incompatible with the freedom with the seas.
This government has yet received no commune
cation specifying the manner in which the
British government would propose to carry out
their suggestions; and am inclined to believe
that no plan which can be devised will be free
from grave embarressments. Still, l shall form
no decided opinion ON the subject until shall
have carefully and in the best spirit examined
any proposals which they may think proper to
make.
am truly sorry cannot also inform yeu
that the complications between Great Britain
and the United States, arising out of the Clay
ton and Bulwer treaty Of April, 1910, have been
finally adjusted.
At the commencement of your last session,
hal reason to hope that, emancipating them
selves from further unavaing discussions, the
two governments would proceed to settle the
Central America question in practical manner
alike honorable and satisfactory to BOTH, and
this hope have not yet abandoned. In my
last annual message stated that overtures had
been made by the British government for this
purpose, in a friendly spirit, which cordially
reciprocated. theis proposal was, to withdraw
these questions from direct negotiation between
the two governments; but to accomplish the
same object by negotiation between the British
government and each of the Central American
republics whose territorial interests are immedi
attly involved The settlement was to be made
in accordance with the general tenor of the in.
depreciation placed upon the Clayton and Bull
wer treaty by the United States, with certain
notifications. AS negotiations are still pend
ing upon this basis, it would not DO proper for
me now to communicate their present condition
A final settlement of these questions is greatly
to be desired, as this would wipe out the last
remaining subject of dispute between the two
countries.
Our relations with the great empires of France
and Russia, us well as with all other govern
ments on tho continent of Europe, except that
of Spain, continue to be of tho most friendly
character.
With Spain our relations remain in an I'M
satisfactory condition. In my message of De-
cember last informed you that our Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentary to
Madrid had asked for his recall and it was my
purpose to send out new minister to that
court, with special instructions on all questions
pending between the two governments, and with
Il determination to have them speedily and am
| iCbpiy duuSbOus IL tltlt NcEc pbSSlDlC. HE
purpose has been hitherto defeated by causes
which need not enumcrate.
The mission to Spain has been entrusted to a
distinguished citizen of Kentucky. who will
proceed to Madrid without delay, and make an
other and IA final attempt to obtain justice from
that government.
Spanish officials, under the direct control Of
the Captain General of Cuba, have insulted our
| Al a. al +ol l.
from time to time inflicted iniurses on the per.
sons and property of our citizens These have
given birth to numerous claims against the
Spanish government, the merits of which have
been ably discussed for u series Of years, by our
successive dip lomatic representatives. Notwith-
Handing this we have not arrived at practica
result in any single instance, unless we may ex
cept the cts3 of the Black Warrior under the
late administration and that presented AZ
outrage of sach character us would have JUS
titled an immediate resort to war. All our at
tempts to obtain redress have been batHed and
defeated. The frequent and oft-recurrine
changes in the Spanish ministry have been EN-
ployed as reasons for delay. We haye beer
compelled to wait, again and again, until thu
now minister shall have had time TO investigat,
the justice Of our demands.
EVcIl Wilut nave Detll ueHOnltndtou - Cne Su
ban claims" in which more than a hundred o
our citizens are directly interested, have fur
nished no exception These claims were for thu
rolunding of duties nnjustly exacted from Amer
lean vessels at different custom houses IN Cuba
40 long ago as the year 1874 The principle up
on which they rest are 80 manifstly equitabl
and just, that after "a period OF nearly ten year
in 1854, they were recognized by the Spanish
| r..
sttuted to ascertain their amount, aud this wa
finally fixed according to their own statemen
with which We are satisfed) at the sum of on
hundred and twenty-eight thousand six hundrc
and shirty-fve dollars and fifty four cents. Jus
at the moment, after a delay of fourteen years
when We llud reason to expect that this sun
would be repaid with interest, we have receives
a proposal Offering to refund one third of tina
amount Qorty-two thousand eight hundred an,
r seventy-eight dollars and forty-one eents,) Blu
0 without interest, if we would accept this in fu]
satisfaction. The offer Is, also, accompanied b
= II declaration that indemnifcation is not four
= ded on any reason OF strict justice, but is mad
e as speclgl favor.
| Our alledged cause for procrastination in til
! examination and adjustment Of our claims arist
/, from an obstacle which it is tho duty of tn
3 lOpdu5u \ )VtTlliitnt W remove. llllSt
Q Captain general Of Cuba is invested with gene
: rAl despotlc authority in tina government of tina
island, tho power is withheld from him to e,
: anime and redress wrongs committed by olIicia
@ under his control, on citizens of the Unite
n States. Instead Of making our complaint d
!, rectly to him at HAVANA we are obliged to pr
# sent them through our Minister at Madrit
h These are then referred back to the Captain
General for information; and much time
d thus consumed in preliminary investigation
v and correspondence between Madrid and Cub
C before the Spanish government will consent
i proceed to negotiation. Many OF the dilicult
It between the two governments would be obyiatt
n and long train Of negotiation avoided, if Il
70 Captain General were invested with authori
d to settle questions OF easy solution on the spo
). where all the facts are fresh and could
e promptly and satisfactorily ascortained. v
l. have hitherto in vain urged upon the Span
10 government to confer this power upon the Ca
90 tain General, and our minister to Spain wi
Is again be instructed to urge this subject on the
N notice. In this respect we occupy a dfere
nj position from the powers Of Europe. Cuba
T. almost within sight of our shores; our col
lie nerce with it is far greater than that of al
ii other nation, including Spain itself, and o
t. ciVHoHS 1ic III HapiIo vi otiiY duu cXtenueu Pr
ne sonal intercourse with every part of the islam
n. 1t is, therefore, great grievance that, wa
Mt any difficulty occurs, no matter how unimpd
r. tant, which might be readily settled at the m
ne ment, We should be obliged to resort to Madr
ms especially when the very first step to be tax
IN there is to refer it back to Cuba.
he The truth is that Cuba, in its existing colo
SO ial condition. is a constant source of injury u
n annoyance to the American people. 1t is t
r. only spot in the civilized world where the AT
,k can slave trade is tolerated. aud we are bJu
ly by treaty with Great Britain to maintain
n val force on the coast Of Africa, at much
vn pensc both Of life and treasure, solely for
he purpose Of arresting sapers bound to that slar
sh The late serious difficulties between the Unit
s, States and Great Britain respecting the right
-ns search nnv & hnnniIv form tad oauld no,