Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-12-10

Bulwer treaty of April, 1850. have been inall
adjusted.
| AT the commencement of your last session
had reason to hope that, emancipating them
| selves from further unavaiing discussions tn
two governments would proceed to settle the Cc
trail American question in practical manner
alike honorable and satisfactory to both; and thi
hope have not yet abandoned. In my last an
nual message stated that orertures had bee
made by the British government for this purpos
in a friendly spirit. which | cordially reciprocatet
Their proposal was to withdraw these question
from direct negotiation between between the tw,
governments; but to accomplish the same objec
| by negotiation between the British government
and each of the Central American Republic
whose territorial interests Immediately i'll
volved.
| The settlement was to be made in accordance
with the general tenor of the Interpretation
placed upon the Clayton and Bulwer treaty b,
the United States with certain notifications
As negotiations still pending upon this bas
it would not be proper for me now to communi
cate their present condition. final settlemen
Of these questions is greatly to be desired tt il
would wipe ont the last remaining subject of dis
pute between the two countries.
! The mission to Spain has been entrusted to
distinguished citizen of kcntucky, who will pro
coed to Madrid without delay and make another
and final attempt to obtain justice from that gov
eminent.
Spanish officials under the direct control Of
the Captain General Of Cuba, have insultcd oui
national flag, an in repeated instances have
from time to time inflicted injuries on the per-
sons and property Of the citizens These
have given birth to numerous claims against the
Spanish government, the merits Of which have
heeu ably discussed for series of years, by our
successive diplomatic repre- entatives. Notwith-
standing this, we have not arrived at a practical
result in any single instance unless we may ex-
ccpt the case Of the Black Warrior under the
late administration, and that presented an oat-
rage of su h a character as would have justified
an immcdia Q resort to war. All our attempts
10 obtain redress have been bafiie1 and defeated.
The frequent and oft-recurring changes in the
Spanish ministry, have been employed as reas-
sons for decay. We have been compelled to wait
again and again. until the new minister shall
have time to investigate the justice of our de-
mands.
Our relations with the great empires of France
and Russia, well with all other govern
mcuts on the continent of Europe. except that of
Spain, continue to be Of the most friendly char
acter.
With Spain our relations remain in unsatis-
factory condition. In my message of December
last informed YOU that our Envoy Extraordi-
nary and Minister Plenipotentiary to NJ adrid had
asked for his recall; and it was my purpose to
send out a new minister to that Court with spe-
cial Instructions on all questions pending between
the two governments. and with determination
to have them speedily and amicaby adjusted, if
that were possible. This purpose hrs been
hitherto defeated by causes which | need not
enumerate.
Even what have been denorninated 1.-THE Gu
ban claims, in which more than hundred Of
our CITIZENS are directly interested, have furnish
ed no exception. hese claims We're for the re-
luiiuins VI aa'ies uilJus'iy eNactea from Amen
81 1ant, i, ~ tha 1SIi ~ Nuo"
m Which tbev roS, arc 40 ,o.,,;fi,Ir
and lust, that after period of nearly ten wears
in 1854, they were recognized by the Spanish
government. Proceedings were afterwards insti-
tuted to ascertain Their amount. and this was fin
any nNeu accofuiiS 10 theif own statement with
AZ 'te sum Vi one nun
tt;r,v.fv. dniisrs ~ hf,,,fIr anu
the moment, after DELAY Of fourteen wears when
we had reason to expect that this sum would be
repaid with interest, we have received proposal
offering to refund one third OF that AMOUNT
forty-tHo thousand eight hundred and seventy
eism. uo' "a anu i9t.y-one fents'Ibnt without
RON The offer also I'l,S ' hu
alton that this indemnifcation i not fnmnded on
any reason of strict JUSTICE but is made as
special favor.
One alleged cause for procrastination in the
examination and adjustment of our claims
arise, from au obstacle whtct, it Is the duty of
the SPANISH government TO remove. Whist
the Captain. General of Cuba is invested with
se eral despotic authority In the Government
of thu, Islana. the mower is Withheld from, him
to examine and redress wrongs committed hy
off ars under his control. ON citizens of the
UNI yates. Instead of making our com.
plant, & rec, ly to h1r at Havana. we are obli-
ged TO present them through our minister az
Madrid. These are then referred back to the
Capita General for intormation and much
time is thus consumed IN preliminary investi
cations and cores pond nee between Madrid
an CuNa, betore the Spanish government
Will consent to proceed 10 ,etiatien. Many
OF the difficulties het"c en- the two govern
mehts wnuid be ooV'ated. and long tram Of
negotiation avoided, If the Captain General
were invested with authority to settle ques
lions of easy solution. on the spot, where al
the facts are tIt sh and could be promptly and
satisfactorily ascertalnei. We have hitherto
in vain urged upon the Spanish government
to confer this power upon the Captain Gen
erai, and our minister to Spain will again be
instructed to urge TINS subject on their IL tice.
In tins respect "e Occupy different position
tiom the Powers OF Earope Cuba Is almost
within sight OF our shores; our commerce
with II Is tar greater tnan OF any o-her ration.
including SPAN ltsei', and our citizens are i
habit, OF daiiv and plr-Dnal intercourse witt
VIII" eFs'! par ~ t'e T. a'l' / /, IN i"te,
great s'lrS4'-e G. th"'' Wien aey Ghau.t>
oecufS' Il" mater no uhiih portaht, winch
III 'sn' oe fe@1Ay settled al the moment, We
shou'u o. optisea 10 resort 10 Madrid espec-
i@1y "hsn Wy nrSt step 10 DC taken
mere Is 10 refer 1t oacS u Nu'a'
Inc truth is, that CUBA, III it. existing CO.
toaia' condition, is constant source of inju
~ and annoyance to the American people. II
IS the only spot IN the civilized word where
the African slave trade is tolerated. and WI
re bound by treaty with Great Britain to
naval force on tine coast of 4 trica,
at much ex pense both of life and treasure.
solely for the purpose of arresiing slavers