Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-12-15

fnuW Nirndlf rhaiurtrr
with Spain our relations remain iu nm
unshthhclufy condition IN my message
ul December last Informed YOU that our
envoy extraordinary aud minister plcni.
rolcniiaty 10 Madrid had asked Tor his re-.
call and II wa my purpose 10 send out q
new minister 10 that court With special in.
tlruclions on oil questions pending be.
tween the two governments, and with .
determination TO have them speedily and
nmieably adjusted, IL that were possible.
This purpose lhss hitherto been defeated
by causes which need not enumcrate.
The mission toSpain has been intrusted to
distinguished citizen OF Kentucky who
will proceed TO Madrid without delay, and
make another aud a hnAi attempt TO Oh
tain Justice from that government.
Spanish officials, under tbs direct con.
troll ofthe captain -geucr.l of Cuba, have
lnsultcd our nationa! flag, and, in repeat.
I'd instances, have from time TO time in
clicted injuries On tho persons and prop, r.
ty OF our citizens These have given BIRTH
to nuLcrous claims against the Spanish
government tho merits of which have
been ably discussed for a series Of years, by
our successive diplomatic representatives.
Notwithstanding this, we have not arrived
at practical result in any singlainstance,
anlcss g'e may except the case fthcB
Warrior under the late administration (;
md that presented an outrage Of such a
character as would have justified an imme-
'diate resort TO war. All our attempts to
obtain redress have been bafiled and de-
teated. The frequent and oft recurring
changes in theSpGnish ministry, have been
employed as rea ons for delay. We have
been compelled 10 wait again and again,
until the new minister shall have timo to
investigate the justice of our demands.
Even whsthave been denomnated "the
Cuban claims" in'which more than hum
drcd of our citizens are directly interested,
has 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 1874. The principles up
on which they rest are so ma nifeStly equi-
table and just, that after n period OF near
ly ten years. in 1854, they werc recogni-
-zed by the Spanish government. Procee-
dings were afterwards instituted TO ascer-
tain their amount, and this was finally fix
led according TO their own statement with
(which we were satisfed) at the sum of
'one hundred and twenty eight thousand
six hundred and thirty five dollars :nd
fifty four cents. Just at the momont, at
tier delay of four.e years, when we
had reason to expect that this sum would
be repaid with interest. we have received
e'proposal offering to refund one third of
that amount, forty two thousand eight
hundred and seventy eight dollars and
forty one cents but without interest, if
80, f,,ll
The offer ns also, accompanied by q decla-
ration thGt this indemnilication is not
founded on any reason Of strict Justice;
but ismade rs special favor.
One alleged cause for procraotination in
the examination and adjustment of our
claims, arises from an obatacle which it is
theduty Of the Spanish government to res
move. Whilst the oaptain-general of Gu
ba Is invested with general despotic authoo
Tity i'll the government of that island, the
power is withheld from him TO examine
and redress wrongs committed by officials
under lis centrol, on citizens of the Uni
ted States. Instead of making our COM
Splaint directly to him at Havana, we are
Obliged to present them through our min.
lister at Madrid. These are then referred
back to the captain general for intorma,
tion and much time is thus consumed in
preliminary investigations and cOrrespon-
odence between Madrid and Cuba, before
the Spanish government will consent to-
proceed tonee0tiation. Many of the diff
ticulties between the two governments
would be e.ebvieted, and long train Of ne
gotiatioR avoided, if the captain general
wereinveste{with authority osettle guess
Ttions of easy solution on the spot, where
all the facts are fresh, and could be
promptly and satisfactorily ascertained 4
We have hitherto in vain urged upon the
Spanish government to confer this power
upon the captain general, and our minis
ter to Sra;a will again be instructed to
urge this subject to their notice. In this
respect; we occupy q different position
from the powers of Europe, Cuba is almost
within sight of our shores our commerce
with it is far greater than that of any other
nation, including Spain itself, and our ci
tizens are in habits of daily and extended
personal intercourse with every part of
the islan6- II is, therefore, a grievance
that, when any fiiculty occurs, no mat
tor how unimportant, which might be
readily settled at the moment, we should
DO compelled to resort to Madrid, especi-
ally when the very first step to be taken
there is to refer it back to Cuba.
The truths that Cuba in its existing co.
-ionial condition, is aconstant source Of in-
jury and annoyance to the American peo.
pie. Il is the only spot in the civilized
world where the African slave trade is tol.
Grated and we are bound by treaty with
Great Britain, 10 maintain naval force
on the coast Of Africa, at much expense
both of life and traasiire qolnlv foy ,ba
purpose of arresting ,layers bound to that
island. The late serious difficulties be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain respecting the right Of search now so
happily terminated, could never have ari-
sen if Cuba had not afforded market for
slaves. As long as this market shall re-
main open, there can be no hope for the
civilization Of benighted Africa. Whilst
the demand for slaves continues IN Cuba,
wars will be waged among the petty and