The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-22
WASHINGTON ITEMS.

hs IL 10 everywhere UNDERSTOOD that the 40
ministration will endeavor soon to change its
programme, by substituting Cuba for Kansas,
anything which indicates ID policy upon the an
nexation of Cuba is important. We extract
the following from the States:
Surprising it to be the policy of the United
States to acquire Cuba. the question will arise
how it can be done. Not BY war because, as
Mr.. SlideIl says, the Cubans, though for the
most part in favor of annexation to the United
States, would not hazard a war for its accom-
plishment.
"The obstacle to the purchase and peaceful
annexation of Cuba is that the negotiation il
not to be, made With Cuba and the Cubans, but
with the old Spanish monarchy, whose pride
and prejudices are arrayed against any alisna-
ton of this jewel of her crown.
The interests of many classes of the Spanish
Observation-Disclosures merchants, and MOBILES
are identified with the preservation of Cuba !;
and the Island was never more prosperous than
at present. and has never yielded larger rev.
enue to the Grown, nor yielded larger emolu.
ments to the Spaniards, who engross all its civil
and other Offices.
"But, viewing the situation of affairs in Eu-
rope, it is plain that convulsieu might occur, in
which Spain might become involved, and at
the same time render it q matter of policy
and necessity with the Spanish G overnment to
assent to the Independence of Cuba, receiving
from the United States such compensation for
the loss of revenues from the Island as might be
agreed upon. BY such mode Of proceeding, a
number of difficulties would be avoided. Span
ish dignity would be more easily reconciled to
an acknowledgment of the Independence of Gu.
ba than to its sale to a foreign Power; and the
Creoles themselves, as we know, object to q
transfer of themselves and property to the
United States Government, like so many goods
and chattels, for pecuniary equivalent.
"Cuba, when Independent, might, and no
doubt would, naturally ask annexation to the
United States, and voluntarily assume the bur.
den of whatever debt the United States might
incur in the negotiation with Spain for Cuban
independence"
Senator Wilson recently applied at the State
Department for a passport for d. j. s. Rock, q
colored citizen of Boston, and received the
following reply from the Secretary:
"DEPARTMENr OF STATE,
Washington, april 2, 1853.
" SIR: | have had the honor to receive vour
note of Yesterday. with its accomnaninaenis.
" In reply, have to inform you that it is not
the practice of the Department to issue apv
other paper than passports to persons going
abroad from this country. A passport. being a
certificate of citizenship, has never since the
foundation of the Government been granted IN
persons of color. No change in this respect has
taken place in consequence of the decision of
the Dred Scott case. Returning the enclosure
IA your letter, have the honor to be sir, your
ooeolent servant LEWIS CAss.
Hon. Henry WilsOn, Senate Chamber"
James A. Powers has been convicted of mur.
der in the first degree, for killing Edward A.
Lutts, on Pennsylvania avenue last December.
The Star says:
The convicted man, Bsltimorean, was a
OAR Keeper at the National Hotel in this CITY,
when that house was under the management of
mr.. Dexter, and in that position became we'll
known to hundreds outside of the class of assoc.
ates, afiliation with whom led him into habits
resulting In the commission Of the crime for
which he is to forfeit his life to the offended
law. The testimony clearly proved him guilty
of q premeditated and cold .blooded murder. |
and We take it for granted that efforts to save |
him from the full measure of the laws punish. |
ment will be labor thrown away. 1t is there. |
fore the duty of his friends at once to set about
the task of aiding to prepare him to stand face |
70 face with the victim he sept unprepared ont |
Of the world, before the Final Judge af all"
The appointment of a coramittee of confer. |
snce in the House, last week, on the Kansas
'ill, took many members and others by surprise. |
The Anti-Lecompton Democrats, however,
earned, from caucus they held on Wednesday |
morning, that few of their member were |
resolved upon the appointment of the commit.
Zee. The Anti.Lecompton Democrats who |
voted for the committee were Mr.. English of |
Indiana, Messrs. Hall and PendIeton of Ohio,
and Owen Jones of Pennsylvania. The Speak.
IRIS vote was necessary to carry the measure,
but it is understood that two other Anti.Le-
compton Democrats were ready to vote for the
conference, if their votes were needed.
The States of Saturday says:
Yesterday evening, Michael Donovan. who
esides in Swampoedle, imbibed too much
Whisky, and got the ferocious idea into his
rain OF splitting some ones head open /; and.
o carry it out, he grasped an axe, and inflicted
J most dangerous wound on bis wife's head.
early splitting it open. he was arrested by
Ulcers McHenry and Irving, and committed
or trial The recovery of the woman is some.
Here is another case, illustrating the condi.
on of the city:
" Yesterday afternoon, about half past two
clock, q wanton assault Has made bv a
IAN named John White, upon one Michael
lcNulty, at the depot. White came M to
lartin Duncan and McNulty, who were about
'avlng for Baltimore, and asked the latter 10
stand treat He refused; vhereupon White
rev large pocket knife, and plunged it into
re left SIDE OF the abdomen of McNulty, in I
lctng very serious wound. He was imme-
lately arrested by those energetic officers, Nash
no narrower, OF the FIFTH ward police, and
ken before Justice Dom, and, after a hear Q
q, was committed to jail, in default of 81, 900
all. At the examination, White acknowledged
10 knife shown to be his, but stated that he =
as not the man who committed the deed, and !
retended to know nothing of the affair.
@. A. Woodwork, member of the Minneola !,
: Leavenworth Constitutional Conventions, ar
we'd here to-day, bringing dispatches from the &
and copy of the Constitution,
hich he delivered to Mr.. Parrot. he says
lat the organization of the militia by the Free
tate men is 90 complete that the exact pum. !
er of voters and the political sentiments of 3
sch voter in the Territory are ascertained, and c
lat the Pro-Slavery men are only two thou. !.
Ind. He further says, that an important ele
ent of the dispute over the Lecompton Con.
itution has been overlooked-viz; the chan e