Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-10-31

forts forts Of home. /
% me Soldiers Aid Society especiayt tie citizens gene
rsy-for acts of hospitality and kindness aq
authorized and requested return the sincere acknow
sdgements of tbe 5Oth Regiment N. G. '.
EUGENE CRIss0M. hetg Surgeon.
s,n,-0 fetal Explanations Respecting reported
Recognition of the COME dernfts by Spami.h Au-
tnorIiI,s of Cuba.
TIE following is an official translation OF editorial
article which appeared in the GGcatG de II II lbnnG CT
the ID inst:
The steamer Columbia arrived at this port the day
heore Yesterday, bringing US the New York papers, in
which we fnd multitude OF articles in which It IS as
snmed that the GovernOrGeneral Of Cuba declares IN
favour of the people Of the South, IN which Is affirmed
the existence CT proclamation to such effect rec0gnz
ing officially the flag of the Confederation 8nd IN which
il is stated positively that Spain has declared herself
hostile to the Federal Government. This news comes
with commentaries in thousand forms, and all offensive
to the honour Of Spain to the loyalty with which she is
acting in all matters relating TO the dsseoslons which
sgitae the United States and, above all to the laws OF
truth because they spring from supposon, not mis-
taken merely, but completely false leading TO concu-
sous most calamitous they cannot fail to he, when
such premises are once laid down.
For the purpose of preventing public opinion from
yojng astray or from accepting inCOnttsuhe air-
nations which are only the pbantasy of the patrons OF
these papers, we duly authorized to relate the lacts
which have perhaps given room for such interpretations
and we shall 90 it in the brees manner and with scant
comments because any such needless as soon as what
has really occurred becomes known. Here are the
circumstances:
Under date of August %, the Governor OF Matanzas
addressed to the GoveGnorGener OF the Island COM
munication, in which enclosed another from the
Consul of the United States at that city, asking that
he should nerpose his authority so that the captain OF
the sOOp NOank from Charleston, under the Southern
fog should acknowledge bis consular authority, and,
falling to do So should be compelled TO leave the port
The petension Of the Consul could not seem other than
strange but the government OF the island constant ever
10 its purpose of forming its decisions deliberately,
and the more when the question concerns country
which with no little frequency eXcite8 discussions which
are apt to be without preCtdents, consulted the COM
mandant General Of Marine of this naval station lEs
distinguished funcOnaTy, IN an extended aGu we'll
reasoned report demonstrated that the sioop coming
from Charleston the chief port of South Carolna-one
of the seeded States and at this time at war with the
Government at WashingtOn-u was rlaln she coold
not come protected by the flag OF tie Union nor WIN
clearance from the Federal authorities, Whlcn nave
no existence at that point that the tag OF the South
erD Conederacy has not been recognized, but IS toll
GRATED bv the Government of her Majesya liberation
founded on the state of IN which the states OF all
the South find themselves with those OF the N0rth
liberation which also the necessary cons renee OF the
neutrality OF Spain in that STRIFE t0leratlon III nne,
which reconciIeg our political relations with the Gov
eminent at Washington to those, commercial ID 'heT
nature which have not renOunced ana ought not 10
Tenounce as DO that would be equivalent mol 10 a-
rot bear the flag clearance from their enemies Ne
Federal Government may by blockade, prevent South
ern vessels from going to but that right docs mol
extend to requirement that also should close cur
ports it was quite rational that the soop NoanK saoao
refuse to acknowledge the authority oil the Consul oe
cause she Deither arrived under the flag OF that Govern
mpnt nor with clearance from the authorities al w ASH
ngton that in such she could neither submit u
the authority of the Consulate, could the submission
be of effect because to exist, the COnsui hsel "oulo
be obliged to authorize her clearance under me oou'n
ern Tag or refuse it, 1t is not to be supposed ne couc
do the first and the second would be equivalent 10 max
ing prize within Spanish port and with the aSs!S
lance Of it's authorities that IN consequence OF all tS
the result was that the NOank was cleared from Ma
anzas under the same flag with which she entered at
in the same form as other foreign vessels whose nations
are without accredited CGnsuls, shutting Out Inc pre-
tensions of the ionsus TO which, IN the opinion OF 'H
person presenting the report 1t was not possible 10 &C
Cede, ,,,.
In view OF an argument so well iounGed, aud DoionS
in great respect the terms OF the royal decree o. he
june in which her Majesty had directed that the mos
strict neutrality must be observed the quest"! Wa
settled not by debating circular as IS SAID III an ecu
vocal manner nor dspatChDg secret orders nor even
issuing the imaginary proclamation, but by proVihpg
as Provisional measure what shall be done with tn
NOank and other vessels that may be IN like condl
ton until there should be an express and DEFINITE oec
sion by the supreme Government lhlS measure ell
braces the three points following
vessels under the Confederate flag engaged In iaWlU
commerce. when the documents they exhibit 90 no
suggest any suspicion OF piracy, fraud, or other ct
punishable by the laws Of all nations.
SecondIY-Tbat once within the port, they VIII OF
under safeguard Of the neutrality proclaimed, free iron
moestation by any foreign agent, while carrying on tn
lawful business OF ladiDg or unadlng or SAILING ther'
from.
Thirdiy-Ihat both the naval authorities at ali th
ports as we'll as those controlling the financial matters
are to consider vessels in this category, and IN all tha
relates to their entry and clearance as arriving ror
foreign countries which have no accredited ConSuis
our territory.
Of this determination notice was given to the COY
ernor of Matanzas the naval commander, and the II
tendent General of the Hacienda Real that eacn mgn
in what pertained to his duty, cooperate 10 giving
effect 1t was also made known to the minister OF LIZ
Catholic MAJESTY at Washington, as IL IS uone III I
sDect of everything which, directly or 1rdrecuy' ma
concern the interest Of the Federal Government; an
lastly it was submitted to her Majesty who VIII IN du
season approve or disapprove or annul, as she ma
Judge proper.
Loyalty and delicacy were carried, according TO GU
adVices to the extreme of not publishing or cfcuiaD
the matter until the defntiVe decision declares W4ent
or not it is to be adopted general measure Gan
now he said that such conduct on the part OF the CHI
authority of this island in which he has done nothn
but exercised wul right, recognized at all times al
bya nations and very distinctly by American puoncs
even implies the recognition which is spoken OF
does not signify privilege of any kind, nor any sPec
protection to tire COnederates nor DOES 1t mean anytnn
else than the observance OF the most rigid neutrall.
without prejudice to the interests of commerce. Whc
ought to be SO much respected and which until now tn
very people who spread the alarm have pretended
respect much Would the friends or the North pre-
Tend that the neutrality proclaimed should be cOnstrue
0y shutting up ports to the commerce OF the South
Let ug leave the reply to these questions to men
eOhnrnO tiolif yua IoaV0