The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-06-09
The Argusllss Case.

THO. p wITHROw, Chairman. 4
The ArUasllss Cass.
[rron the Boston Daily Advertissrl
The documents in what is called the
"Arguellss case" throw : new Night upon
. matter which has lately madea good
deal Of noise. and which, - il appears, is
not likely to be dropped At present. The
history Of this case dates back as far AZ
November Of last year. The Copsul-G Gen.
eral Of the United States at Havana
then informed the Secretary Of Stste that
cargo OF more than one thousand negroes
had been landed near Cardenas and bro't
to Havana, and that prominent and
wealqav persons were concerned ia the
business. Mr.. Seward at once communi-
Gated with Lord Lyons upon the subject,
and on tho same day proposed to Join With
the English Government 10 such repre-
sensations ~ should induce Spain to amend
her laws prohibiting the slave trade, 50 n
to make them more effective. The Eng
lish Ministe, accordingly pointed ont to
the Spanish Government tho particulars
in which the present Spanish law facili-
tates the evasion of its intent BY the slave
traders, and at the close of February Mr..
Koerner, under Instructions from Mr..
Seward, alsotddressed the Spanish Min
lister of State on the same subject.
From this correspondence, which passed
before the name Of Arguelles was beard
of in connection with the matter, il I'D.
pears that both the English Government
and our own we're satisfied that the pres.
emit Captain General of Cuba, General
Dulce, is acting in good faith and With
zeal for the suppression Of the 4uAve
trade. Earl Russell calls attention to the
diminished importation of slaves into Gu
ba, and says thst it would be satisfaetory
''if it were not that it is mainly owing 70
the exertions of one individual alone
General Dulce," whose removal would re-
vive the traffic in its old vigor and he
states that General Dulce complains Bit
terly that his power under the Spanish
penal code is SO inadequate that the entire
suppression of the trade il not possible.
We call attention to this testimony of Gen
ersl Dulce's unquestioned opposition to
the trade, because an ingenious attempt
has been made to give different impress
sion. and to make bin change places with
Arguelles in that particular-much to the
advantage Of the latter, as our readers
will understand.
On tie 9th Of March the Consul Gen
ersl at Havana wrote to Mr.. Seward again,
respecting the importation which took
place In November. The slaves we're
landed in the district of Colon, Of which
a military officer. Don Jose Augustin Ar
guelles, was Lieutenant Governor; after
being landed they were captured BY him
to the great satisfaction of the Captain-
General, and 81 ZOO was paid him as his
share Of the usual prize money he, then
obtained leave Of absence to 20 to New
York, and 1t was only after his departure
that, as the Captain. General informed
Mr.. Savage, our Consul, it was discover.
ed that he with some other officers had re-
tanned and sold into slavery ons hundred
and forty-one of the negroes whom he
had captured from the traders-repre.
senting to the Government that this
number Of the negroes had died of dis.
ease and procuring forged register to
sustain this false report. The Captain.
General represented to Mr.. Savage that
the presentation Of Arguelles in court
OF justice would be necessary under the
Spanish law to secure the proof of unlaw-
fui enslavement and the liberation of the
one hundred and forty -one negroes and
the Spanish Minister At Washington ioin-
ed 10 bis request that in considerations of
the "gross and scandslous outrage which
has been committed, - we'll Is the inter
ests Of humanity It stake;'' and in the al.
sence of any treaty for the extradisiou al
criminals, tho United States would deliv.
er up Arguelles to the Cuban suthorit;es.
The Secretary of State replied that If !
suitable officer we're sent to New York IN
the Captain General, Argnelles would 81
placed in his hands. The Cuban author.
ities acted promptly Arguslles vas sei..
cd by the deputies of the United States
Marshal in New York on the 1 Ith instant.
and, We believe, was sent to Havana 10
the next steamer.
These are the facts in the case. vhich
has been made the occasion for Z good deal
Of violent defamation, and w6ioh yvill
sudPly some iegal Questions Of tufYfclsnt
complexit. to satisfy the utmost deman ds
Of the bar. The Aarshal and hi depn
ties bavs already been indicted e., IA.
mapping, and the Secretary Of Hsate Il 1.
note TO the District Attorney, Mr.. Han
has informed him that the proceedings
were BY direction Of the President. Va
therefore sssumes the responsibility.
The case rests Of course - ~ rielA
Of our Governments to deliver - cfimi.
nails liking refuge here, in thapabssncs a
any treaty Of extfxdition. TIE oonsssnI
inpression that such treaty i nsessssry
. authorize the delivery i By ID neass
e36ariy ssppCFtsd 81 authoriiy. So
lsadiag usises On pablio NJ hsA 81
~ dely q ssfreader rssta upoa 4, e..
inal otlieaiios andsF tks Nv Of no1ip6ss
sad nef 1toa trsstE. 3udieinl spsskene
II this ssoets5 havs Varied !; ~ Ae6etel|
0euefnh 81 fhn UaiHo1 11n1n 49, -