The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-12-09

pendent powers. Members of the
family of nations, these dependencies
are no longer regarded as subiec. to
transfer from one European power
TO another. The present relation
ceases, they to become independent
powers, exercising the right Of choice
and of self control in the determine
ton of their future condition and
relations with other powers. The
United States, In order to put stop
to bloodshed in Cuba, and in the in.
terest of neighboring people, propos-
cd their good Offices TO bring the ex-
listing contest to o Termination. The
offer not being accepted by Spain on
a basis which we believed could be
received by Cuba, was withdrawn.
1t is hoped that the good offices OF
tho United States may yet prove
advantageous for the removal of
the unhappy strife. Meanwhile
number ofillegai expeditions against
Cuba have been broken up.
1t has been tho endeavor of tho
Administration to execute the neu-
trality laws in good faith, no matter
how unpleasant the task, made SO
by the suffering we have endured
from lack of like good faith toward
us by other nations. One United
States schooner, Li--ic Major, was
arrested on the high seas by q Span
ish frigate, and two passengers Ia
ken from it, and carried as prisoners
to Cuba. Representation of these
were made to the Spanish Govern
ment as soon as information of them
reached Washington. The passen-
gers were set at liberty, and the
Spanish Government assured tho
United States that the captain of the
frigate, in making the arrests had
acted without authority, and he had
been reprlmanded for tho Irregular.
ty Of his conduct, and that the
Spanish authorities in Cuba would
not sanction any act that could vio-
late the rights or treat with disre.
spect the sovereignty Of this nation.
The question Of the seizure Of the
brig Mary Lowell at one of the Ba-
hama Islands by the Spanish author.
ities, is now the subject of CORES
pondence between. our Government
and those ofSpain and Great Britain
The Captain General of Cuba, about
May last, issued a proclamation au-
thorizinga search to be made of a
vessel on the high seas. Immediate
remonstrance was made against this
whereupon the Captain General is.
sued new proclamation, limiting
the right of search Of vessels of the
United States so far as authorized
under the treaty Of 1905. This pro-
clamation, however, was Immediate
~ withdrawn. / have always felt
that the most intimate relations
should be cultivated between the Re.
public Of the United States and all
independent nations on this CONT
nent. 1t may be well worth consld-
ing whether treaties between US and
them may net be profitably entered
into tosecure more intimate relations,
friendly, commercial, and otherwise.
The subject of an inter-oceanic
canal to connect the Atlantic aud
Pacific through the Isthmus of Darl-
en- is one in which commerce is great
~ interested. Instructions have been
given our Minister to South America
to ondeavor to obtain authority for a
survey by this Government in order
to determine the probability OF such
an undertaking, and charter for
the right of way to build by private
enterprise such work if the survey
proves 1t to be practicable.
In order to comply with the agree
ment Of the United States as to :.
mixed commission at Lima for the
adjustment of claims, it became nee
essary to send commissioner to Lii.
ma in August last. No appropriation
having been made for this purpose, it
is now asked that one be made COW
ering the past and future expenses of
the commission.
The good offices Of the United
States to bring about peace be-
tween Spain and the South Ameri-
can Republic, with which she is at
war, having boon accepted by Spain,
Pera and Chill, Congress has been
invited to be held in Washington
during the present year. A grant
has been given to Europeans Of OK.
elusive right Of transit over the ter.
ritory Of Nicaragua to which Costa
RIGA has given its assent which it is
alleged conflicts with the vested
rights of citizens OF the United
States. The Department of the
State has now this subject under con.
sideration.
The minister of Peru having made
representations that there was
state of war bet tween Peru and Spain,
and that Spain was constructing in
or near New York, thirty gunboats
which might be used by Spain in
such way as to relieve the naval
force at Cuba SO as to operate against
Peru orders were given to prevent
their departure. No further steps
having been taken by the representa-
tive Of the Peruvian Government to
prevent the departure Of these YES
sells, l do not feel authorized to de-
tain the property of a nation with
which we are at peace on a nero
executive order. The matter has
been referred to the courts to decide.
The conduct Of the war between
allies and the republic Of Paraguay
has made the intercourse with that
country so difficult that it has been
deemed advisable to withdraw our
representative from there.
Towards the close Of the last ad-
ministration Convention was called
at London, for the settlement of all
outstanding claims between Great
Britain and the United States which
failed to receive the advice and con
sent of the Senate to it's ratification.
The time and circumstances attend
ing the negotiations of the teaty
were favorable to its acceptance by
the people of the United States, and
it's provisions were wholly inadequate
for settlement ofgrave wrongs that
had beeu sustained by this Govern
ment as we'll as by it's citizens. The
injuries resulting to the United States
by reason of the course adopted by
Great Britain during our late civil