The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-12-16
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE.

The Office of Commissioner Of Internal
Revenue is one of the most arduous and re-
sponsible under the Government, and falls
but little short Of Cabinet position in its
importance and responsibilities. l would
ask for it, therefore, such legislation as in
your judgment will place the Office upon a
footing of dignity commensurate with its i'm
portance and with the character and qualifi-
cations Of the class of men required to fill it
properly.
As the United States is the freest Of all ma
tions SO do its people sympathize with all
people struggling for liberty and selfgovern-
ment. But while SO sympathizing it is due
to our honor that we should abstain from en-
forcing our views upon unwilling nations,
and from taking an interested part in quar-
rels between different nations, or between
Governments and their subjects. Our course
should always be in conformity with strict
Justice aud law-international and local.
Such has been the policy Of this Admins
tration in dealing with these, questions for
more than year. A valuable province Of
Spain, and near neighbor Of ours, in whom
all our people cannot but feel deep interest,
has been struggling for independence and
freedom. The people and Government of
the Uaited States entertain the same warm
feelings and sympathies for the people of Gu
ba in their pending struggle that they man
ifested throughout the previous struggles
between Spain and her former colonies in be-
half Of the latter. The contest has at no
time assumed conditions which amount to
war in the sense of international law, or
which would show the existence of q dc facto
political organization Of the insurgents sufi-
cient to justify recognition of bclligerency
The principle is maintained, however, that
this nation is its own judge Of when to ac-
cord the rights of belligerency either to a
people struggling to free themselves from
Government they believe to be oppressive or
to independent nations at war with each 9TH
er. The United States has no disposition tn
interfere with the existing relations of Spain
to her colonial possessions on this continent.
They believe that in due time Spain and 9TH
er European Powers will find their interest
in terminating those relations and establish
ing their present dependencies as indepcnd-
ent Powers. These dependencies are no
longer regarded as subjects Of transfer from
one European Power to another. When
the present relations of colonies ceases they
are to become independent Powers, exerci-
sing the right of choice and Of self-control in
the determination of their future condition
and relation with other Powers.
The United States, in order to put stop
to the bloodshed in Cuba, and in the inter-
est of the neighboring people, proposed its
good Offices to bring the existing contest to
a termination. The offer. not being accep-
ted by Spain on the basis which we believed
could be received in Cuba, was withdrawn.
1t is hoped that the good Offices Of the Uni
ted States may prove advantageous for the
settlement of this unhappy strife. In the
mean while, number of illegal expeditions
against Cuba have been broken up. It has
been the endeavor of the Administration to
execute the neutrality laws, no matter how
unpleasant the task, made so by the suffer-
ing we endured from the lack of like good
faith towards US by other nations.
SPANISH SEIZURE OF AN AMERICAN VESSEL.
On the Goth of March last the United
States schooner Lizzie Major was arrested on
the high seas by Spanish frigate, and two
passengers taken and carried prisoners to
Cuba. Representations of these facts were
made to the Spanish Government as soon as
official information reached Washington
The two passengers were set at liberty and
the Spanish Government assured the United
States that the captain of the frigate making
the capture had acted without law, that he
had been reprimanded, and that the Spanish
authorities in Cuba would not sanction any
act that could violate the rights or treat
with disrespect the sovereignty of this ma
ton.
The question of the seizure Of the brig
Mary Lowell, at Bahama. by the Spanish
authorities is now the subject Of correspond
ence between this Government and Spain
and Great Britain.
The Captain General Of Cuba about May
last issued proclamation authorizing the
searching Of vessels on the high seas. I'm
mediate rcmonstrance was made against this,
whereupon the Captain General issued a
new proclamation limiting the search to YES
sells Of the Uuited States authorized under
the treaty of 1895. This proclamation,
however, was Immediately withdrawn. I
have always felt that the most intimate rela-
tions should be cultivated between the Uni
ted States and independent nations on this
continent 1t may be well worth consider
ing whether new treaties between us and
them may not be pro6tably entered into to
secure more intimate relations friendly,
commercial, and otherwise,
CENTRAL AMERICA-THE DARIEN CANAL.
The inter oceanic canal, to connect the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the 18th
mus of Darien, is one in which commerce is
greatly interested. Instructions have been
| given the Minister to the United States Of
Colombia to endeavor to obtain authority fol
survey to determine the practicability o.
the undertaking. In order to comply with
| the agreement with the United States of Co,
lomb;a as to mixed commission at Lima, il
became necessary to send com missioner and
secretary to Lima.
The good Offices of the United States tt
bring about peace between Spain and the
South American republics having been &C
cepted by Spain, Peru and Chill, congress
has been invited to be held in Washington
during the present winter. i4
A grant has been given to Europeans o.
an exclusive right of transit over the terri
tory Of Nicaragua, to which Costa Rica ha!
given it's assent which, it is alleged, con
! Aicts with the vested rights of citizens of tn,
! United States The Department of Stat
now has the subject under consideration.
I ;