The New York herald., 1869-09-23
Q y B A
Practical COnscriptiOn In the
Ever Faithful Isle.
VaImaseda's Recent Proclamation and
What is Thought Of It.
General Quesada Preparing to
Attack Holguin.

The steamship Cleopatra. Captain Phillips, from
Vera Cruz rne 10th and Slsal tho 14th, via Havana
the I7th arrived here last evening" She brought 10
this port for reshlpment the unprecedentedly large
sum Of O2s 100 In specie from Mexico. The purser
will receive our thanks for fsvors received.
The Propositions Concerning Cuba-The Feel
ing Among the Spaniurds In the Island
Spain's Sincerity Doubted-The Press ON the
Question-Opposition to the Regency-Hopes
from a Kiug-Recruiting for the Volunteers
A Practical ConscrIpti0n-Cnbans Leaving
OmciaI Reports from the Seat of War
Spanish Accounts Proclamation Of valna-
sedn-D disposition of Political Prisoners
The Storm Oh Hatteras.
HAVANA, Sept. 10, 1859.
The propositions OF the United States to Spain for
the settlement Of the Cuban question and the
answer Of the latter Power, as placed before the
public in your Washington correspondence OF the
5th inst DO not meet with favor here. Indeed quite
the contrary; they excite most unnecessary
amount Of Indignation, unnecessary insomuch as
Spain does not intend to part with 'the ever faith
full isle' until she is compelled to thing
not at present anticipated. Her treatment
of the American propositions has all that
air Of plausibilty and seeming acquiescence winch
has always characterized the best dlplomatlsts
In the world. 1t is melancholy fact that Spain's
success and advancement have not been commen-
surate with the talents of her sons In this line. But
that only goes to show that truth is better than
chlcanery. and does not initiate against their
merits 1t Is not for the interest Of Spain to make
inquiries Of the government on the projects Of the
United States. At this juncture anything rather
than ths, especially If it is In the diplomatic line
and 80 she accepts the mediation Of the United
States, thanks that government for the interposi
ton Of its good ofaces, and submits basis OF
settlement. Firstly, OF which Is, ''the Cubans
to lay down their arms" which s cool, and
thirdly, "Cuba TO pay Spain for all tue Spanish
property In the island and for all the property Of
loyal Spanlards destroyed by the insurgents"
which is freezing. That section referriug TO the
return Of sequessrated property belonging to "dis-
loyal" Cubans doth not yet appear. nor Is 1t likely
to. 1t Is not necessary to go through the entire
proposition Of Span-it is all Of the same delusve
character; and Secretary Fish showed very correct
appreciation Of 1t In paying no attention to It.
The feeling among the Spanish element here is
very well portrayed in leading article of the Dtario
ds la Marina in its issue Of the 18th, the gist OF
which is as follows:-
We require patience keep down the Indignation which
has e. pn d II Us and hut wh s s not 81 few ~
origin has come to aid and above all the reflection With
soion viii until s
happens and = the sams moment In which these PROPOSE
being transacted what threw to the ground all
se aone. Sin Which motive. az
o the ism ha% Ss S :cos
make an understanding with the inaugsnts and how well
s asw Ss ss sS e o r s
q Ss S as Ss s s s
a to favor the
It Will doubtless bs regarded as astounding that
such stories as Mr.. Jourgtns should be written,
more 80 that they should be believed, and still
so that the result OF such an action as that at Las
Tunas should be regarded as rendering unnecessary
all further efforts at peace. In this manner are the
Spanish residents encouraged in this war Of devas-
tation and blood and melted to oppose any effort for
it's peaceful termination.
In this article not only Ia the feeling against the
settlement Of the cuban question on the basis Of
independence manifested. bat that hostile feeling
very prevalent here against the regency. Az stated
in a former communication, there s great jealousy
and fears Of the SerranO government Its needs are
fully realized, and 1t is feared that, prompted by
these it may take unretraceabe steps toward the
dismemberment OF the national dominion. The
Darto Is rendered easy by the TACT that the whole
matter is postponed until after the election OF
q king, for well knows that then the danger is
over. His first duty and greatest glory would be TO
restore to Spain Its brightest jewell and 1t believes
that having passed this Cnarybdis there is no Syla
beyond.
Spaniards here rulers and people, implicitly believe
that the lnsurreCtlon can be suppressed and soon.
In speaking this subject the Captain General talks
with much apparent sincerity, stating that all of his
infoi nation from the field makes him confident Of
an early termination OF the war. What the charac-
ter or this Information may he were hard Judge.
There Is certainly no encounter however trivial ana
unmFortant, resulting favorably to tue Spaniards,
but is made public In some way, and certainly they
do not justify his conclusion AS to the disasters
which occasionally occur TO the troops though the
greatest efforts are made to conceal them, they are
not likely to hasten q conclusion favorable 10 the
Spanish cause.
The newspapers Of the city in recent issues publish
project orEs ss
batta1ions OF reserve to consist OF eight companies
Of eighty men each They are to be formed, as says
one OF these journals "0f islanders and peninsulars
persons well known and OF good repute lovers OF
the country and the nationality, and in position to
not altogether consistently, "They will comprise all
sorts and conditions OF men, the old az well as the
tine Poor ss well e. the s Saa
able distinction, the noble cockade-symbol
Of our nationality, union and force.n A
which General Don J. NJ. zanyvoniz Is the president.
While the standard OF those expected to arrive In
the newspapers, placed thus high, men have been
appointed to take down the names Of all liable to
military duty Cubans and Spaniards alike. Many Of
the former regard The thing as conscrption since,
II they refuse to enter the ranks they will be marked
and ruined. Many are preparing to leave the Island
on this account subscriptions are going about for
the purchased OF arms or Improved pattern for the
volunteers, to which all merchants native Spanish
or foreign contribute, as matter OF prudence.
In calculating as TO the number OF volunteers to
be used In the forthcoming campaign, II should be
borne In mind that considerable numbers OF those
outside OF Havana--ip the cities along the coast
cannot be depended on. Many OF them are Chbans
who entered the ranks for the safety Of themselves
and their property, or TO divert from them the
odium OF the Spanards and the authorities. If
called on TO 90 to the field these would go over to
the insurgents the first opportunity while in any
desperate strait they could not be left TO garrison
any city without Spaniards enough 10 guard them.
captain OF volunteers Ia Clenfuegos recently re-
marked to a foreigner mat OF the 100 men cOmpris-
ing his company not more than ten could be trusted
TO 20 TO the field.
Tie Foreign Legion, TO be raised here, does not
make any Roadway, The opinion, said 10 nave been
expressed by the French Consul here, thai those OF
thereby lose their right TO protection from their
government, has thrown damper upon the project.
The English Consul too IT Is said, does not favor the
idea with regard to his counfymen. Thus far
only the Germans nave interested themselves in the