The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-07

ways be in conformity with strict JUS
tice and law, international and local.
Such has been the policy of the Admin;
istration in dealing with these ques-
Itions. For more than year valuable
province of Spain, and a near neighbor
of ours in whom all our people can but
feel deep interest, has been struggling
for independence and freedom. The peo-
pie and Government of the United States
States entertain the same warm feeling
and sympathy for tho beople Of Cuba
in their pending struggle that they
manifested thrsughout the previous
struggle between Spain and her former
colonies in behalf of the latter, but the
costest bas at no time assumed the con
dition which amsuDted to o war in the
sense of International law, or which
wonld show the existence of de tdctO
political organization of the insurgents
sufficiest to justify recognition of bel
ligerency. Theprinciple is maintained,
however, that this nation is it's own
judge when to accord the rights of bel
ligerency either to people struggling
to free themselves from Government
they believe to be oppressive, or to in
dependent nations at war with each
other. The United States have no dis
position to interfere with the existing
relations of Spain to her colonial posses
sions on this continent. They believe
that in due time Spain and other Euro
pean Powers will find their inter-
est in terminating those relations
and establishing their present
dependencies as independent Powers
members of the family of nations.
These dependencies are no longer re-
garded as subject to transfer from one
European Power to another. When the
present relations of colonies cease they
are to become Independent Powers, ex-
ercising the rights of choice and of self,
control in the determination Of their
future condition and relations with
other Powers. The United States, in
order to put o stop to bloodshed
in Cuba. and in the interest of neigh
boring people, proposed their good of
fees to bring the existing contest to a
termination. The offer not being ac-
cepted by Spain, on basis which We
believed could be received by Cuba,
was withdrawn. 1t is hoped that the
good offices of the United States
may yet prove advantageous for
the settlement of this unhappy
strife. Meanwhile a number of illegal
expeditions against Cuba have been
broken up. 1t has been the endeavor
of the Administration to execute the
neutrality laws in good faith no matter
how unpleasant the task, made so by
the suffering we have endured from lack
of like good faith towards Us by other
nations.
The United States schooner Lizzie
Major was arrested on the high
seas by Spanish frigste and two pas
sengers taken from it and carried as
prisoners to Cuba. Representations
of these facts were made to the Span
information Of them reached Washing
ton, the two passengers were set at lib
erty, and the Spanish Government as
sured the United States that the captain
of the frigate in making the capture
had acted without law, that ha had
been reprimanded for the irregularity
of his conduct, and that the Spanish
at Cuba would not sanction
any act that could violate the rights or
treat with disrespect the sovereignty
of this nation.
The question Of the seizure of the brig
Mary Lowell, at one of the Bahama
Islands, by Spanish authorities, is now
the subject of correspondence between
this government ard those of Spain
and Great Britain. The Captain Gen
&c Nph oh Nnt, loot iolna1 n
proclamation authorizing search to be
made of vessels on the high seas. Im-
mediate remonstranee was made against
this. whereupon the Captain General
issued new proclamation, limiting it
to the right of search of vessels of war,
so far as authorized under the treaty OF
1895. This proclamation, however, was
Immediately withdrawn.
NEW TREATIES.
/ have always felt that the most in
innate relations should be cultivated
between the Republic of the United
States aud all independent nations on
this continent. 1t may be we'll worth
considering whether new treaties be-
tween the United States and them may
be not profitably entered into
TO secure more intimate relations,
friendly, commercial and otherwise.
THE DARIEN CANAL.
The subject of an inter oceanic canal
to connect the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans through the Isthmus of Darien,
is one in which commerce is greatly in
terested. Instructions have been given
TO our minister and representative of
the United States to Columbia to en-
deavor to obtain authority for survey
by this Government in order to deter
mine tho practicability of such an
undertaking, and a charter for
the right of way to build by private
enterprise such work if the survey
proves it to be practicable.
THE LIMA COMMISSION.
In order to comply with the agree.
ment of the United States as to a mixed
commission at Lima for the adjustment
of claims, it became necessary to send
commissioner and secretary to Lima
in August last. No appropriation bav.
ing been made by Congress for this pur
pose it is now asked that one be made
covering the past aud future expense:
of the commission.
SPAIN, PERU AND CHILL.
The good Offices of the United State.
to briug about peace between Spair
and the South American Republics
with which she is at war, have beef
accepted by Spain, Peru and Chilli. 4
Congress has been invited TO be held il
Washington during the present winter
NICARAGUA TRANSIT.
Agrant has been given to European!
of an exclusive right of transit over tn,
Territory of Nicaragua, to which Costa
Rica has given its assent, which, it i.
alleged, conflicts with the vested right
of citizens of the United States. Th,
Department of State has now
this subject under consideration
THE SPANISH GUNBoATs.
The Minister of Peru havin,
made representations that there was ;
state of war between Peru and Spain
and that Spain was constructing in ant
near New York thirty gunboats, whicl
might be used by Spain in such way
as to relieve the naval force at Cuba, S,
as to operate against Peru
orders were given to pre-
vent their departure. No furthe
o,o,>, boy;nn haaD taken hy III,