Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-12-17

political organization of the insurgents sufi
Gent to justify recognition of belligerency
The principle is maintained, however, tina
this nation is its own judge Of when to &C
cord the rights of belligerency either to
people struggling to free themselves from
Government they believe to be oppressive o.
to independent nations at war with each 9th
err The United States has no disposition T.
interfere with the existing relations OF SPAN
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 independ'
ent Powers These dependencies are nc
longer regarded as subjects Of transfer from
one European Power to another. WheH
the present relations of colonies ceases they
are to become independent Powers, exercl-
sing the right of choice and Of self-contro! 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
termination. The offer. not being accep-
ted by Spain on the basis which we believed
could be received in Cuba, was withdrawn.
It 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, a number of illegal expeditions
against Cuba have been broken up. 1t 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 lackof like good
faith towards US by other nations rs
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.
have always fell that the most intimate rela-
items should be cultivated between the Uni
ted States and Independent nations on this
continent 1t may be we'll worth consider
ing whether new treaties between us and
them may not be proftably 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 beer
given the Minister to the United States O
Colombia to endeavor to obtain authority fo1
survey to determine the practicability o
the undertaking. In order to comply will
the agreement with the United States of Co
} lombia as to mixed commission at Lima, i
| became necessary to send commissioner ant
secretary to Lima.
The good offices of the United States t.
bring about peace between Spain and tb'
South American republics having been &C
cepted by Spain, Peru and Chill, a congress
has been invited to be held in Washington
T during the present winter.
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 its assent which, it is alleged, con
ficts with the vested rights of citizens of tn,
United States. The Department of Stat
now has the subject under consideration.
4 THE SPANISH GUNBoATs.
The Minister in Peru having made repre-
sensations that there was state Of war be
Z tween Peru and Spain, and that Spain wa
constructing in and near New York thirt,
gunboats, which might be used by Spain t.
relieve the naval force at Cuba to opcrat
against Peru, orders were given to proven
their departure No further steps having
: been taken by the representatives Of the Pc
ruvian Government to prevent the departur
Of these vessels, and I not feeling authorized
!, to detain the property Of nation with whicl
we are at peace on mere Executive order
the matter has been referred to the courts
| SOUTH AMERICA. a..r
, The conduct Of the war between the allie
: and the Republic of Paraguay has made in
tercourse with that country difficult, and
has been deemed advisable to withdraw GU
| representatives from there.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS '-.i.t d
8 Towards the close of the last administra
ton convention was signed at London 70
!, the settlement of outstanding claims bctwee
, Great Britain and the United States, whic
failed to receive the consent Of the Senate
The time and the circumstances attendin
I the negotiation Of that treaty were unfavor
able to its acceptance by the people of tn
United States, and its provisions were Who'll
ly inadequate to the settlement of the gray
: wrongs sustained by this Government.
/ The injuries resulting to the United State
: by reason of the course adopted by Grea
e Britain during the war in the increase of tn
: rates of insurance, in the diminution of ex
:, ports and imports and other distractions t.
: domestic industry and production, in its ef
q feet upon the foreign commerce of the coun
e try, in the decrease and transfer to Grea
t Britain of our commercial marine, in tn