Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-01
The Spanish GunbOais.

The Spanish GunbOats.
During the past week the Government has
regularly libelcd the thirty guuboats which
have been building in our ports during the
past season for the Spanish government aud
this act has furnished material for the news
paper writer's to get up a sensation of the i'm
mediate recognition Of the Cuban patriots
war with Spain, etc, etc A look at the
whole case will aid in forming correct judg-
mcnt
1t viii be remembered that, toward the
close Of last summer, these guuboats were
seized by United Stitcs officials by orders
from the President Of the United States, on
the strength Of representations made by the
Peruvian Minister that the boats were in.
tended to be used in facilitating warlike oper-
ations against Peru, with which country the
United States were at peace. No opposition,
however, has been offered by the Government
to the boats being completed and fitted for
sea- anu Mhlh nhNlla NNNh hAAAANNt . ~ WY
continued since, several Of them are ready to
sail, and all are preparing to follow. In this
state Of things the Spanish Government
through It's Minister at Washington, now de-
mauds the release Of the boats; but our Gov
crnmcut is determined not TO comply with the
demand, but to submit the case to The United
States District Court, sitting as Court of
Admiralty aud maritime jurisdiction, in or
der to have the international character Of the
vessels and their status, under the neutrality
laws Of Congress, authoritatiycly pronounced
upon. Writs of attachment have accordingly
been made out against each Of the gunboats,
and the entire hotlla at once taken charge of
by Deputy Marshals. Peru will thus have
an opportunity Of making good her complaints
but even ic She fail to do 500 it by no means
follows that the boats will be released, as the
neutrality act of Congress, Of April, ISIS,
iorbddiug the fitting out of vessels intended
TO cruise and commit hostlities against the
citizens or property of colony or people
with whom the United States are at peace,
will apply to the case Of the Cubans, now in
insurrection against Spain, and oath has ac-
cordingly been made by Senior Aliaro, late
one Of the Cuban Junta, before the United
States Commissioner, that the gunboats were
about to be used by the Government Of the
Regent against the colony or people Of Cuba.
In any case, therefore, it seems that the gun
boats will be prevented from leaving our
shores and it remains to be seen what ac-
ton the Spanish government will take in the
premises. BY many persons it is thought
that their detention under such circumstances
will be regarded by Spain as a casus bellL
Indeed, it comes from Washington, on appar-
emily the best authority, that if the United
States Minister at Madrid has not been in
formed Of the precise contingencies in which
Spain will declare war, he has assuredly been
given to understand that our refusal to deiv-
or up the Spanish gunboats on their compile
ton, or our recognition Of the belligerent
rights Of the Cuban republic, would be ac-
cepted by the Spanish Goyerement as a cause
Of hostilities But our government is fully
prepared for any eventually
In view Of the uncertain relations existing
at present between this country and Spain
the extraordinary activity which has within
the last three months prevailed in our differ
ent Navy Yards, aud the recent increase of
our naval force at Key Wet and in Crbanl
waters, find natural explanation. Spain
has virtually threatened us with hOstilities,
and our government, with wise foresight, is
preparing for what may soon come or, at
any rate, letting Spain know that we are not
to be inundated by menaces.
Immediately following this action of our
government, eight Spanish men-of-war are
now under orders to rendezvous in New York
harbor They are of great power two of
them iron-clads. The pretended reason for
concentrating this large force here at this
time is the necessity Of providing an escort
for the Spanish gunboats, now nearly COM
pletcd but such force is altogether out of
proportion to the object alleged.
The President, in order to be prepared
for any emergency that may arise, has or
dercd the doubie-turreted iron-cad monitors
Miantonomoh and Terror, and torpedo boat
from Fortress Monroe, to be fully mounted
and sent to cruise in the harbor of New York.
The vessels of the Navy which have been
keeping watch over the Spanish gunboats
have been released, and an armed tug placed
to watch them. Work has been resumed upon
them by permission of the District Attor-
ney.