Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-12-17


| to people struggling to free themselves
| from a government that they believe to be
oppressive, or to independent nations at
war with each other. The United States
| have no disposition to interfere with the
existing relations Of Spain to her colonial
| possessions on this continent. They be-
| lieve that in due time Spain and other
European Powers will find their interest
| in terminating those relations and estab-
| fishing theirlpresent dependencies as indie
pendent POwerS--menlbers of the family of
| nations. These dependencies are no longer
regarded as subject to transfer from one
European power to another. When the
present relation Of colonies cease, they are
| to become independent powers, exercising
| the right of choice and of self control in
the determination of their future condi-
| ton and relations with other powers. The
United States in order to put a stop to
bloodshed in Cuba, and in the interest
of neighboring people, proffered their
good Offices to bring the existing con-
test to termination. The offer
not being accepted by Spain ON basis
| which we believed could be received by
Cuba, it was withdrawn. 1t is hoped that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
number ofillegal expeditions against Cuba
have been broken up. 1t has been the en-
deavor of the Administration to execute
the neutrality laws in good faith, no mat
ter how unpleasant the task, made so by
| the suffering we have endured from lack of
| like good faith toward us by other nations.
| The United States schooner Lizzie Major
was arrested on the high seas by Spanish
| frigate, and two passengers taken from 1t
and carried as prisoners to Cuba. Repre-
sentations of these facts were made to the
| Spanish Government as soon as official in
| formation of them reached Washington.
| The two passengers were set at liberty,
| and the Spanish Government assured the
| United States that the Captain of the fri
| gate, in making the capture, had acted
without law-that he had been repri-
manded for the irregularity of his conduct,
and that the Spanish authorities in Cuba
would not sanction any act that would vio-
| late the right, or treat with disrespect the
sovereignty of this nation.
The question of the seizure of the brig
Marv Lowell, at one of the Bahama Is
lands, by the Spanish authorities, is now
the subject of correspondence between
this Government and those of Spain and
| Great Britain. The Captain General of
Cuba, about May last, issued a proclama-
ton authorizing search to be made of YES
sells on the high seas. Immediate remon-
STRANGE was made against this, whereupon
the Captain General issued new procla-
nation, limiting the right of search of YES
sells belonging to the United States so far
as authorized under the treaty of 1895.
This proclamation, however, was imme-
| dlately withdrawn.
I have always felt that the most init
| mate relations should be cultivated be-
| tween the Republic of the United States
and all independent nations on this conti-
nent. 1t may be well worth considering
whether the treaties between the United
| States and them may not be profitably
| entered into, to secure more intimate re-
lations, friendly commercial intercourse,
and otherwise.
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 interested. In
structions have been given to our Minister
to the Republic of the United States of
Columbia to endeavor to obtain authority
for survey by this Government in order
to determine the practicability of such an
undertaking, and charter for the right of
way to build by private enterprise such
work, if the survey proves it to be prac-
ticable.
In order to comply with the agreement
of the United States as to a mixed COM
mission at Lima, for the adjustment of the
claims, it became necessary to send Com
missioner to Lima in August last. No ap-
preparation having been made for this
purpose, it is now asked that one be made
covering the past and future expenses of
| the Commission.
The good offices of the United States,
| to bring about peace between Spain and
the South American Republics, with
| which she is at war, having been accepted
| by Spain, Peru and Chilli, a congress has
| been invited to be held in Washington
| during the present winter.
A grant has been given the Europeans
of an exclusive right of transit over the
territory of Nicaragua, to which Costa
Rica has given its assent, which, it is al
| legged, conflicts with vested rights of citi-
zens of the United States. The Depart
ment of State has now this subject under
| consideration.
The Minister of Peru having made
| representations that there was state OF
war between Peru and Spain, and that
Spain was constructing in and near New
| York thirty gunboats, which might be
used by Spain in such way as to relieve
| the naval force at Cuba so as to operate
against Peru, orders were given to prevent
| their departure. No further steps having
been taken by the representatives of the
| Peruvian Government to prevent the de-
parture of these vessels, and | not feel
| ing authorized to detain the property OF
a nation with which we are at peace on a
mere Executive order, the matter has
| been referred to the courts to decide
The conduct of the war between the
| allies and the Republic of Paraguay has
made the intercourse with that country
so difficult that it has been deemed adj
visable to withdraw our representative
from there.
Toward the close of the last Admins.
tratiOn convention was signed at Lon.
con for the settlement of all outstanding
claims between Great Britain and the
United States, which failed to receive tbe
advice and consent of the Senate to its
ratification. The time and the circum
stances attending the negotiation of the
treaty were unfavorable to its acceptance by
the people of the United States, and its
provisions were wholly inadequate for the
settlement of the gross wrongs that had
been sustained by this Government, a!
well as by its citizens The injuries result
ing to the United States, by reason of the
course adopted by Great Britain during
our late civil war, in increased rates of in
surance, in the diminution of exports anC
imports, and other distractions to domes
tic industry and production, in its etfec
upon the foreign commerce of the country
in the decrease and transfer to Grea