The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-12-14


advantageous for the settlement Of this
unhappy struggle.
Meanwhile number of illegal expedi-
lions against Cuba have been broken up.
1t has been the endeayor of the admins
tration to execute the neutrality laws in
good faith, no matter how unpleasant the
task made so by suffering We have endured
for lack of like good faith toward Us by
other nations.
SPANISH oUTRAGEs
On the 26th of March last, the L. 5.
schooner "Lizzie Major" was arrested on
the high seas by a Spanish frigate, and
TWO passengers taken from it and carried
as prisoners to Cuba. Representations of
these facts were made to the Spanish gov.
eminent as soon as official informations Of
them reached Washington. The two
passengers were set at liberty, and the
Spanish government assured the United
States that the Captain of the frigate in
making the capture, had acted without the
law, that he had been reprimanded for the
irregularity ofhis conduct, and that the
Spanish authorities in Cuba would not
sanction any act that could violate the
rights or treat with disrespect the sover-
eighty of this nation. The question OF
the seizure of the brig Mary Lowell at
one of the Bahama Islands by the Spanish
authorities is now the subject Of correspon-
dence between this Government and those
ofSpain and Great Britain.
The Captain General of Cuba about
May last issued proclamation and au'
thorized search to be made of all vessels
on the high seas. Immediate rcmoustranct
was made against this.whereupon the Cap
tain General issued "A new proclamation
limiting the right Of search to vessels Of
the United States so far as authorized un
der the treaty of 1892. This proclama
ton, however, was Immediately with
drawn.
RELATIONS WITH OTHER AMERICAN NATIONS
have always felt that the most init
mate relations should be cultivated be
tween the Republic of the United State
and all independent nations on this con
tinent. 1t may be well worth considering
whether new treaties between Us and then
may not be proftably entered into to Sc
cure more intimate relations, friendly
commercial and otherwise.
The subject OF An inter-oceanic canal Il
connect the Atlantic and Pacific ocean
through the Isthums Of Darien is one il
which commerce is greatly interested. In
.tructions have been given to our ministe
10 the Republic Of the United States o
Columbia, to endeayor to obtain au,horit.
for a survey by this Government in orde
10 determine the practicability OF such Al
undertaking. and charter for the RICH
Of way to build by private enterprise sucl
work, if the survey proves it to be practl
cable.
In order to comply with the agreemen
Ut the United States and the mixed com
mission at Lima for the adjustment 0
claims, it became necessary to send
Commissioner and Secretary to Lima, il
August last. No appropriation having
teen made by Congress for this purpose
is now asked that one be made covering
the past and future expense Of the Com
mission.
The good offices Of the United State
10 bring about a peace between Spain an
South American republics with whicI
she is at war having been accepted b.
Spain, Peru and Chill, Congress ha
been invited to be held in Washingto
during the present winter
A grant has been given to European
of an exclusive right of transit over tn
territory of Nicaragua, to which Cost
Rica has given its assent, which it is al
legged conflicts with the vested rights G
the citizens of the United States. Tn
Department of State has now this suheC
under consideration.
The conduct Of the war between tn
Allies and the republic of Paraguay ha
made the intercourse with that countr
20 difficult that it has been deemed az
v;sable to withdraw our representative
THt ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Toward the close of the administratio
convention was signed at London lc
the settlement Of all outstanding claim
between Great Britain and the Unite
States, which failed to receive the advic
snd consent Of the Senate to its ratiici
lion.
The time and the circumstances attent
ing the negotiation of that treaty wcr
not favorable to its acceptance by til
people of the United States, and its pre-
visions were wholly inadequate for tn
settlement of the grave wrongs that ha
been sustained by this Government. A..
well as by its citizens,
The injuries resulting to the Unite
,'tates, by reason Of the course adopte
by Great Britain during our late civ
war, as seen in the increased rates of il
-urance, in the diminution of the export
aud the imports and other distractions
the domestic industry and production
III effect upon the fore ign commerce (
the country, and in the decrease an
transfer TO Great Britain of our cOmme
vial marine in the prolongaton Of III
war and the increased cost both in treasul
Ind in lives Of its suppression, could NJ
u, adjusted and satisfied as ordinar
,iains which continually arise hetwee
commercial nations, and We, Il
Convention treated them simply as sue
ordinary claims. from which they diff,
more widely in the gravity of their cha
aoter than in the magnitude Of the
smount. Great even as is that difisFenc
sol word was found in the treaty. al
nnS un inference could be drawn from
10 prove the sense of the nnfriendly dea
iugs Of the course of Great Britain in oil
Struggle Tor existence. which had so dee
~ and universally impressed itself up,
Ghe people OF this country.
Relieving that convention thus mi
conceived in III hope and inadequate
IT, provisions would not have produc,