The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-12-16

of insurgents sufficient to Justify recognl-
tion of belligerency. The principle is
maintained, however, that this nation ls
it's own Judge when TO accord the rights
of belIigereney either to people strug-
Cling to free themselves from Govern.
ment they believe to be oppressive, or to
independent nations at war with each
other. The United States has no dispo-
sition to interfere with the existing rela'
tions Of Spain to her colonial possession
on this continent. They believe that In
due time Spain and other European pow
ers will fnd their interest in terminating
those relations and establishing their pros
ent dependencies as independent powers.
These dependencies are no longer regar-
ded as subject to transfer from one Euro
pcan power to another. When the pres
ent relation of the colonies ceases they
are to become independent powers exer-
cising the right of choice and of self-con-
troll in the determination OF their future
condition and relations with other pow
ers.
The United States, in order to put q
stop to bloodshed in Cuba, and in the in
terest of the neighboring people propos-
ed their good offices to bring the existing
contest to termination. The offer not
being accepted by Spain on the basis
which we believe could be received by
Cuba, was Withdrawn. 1t is to be hoped
that the good Offices Of the United States
may yet prove advantageous for the
settlement of this unhappy strife Mean
while number of illegal expeditions
against Cuba have been broken up. 1t
has been the endeavor of the Administra.
ton to execute the neutrality laws, no
matter how unpleasant the task, made so
by tho sufferings we have endured from
lack of like good faith towards us by other
nations.
On the 26th of March last the United
States schooner Lizzie Major was arres-
ted on the high seas by aSpanish frigate.
and two passengers taken and carried
prisoners to Cuba. Representations OF
these facts were made to the Spanish
Government rs soon as official informa.
ton reached Washington. The two pas
sengers were set at liberty, and tho Span
ish authorities in Cuba would not sanet-
ion any act that could violate the rights
or treat with disrcspect the sovereignty
of this nation. The question of the seiz-
ure of the brig Mary Lowell, at Bahama,
by the Spanish authorities, is now the
subject of correspondence between this
Government, Spain and Great Britain.
The Captain.General of Cuba, about
May last, issued proclamation authoria-
ing the search of vessels on the high seas.
Immediately remonstrance was made
against this, whereupon the Captain-Gen-
eral issued now proclamation, limiting
tho search to vessels of the United States
authorized under the treaty of 1895. This
proclamation, however, was Immediately
withdrawn.
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.
On my assuming the responsible duties
OF Chief Magistrate of tho United States,
it was with the conviction that three
things werc essential to it's peace, pros
perity and fullest development; first
among these is strict integrity in fulfil
ing ali our obligations; second, to secure
protection to the person and property of
the citizen of the United States, in each
and every portion of our common coun.
try wherever he may choose to move
without reference to original nationality,
religion, color, or politics, demanding of
him only obedience to the laws, ard prop.
or respect for the rights of others; third,
union of all the States, with equal rights in
destructible by any constitutional means.
To secure the first of these, Congress has
taken two essential steps; first, in declar-
ing by joint resolution, that the public
debt shall be paid, principal end interest,
in coin; and second, by providing the
means for paying. Providing the means,
however, could not secure the object de-.
sired without proper administration of
tho law, for the collection Of revenues and
an economical disbursement of them. To
this subject the Administration has most
earnestly addressed itself with results, l
hone. satisfactory to the country. There
has been no hesitation in changing OIL
cials in order to secure an efficient execu-
ton of the laws; sometimes too, whero in
a mere party view, undesirable political
results were likely to follow; nor any
hesitation in sustaining efficient officials
against remonstrances, wholly political.
rENURE-oF-oFFIcE LAW.
1t may be we'll to mention here the en-
barrassment possible to arise from leaving
on the statnte books the so.called Tenure
ofOfice Acts, and to earnestly recon-
mend their total repeal. 1t could not
have been the intention Of the trainers OF
the Constitution, when providing thatap.
pointuents made by the President should
receive tho consent of the Senate, that
the latter should have power to retain in
Office persons placed there by federal ap-
pointment against the will of the Presi-
dent. The law is inconsistent with q
faithful and efficient administration OF the
Government. What faith con an Exeeu-
tive put in an official forced upon him,
=. LII L., l,I