The Portland daily press., 1869-03-18
The Tusnrsens Cuban. and tho United


The Cuban question is growing very serious,
and 1t is no wonder that the Spanish Legation
at Washington is anxious about the future.
The introduction of resolutions in Congress
having reference to the prospective recogni-
ton of the independence of the island, es-
pecially by leading Senators like Sherman, the
reported leaning OF General Grant toward
comprehensive American policy that will I'LL
timately detach from their European connec-
tiops all the provincial States OF this CONT
nent and bring them ultimately into the
American Union, and the feeling of sympathy
everywhere expressed in the United States
toward the insurgents, are facts calculated TO
excite the liveliest apprehensions in the minds
OF the partisans of Spain. The friendly feelings
with which the United States regards the cause
of Cuban independence must be strengthened
by an address sent by the insurgents to Gen
Grant through the agency of Col Stockton of
pennsylvania who has Just arrived in Florida
from the camp of the patriots. We append
THIS document, as it contains a resume of the
grievances suffered by the Cubans and the
grounds upon which they demand the favora-
Die consideration of the civilized world.
10 MS E1cetency, the President of the United
States:
SIR: The people of Cuba, by their Grand
supreme Civil Junta and through their Cen
eral-in- Chief, Senior Cespedes, desire to sub
init to lyour Excellency the following, among
other reasons, why your Exceliency, IS Presl-
dent of the United States, should accord to
them belligerent rights and recognition OF
their independence:
Because from the hearts of nineteen-twen-
tieths of the inhabitants of the Island of Gu
ba go up prayers for the success of the armies
of the Republic; and from the sole and only
want of arms and ammunition, these patient
people are kept under the tyrannical yoke of
Spain. The unanimity of the masses of the
people for the republic is ominous.
Because the republic has armies numbering
over 20, 600 men actually in the field and doing
duty. These men are organized and governed
on the principles of civilized warfare The
prisoners whom they lakeland SO far they
they have taken three times as many as their
enemies have from them-are treated in every
respect as the prisoners of war are used and
treated by OF the most civilized nations
of the earth. In the hope of recognis
ton by the United States, they have never yet
in single instance retaliated death for death,
even IN cases OF the most provoking nature.
Because the Spanish authorities have almost
invariably brutally murdered the soldiers OF
the armies of the republic who have surren-
dered to them, and have recently issued an
official order requiring their military forces
hereafter instantly 10 kill and murder every
prisoner of the republic who surrenders. This
is done, the order cheerfully tells us, "to save
trouble and vexation to the Spanish civil au-
thorities.' This is an outrage the civilized
nations of the earth ought not to allow.
Because the United States is the nearest
civilized nation to Cuba, whose political insti-
buttons strike responsive chord in the hearts
OF all Cubans. The commercial and financial
interests of the two people being largely iden-
titled aHda reciprocal in their natures Cuba
earnestly appeals for the unquestionable right
of recognition.
Because the arms and authority of the re-
public of Cuba now extend over two-thirds of
the entire geographical area of the island, en-
braciug very great majority of the population
in every part of the island.
Because she has navy in course CT con-
struction which will excel in point of numbers
and efficiency that heretofore maintained by
the Spanish authorities in these waters.
Because these facts plainly show to the
world that this is not movement of few dis
contents, but the grand and sublime uprising
Of q people thirstipg for liberty, and determined
with this last effort to secure to themselves
and their posterity those unquestioned rights
liberty of conscience and freedom of the in
dividual
Finally, because she is following but in the
footsteps of Spain herself in endeavoring to
Danish tyranncal rulers, and in their
stead place rulers of her own choice.
The people of Cuba, having tenfold more alb
solute and potent right than Spain had, be-
cause Cubas rulers are sent without her
voice or consent BY a foreign country, accom-
panied by and with swarms of officials to fl
the various offices ere ated only for their indi-
vidual comfort, drawing their sustenance and
support from the hard earnings of the natives
of the soil
Allow us to add, with The greatest diff
dence and constituencies thct the difference be-
tween the rebellion in the United States and
the present revolution in Cuba is simply that
in the former small minority rebelIed against
laws which they had a voice in making and
the privilege of repeating, while in the case of
Cuba we are resisting foreign power in
crushing us to the earth, as they have done for
centuries, with no appeal but that of arms OPP
en- to us, and appointing, without our knowl-
edge, voice, advice or consent, tyrannical
citizens of their own country to rule us, and
eat our substance.
"Patria libertadl"
Approved by the Supreme Junta, and Or
dered promulgated by
SENIOR GENERAL CEsPEDEs.
Commander-in-C Chief Republican Forces Of
Cuba HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, March
l. 1869