Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-12-03

position in its Importance aud RESPONSE
bilitiHs. would ask, therefore, for such
legislation as in your judgment viii
place the Cis2e. on fooging of dignity
commensurate with its Importance and
qualiiieatiO rs OF the class Of men re-
qaiFed 10 fill j; properly.
As the United States - the first OF all
nations, so, too, the people sympathiza
I wish all people struggling for liberty
aud seif-goVernment hut While eymp :
thizing, it is due TO our honor that we
sboa.d abstain from enforcing our views
upon unwilling nations, and from tax
. ing an interested part without AN InNf-
| tation. Ia the quaFress betweendiiTerent
nations, or between g0yernisents Rnd
| their subjects, our course should always
be in conformity with strict justice and
I law, international aud local. Such has
been the policy of the administration in
dealing with these questions.
For more than a year valuable prov
iDce OF Spain, and a nesr neighbOr of
ours, in whom ali cur people cannot but
feel deep interest, has been struggling
for independence and freedom. The
people aud government OF the United
States entertain the same warm feelings
and Sympathies for the people OF Cuba
in their pending struggle, that they man
Tested throughout the previous struggle
between Spain and her former colonies
in behalf of the latter. But the con-
test has at no time assumed the
conditions which amount 10 a war
ia the sense OF international law, or
which would show the existence OF a dc
JaetO political organization OF the insur-
gents Sufficient 10 justify a recognition
of beliig-Eeney. The principle is main
lained, however, that this nation is lis
own Judge when 10 accord the rights of
beliigerency, either 10 people strug
CLING to free themselves from govern
ment they believe TO be oppressive, or
10 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 believe that in due
time Spain and other European powers
VIII hnd sheir interest in terminating
those relations and establishing their
present dependencies as indsl eDdent
powers, members Of the family of ma
IiGns. The dependencies are no longer
regarded IS subject to transfer from one
European power 10 another. When The
present relation Of colonies ceases they
are to become independent powers, ex-
ercising the right Of choice and of self.
control iu the determination of tbeir fu-
tuTe condition and relations with other
powers.
u
stop 10 bloodshed in Cuba, and in the in-
ierest OF a neiZhbOring people, proGered
their good offices TO bring the existing
contest to a termination. The offer not
being accepted by Spain, on a basis
which we believed could be received by
Cuba, was Withdrawn. II Is hoped that
the good Offices Of the United States may
yet prove advantageous TO the settlement
OF this unhappy strife. Meanwhile a
number of Illegal expeditions against
Cuba have been broken up. Ithas been
execute thenenuality laws ia good faith,
no matter how unpleasant the task
made so from the suffering we have en-
dured from lack of Ike good faith to-
wards us by other nations.
On the 28th OF March last the United
States schooAer Lizzie Major was ar
rested on the high seas by a Spanish
trigate, and two passengers were taken
from it and carried as prisoners 10 Cuba.
Representations Of these facts were made
to the Spanish government as soon as
sufficient information OF them reached
Washington. The two passengers were
set at liberty and the Spanish govern
ment assured the United States that the
capatin in making the capture had acted
without orders, that be had been repri-
manded for the irregularity OF his con-
duet, and that the Spanish suthori-
ties in Cuba would not sanction any
act that could violate the rights or
treat with djsrespeet the sovereignty Of
this nation The question of the seizure
of the brig, Mary Lowell, at one OF the
Bahama islands, by Spanish authorities,
Is now the subject OF correspondence be-
tween this government and those of
Spain and Great Britain. The captain
general OF Cuba, about May last, issued
a proclamation authorizing search to
be made of vessels on the high seas. I'M
mediate remonstrRnee was made against
this, whereupon the captain general
issued new proclamation limiting the
right Of search 10 vessels Of tie United
States, so far as authorized under the
treaty of 1875. This proclamation, how
ever, was Immediately withdrawn.
have always felt that the most inti-
mate relations should be cultivated be-
tween the republic Of the United States
tinent. II may be well worth consider
ing whether new treaties between the
United states and them may not be
profitably entered into TO secure more
intimate relations, friendly, commercial
and otherwise.
As the subject of an oceanic canal to
connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
through the isthDaus of Darien Is one in
which commerce is greatly interested,
instructions have been given TO our min
lister to the republic of the United States
of Colomb bia 10 endPayor to obtain au-
thority for survey by the government,
in order 10 determine the practicability
of such an undertaking and charter for
the right of way to private enterprise for
such work, If the survey proves TO be
pracficable