The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-07

former colonies in behalf of the lat
ter, but the contest at 40 time as
sumed the conditions which amount
TO a war, in the sense of international
law, or which would show the exist
ence of a de fdctO political organiza-
ton of the insurgents sufficient to
Justify a recognition of belligerency.
The principle is maintained, however,
that this nation is its own Judge, when,
to accord the rights Of bellig-
ereney either to a people struggling to
free themselves from a government
which 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 relation of Spain to her CO.
lonial possessions In this country.
They believe that in due time Spain
and other European powers viii
find it their interest in Terminating
these relations and establishing their
present dependencies as independent
powers. Members of the family OF
nations. the dependencies are no
longer regarded as subject to transfer
from one European Power to another.
When the present relations OF the
colonies cease, they are to become
INDEPENDENT powers, exercising the
right of choice and of self-control In
the determination of their future con-
dition and relation with other powers.
The United States, in order to Put
stop TO bloodghed in Cuba, and In
the interest of a neighboriDg people,
proposed their good offices to bring
the existing contest to termination,
the offer not being accepted by spain
on a basis which we believed could
be received by Cuba was withdrawn.
It is hoped that the good otlces OF
the United States may yet prove adj
yantageous for the settlement OF this
unhappy strife. Meanwhile, a num-
Der of illegal expeditions against Cuba
have been broken up. Ii has been
the endeavor of the Administration
to execute the Neutrality Laws In
good faith, no matter how unpleasant
the task, made so by the suffering We
have endured from lack of like good
faith towards us by other nations.
The United States schooner Lizzie
Msjor was arrested on the high seas
by Spanish frigate and two passengers
taken from it and carried as prisoners
to Cuba. Representations Of these
facts were made to the Spanish Govern
ment as soon as Official Information
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 law; that he had
been reprimanded for the irregularity
of his conduct, and that the Spanish
authorities in Cuba would not sane
ton any act that could violate the
rights or treat with disrespect the SOW
ereiguty Of this nation.
The question of the seizure OF the
brig Mary Lowell, at one Of the Ba-
hama Islands, by the Spanish author
tiles. is now the subject Of cores
pondence between this Government
and those of Spain and Great Britain.
The Captain General of Cuba, about
MAY last, issued a proclamation au-
thorizing search TO be made Of vessels
on tho high seas. Immediate remon-
STRANGE was made against this, where
upon the Captain General issued
a new proclamation, limiting
the right Of search Of vessels of the
United States so far as authorized IN
der the treaty of 1895. This procla-
nation, however, was Immediately
Withdrawn: have always felt that
the most Intimate relations should be
cultivated between the Republic OF
the United States and all indepeu-
dent nations on this continent. 1t
NAV be we'll worth considering whether
the new treaties between the United
States and them may be not profit
ably entered into to secure
more intimate relations. friendly,
commercial and otherwise.
The subject of an oceanic
canal to connect the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans, through the 18th
mus Of Darien, is one which
commerce is greatly interested
in. Instructions have been given
to our Minister to the Republic
of the United States of Columbia to
enGeavor to obs2in authority for a
survey by this Government, in order
to determine the practicablllty CT
such an undertaking and a char
ter for the right Of way to
build by private enterprise such WORK
If the survey proves It TO be practI-
cable, in order to comply with the
agreement of the United States as to
a mixed commission at Lima for the
adjustment Of claims, it became
necessary to send q Commissioner
to Lima, in August last. No ap.
preparation having been made by
Congress for this purpose, 1t IS now
asked that one be made covering the
past and future expenses OF the Com
mission.
The good Office of the United
States to bring about a peace
between Spain and the South Ameri-
can Republics, with which she is at
war, having been accepted by Spain,
Peru and Chill, a Congress has been
invited to be held in Washington
during the present Winter.
A grant has been given to the Euro
peans of an exclusive right of transit
| over Nicaragua territory, to which
Costa RIGA has given its assent, which,
it is alleged, conflicts with the vested
rights of the citizens Of the United
States. The Department Of State has
now this subject under consideration.
The Minister of Peru having made
representation that there vas State
of war between Peru and Spain, and
that Spain was constructing, IN or
near New York, thirty gunboats,
which might be used By Spain In
such a way as to relieve the force at
Cuba, so as to operate against Peru,
orders we're given to prevent their de-
parture. No further steps having
| been taken by misrepresentation of the
Peruvian Government to prevent the
departure Of these vessels, and l, not
feeling authorized 20 detain the prop
orty Of a nation with which we are at
| peace. on a mere executive order, the
matter has been referred to the courts