Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-28

pie and Immediate Reparafl0
Promised.
Correspondence of the New York Herald.
WASHINGTON, April 20-From infor
nation that reaches me to-day it woul
seem that the real views Of Secretar
Fish on the Cuban question have nc
been properly understood. The infor
, nation comes TO me from such sourc
as to leave no doubt Of its reliability
1t is briefly this: The moment Seno
Roberts, the Spanish minister in thi
country, obtained information leading
him to believe that hostile expedition
were being fitted out in certain of on
ports for the assistance of the Cubans
he sought an interview with Secretary
Fish, with 3 view to obtaining an ex'
PLANTATION. Secretary Fish granted the
minister formal interview, during which
Senior Roberts narrated all the particu.
lars within his knowledge as to the fiji
clustering preparations in this country,
and concluded by respectfully demand
ing that the United States government
should issue a proclamation, warning
American citizens from engaging in such
unlawful enterprises under certain pains
and penalties. Senior Roberts suggested
that the proclamation might be modelled
On that issued by President Fillmore in
1851, az the expeditions being fitted out
now are similar in character to those de-
nounced at that time by the American Ex>
ecutive. Senior Roberts stated that be was
about to prepare written statement that
would partake more of an official charac-
ter than a conversation, and when COM
pleted he would take occasion to present
1T to the Secretary of State with the ex~
pectation Of receiving formal written
answer. Secretary Fish listened very
attentively to the close of Senior Roberts
statement and then delivered his answer.
He opened by remarking that the hons
Orable Representative of Spain might
spare himself Of the trouble Of preparing
a written demand for the PRONUNCIATION
of an notwithstanding proclamation by
our government. As Secretary Of State
he felt himself authorized by all the
circumstances ofthe case TO decline then
and there, on the part of our government,
to advise the President of the United
States to issue any such proclamation.
In his opinion there was no similarity
between the condition Of affairs that led
TO the issuing of President Fillmore's
proclamation and the existing condition
Of affairs in Cuba At that time there
was no evidence Of internal dissension in
Cuba; the people Of that island were
not in arms against Spain, and the eff
forts TO stir up revolutionary contest
seemed to have their birth and susteS
nance in countries outside OF Cuba itself
Therefore it was proper to arrest the
departure ofaTmed bands from our shores
setting out with the aVowed object of
stirring up the fires CT revolution in the
possession of a country with which we
were on the most friendly terms. Now, |
however, the condition is almost entirely |
the reverse; the Cubans have not only |
originated themselves an armed resis-
lance TO Spanish rule, but they have Or
ganized working government and sus-
tanned themselves in the field |
against the power Of their former |
goversors. Under such circum-
stances the United States would not /
be justified in issuing proclamation of
the character required. 1t could not de-
men who voluntarily might go to
aid people struggling for their indie
pendence as Adventures for plumber and
This is substantially the answer
Of Mr. Fish to Senior Roberts. The
latter was very much surprised at its
character. He had anticipated the prob~
ability OF some diplomatic evasive re-
ply, and had not looked for so prompt
and pronounced a declaration of policy
10 the cause Of the Cubans. II is GUS
however, for trained diplomats
10 keep cool, swallow their wrath aud
retire with expressions of the most dis
iinguished esteem and consideration.
Senior Roberts was diplomat enough not
10 omit this part of his training, assuring
Secretary Fish OF his profound esteem,
etc. He begged to take his leave, declar-
ing again his intention TO make written /
demand on our government for an anti
proclamation. Accordingly |
Secretary Fish soon after received from
The Minister demand OF this kind, with
e request to answer. have information
that Secretary Fish's written answer
was sent to Senior Roberts yesterday,
and in it he simply declined to issue the
required proclamation on behalf Of our
government.
So much for this branch Of diplomatic
anent Cuba. Now for
another When information reached the
State Department regarding the seizure
Of the brig Mary Lowell, Secretary Fish
gave the matter due consideration, and
came to the conclusion that our claim in
that case was against Great Britain, not
agaiAst Spain, and a representation Of the
caae was accordingly made out and for
waTded to the British authorities. The
case Of the brig Lizzie Major was, how
ever, quite different. There the Span
isrds had committed an unmistakable
outrage against the American flag. Mr..
fish decided it was a case precisely simi>
lar TO the seizure Of Mason and Shdell
from the British steamer Trent. Thus
he requested Senior Roberts
10 call upon him, and at an interview on
the subject declared that the two pass
sengers seized from the brig must be sur
rendered. Senior Roberts replied that
the whole occurrence was TO be deplored,
that il had evidently sprung from some
and that undoubtedly the Just
demand Of the American government
would be complied with by the nation he
had the honor to represent. Secretary
Fish remarked that the President of the
United States would expect a prompt
as he regarded the national
honor involved. The President would
also expect that an indemnity should be
made for the damage sustained by the
prisoners and the vessel, and full re-
paTatiOn in every respect accorded.
Senior Roberts reiterated his assurance
the action Of the Spanish government
would be satisfactory, and no fear need
/ G entertained but full and complete in
demnity would be granted. lie would
communicate the wishes of The American
government 10 his own government and
Sand, also, Instructions % Gen. Duic in
CIba, and communicate the answer TO
the Secretary of State Without delay /
This was some days ago. Mr. Fish, find.
ing no answer coming to his demand, |
sent for Senior Roberts again and asked /
what answer he had received. Senior /
Roberts replied that he had not yet re |
ceiyed any reply from his government
Secretary Fish expressed surprise, and |
in diplomatic parlance told the Spaniel |
Minister that unless prompt redress |
should be accorded, cur government |
should have to regard the failure as