The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-11

on he-Contuent. They believe that in due
time Spain, and other European powers will
find their interest in terminating those rcis
lions and establishing their present depend.
encits rs Independent powers, memoers OF
the family of nations These dependencies
are no longer regarded rs subject totransier
from one Europeanpowcr TO another' W hen
the present relations of colonies cease, they
are to become independent powers, eAercis,
inc the right of choice and oil sell control
in the determination of their future condi-
tons and relations with otherpowers. The
United States in order toput a stop to blood
shed in Cuba, and in the interest OF neigh
boring people, proposed their good offices
to bring the existing contest to a termina-
ton The offer not being accepted by Spain
on basis which we believe could be receiv.
cd by Cuba was withdrawn; il Is hoped that
the good offices of the United States may
yet prove advantageous for the settlement
Of this unhappy strife Meanwhile several
Illegal expeditions against Cuba have been
broken up.
1t has been the endeavor of the admins
tration. 10 execute the neutrality laws III
good faith, no matter how unpleasant the
task made so hy the suffering we have cndur-
cd from lack Of like good faith towards us
by other nations on The United States
THE SCHOONER llz.iE MAJOR.
was arrested on the high seas by Spanish
frigate and two passengers taken from II and
carried AS prisoners to Cuba Representa-
tons of these facts Were made to the Span
ish Government, a. soon "a official informa.
ton of them reached Washington. The
two paSSenCyrS were set At liberty, and the
Spanish Government assured the United
States, that tho captain of the frigate in
making tho capture had acted without law,
that he had been reprimanded for the irreg-
Ulariiy 81 bis conduct, and the Spanish au-
thoritsts in Cnha would not sanction any act
that could piolate the rights or treat with
disreSpcct the sovereignty of this nation.
BRIG MARY LOWELL.
The question Of the seizure of the brig
Mary Lowen, at one of the Bahama Islands,
hy Spanish authorities is more the subject
of correspondence between 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 remonstrance was made against
this, whereupon the Captain General issued
q new proclamation, limiting the right of
search of vessels belonging to the United
'bdttS, 81 HS oubuOiALCu uiuCl VIC tIcdty
of 1895 This proclamation, however, was
Immediately Withdrawn. have always
felt that the most intimate relations should
be cultivated between the republic of the
United States and all independent nations
on this continent 1t may be well worth
considering whether treaties between the
United States and them may be not profit
ably entered into to secure more Intimate
relations, friendly, commercial or otherwise
DARIES CANAL.
The subject Of the inter oceanic canal TO
connect the Atlantic and Pacific ocean
through the IsthInus of Daren is one in
which commerce is greatly interested. In
structions have been given to our minister
to the republic Of the United States Of Co
lombia, to endeavor to obtain authority for
a survey by the government in order to de-
termine the practicability Of such an under
taking and charter for the right of wsy to
build by private enterprise such work If
the survey proves it to be practicable. in
order to comply with the agreement of the
United States us to a mixed commission at
Lima for the adjustment OF claims, it be-
came necessary to send "A commissioner and
say to Lima in August last. No appropra-
tion having been made for this purpose, it is
now asked that one be made covering the
past and future expenses of the Commission.
SOUTH AMERICAN RELATIONS
The good offices Of the United States TO
bring about q peace between Spain and the
South American republics, with which she
is ut war, having been accepted by SPAIN
Peru and Chill, Congress has been invited
to be held in Washington during the pres
ent winter. A grant has been given to Euro.
peans of an exclusive right Of transit over
the territory of Nicaragua to which Costa
RIGA has given ito assent, which, it il alleged
conflicts with the vested rights OF citizens of
the United States. The Department of the
State has now this subject under considera-
tion,-the minister Of Peru having made
representations that there was state Of war
between Peru and Spain, and that Spain
was constructing in and near New York
thirty gunboats which might be used by
Spain in such way as to relieve the moral
force Of Cuba 80 as to operate against Peru,
orders were given to prevent their depar.
ture No further steps having :been taken
by the representative of the Peruvian gov
eminent to prevent the departure Of these
vessels and I not feeling authorized to re-
tain the property OF nation with which We
are at peace on mere executive order, the
matter has been referred to the courts to de-
eide The conduct of the war between the
allies and the Republic of Paraguay has
made the intercourse with that country so
difficult that it has been deemed advisable
to withdraw our representatives from there.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Near the close Of the last administration
Il convention was signed at London for the
settlement of oil outstanding claims DO.
tween Great Britain and the United States
which failed to receive the advice and con-
sent of the Senate TO its ratification at tb
time, and the circumstances attending ' I
negotiation Of the treaty were unfavor .,s
to its acceptance by the people of the Al