The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-09-11
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
Alleged Intercepted Letter from
Minister Roberts to Gen. De
~ EkOdsaS

-
Alleged Intercepted Letter from
Minister Roberts to Gen. De
Is0das
Especial to the Cincinnati Commercial.
NEW York, Aug. 3l.-The following in
tercepted letter from the Spanish Minister,
Roberts, to Gen. De Redas, has been for
warded to US by a prominent patriot 1t
came by the Missouri: q
LEGATION OF SPAIN,
Washington, Aug. %, 1869.
To Caballero De Rodas, Captain general
de Cuba:
Dear Sw-In reply to your c%ommunica-
ton of the 10th inst. relative TO the probable
future action of the Government Of the
United States, | can only answer you from
opinions formed by myself, after giving due
attention to the subject, by consulting with
gentlemen of reputed intimacy with the
Administration.
Respecting the gunboats ordered by our
Government, they are being pushed to
completion. Twelve of them will be ready
to receive the ornaments by the 10Th of
September, but, under surrounding cir
cumstances, I have advised the agent not
to purchase any ornaments for the present.
I am inclined to believe that if the vessels
were ready for the ornaments, and they
were shipped, it would give a new excuse
to the Administration to seize more firmly
upon the boats while the present standing
order for their attention is a mere formal
affair, or so considered by me. | think
that it would please the Administration if il
could have some more potent excuse for
holding them until Congress meets in
December. The shipment of American
seamen, even to take the boats into Gu.
ban waters, will necessarily have to be dis
pensed with, and other arrangements
made; but there will be time enough to
act in this case after | obtain more salts
factory information regarding the designs
of this Government.
As things stand at present, | note a
manifest change of opinion among mem
bers of the Cabinet of Gen. Grant. Sec
tary Fish is the most infexible of the Cab
met, still | fear that he respects our rights
more on account of the old question with
England than out of any respect for our
Government.
Respecting belligerent rights being gran.
ted to rebels I am 10th to believe 1t will
be conferred in haste. The press Of this
country is clamorous, and may yet succeed
in forcing the Administration into granting
belligerent rights to the rebels.
Our greatest fears are that the gunboat
release question will be delayed until Con.
gress assemblies, and that body, l must con-
TESS, will not be slow to indicate to Gen.
Grant that Cuban independence must be
acknowledged.
/ have repeatedly urged my Government
to forward at least fifteen thousand more
men to Cuba, and with the least possible de-
lay. Also have urged that a manifestation
should be made of a n inattention to forward
reinforcements which would dampen the
zeal of American sympathizers and decrease
the popularity here Of the insurrection.
If Gen. Prim possibly can, he will for.
ward six thousand men to you in October.
Consequently you will have to rely wholly
upon your present command for continuing
your supremacy until you Can be reinin-
forced.
Upon what you say regarding conduct
ing an expedition into the Central Depart
ment, with Trinidad or Nuevitas for an
objective point, I I'm unprepared to extend
you any counsel. 1t appears to me of
most vital interest that no seaport should be
allowed to fall into the hands of rebels, for
| am made aware of the ominous fact that
a number of commercial houses of both
New York and Boston are perfectly willing
and ready to supply shipping and goods
for the rebels when they shall have a port
Of entry.
The draft sent me for paying Delamater
& Co. was duely presented, paid, and the
amount accepted by the firm.
Respecting the next i%nstallment, it
should be paid according to contract, for
its non.payment may cause not only an
Eoyance, but unnecessary delay
When | receive further instructions and
advice, shall be prompt to communicate
to You.
Yours most respectfully, ROBERTS.
What Stokes Wants.
Especial to Chicago Tribune.]
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3l.-Besides removal
of Senter officers in Tennessee Stokes wants
the President to agree that in case Stokes
returns to Tennessee and assumes to be
Governor, and calls those who ran on the
ticket with him together as the Legislature,
the Administration would recognize them
rs the choice of the loyal voters, and, there
fore, the State Government, and in case of
trouble act on the call of Stokes, as Govern
or, and furnish military aid. The President
is decidedly opposed to the course of Stokes.
Gov. Senter aud the President.
Senter had an interview with the Presi.
dent, In New York, when the matter Of
calling the old Legislature to ratify the
fifteenth amendment was discussed. Sem
ter was of opinion that the new Legisla-
ture would eventually ratify it, and he
further assured the President that he had
favored it on the stump in all parts Of the
State. The understanding was, at the close
of the interview, that it would not be adj
visable to assemble the old Legislature on
account ofthe legal questions which would
arise regarding its right to sit.
Cuban BelligereDcy.
Especial to St. Louis Republican,
WASHINGTON, Sept. IA member ofthe
Cabinet remarked to-day that Cuba would
be independent in less than three months.
This remark, taken in connection with the
developments regarding the discussion of
Cuban matters at yesterdays session of the
Cabinet, is believed to mean that the Ad-
ministration contemplates the recognition
of che belligerency ofthe insurgents, which is
all that is asked by the latter's representa-.
tive in Washington. The President and
his Cabinet have undoubtedly postponed
action on the matter until there are
some outgivings of the relative strength of
the two contestants in Cuba; but unless
the Spanish arms meet with success, such
a recognition is regarded in official places
as a future certainty. Two or three promi-
nent Republicans have been urging that
course on the President for amonth or so.
Secretary Robson, accompanied by
Secretary Fish, called on the President
this morning to deliver@a sealed letter from
the SPANISH Regent. - - =.