The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-12-06

while we adhere to Our traditional neu-
trality in civil contests elsewhere, We can
not be Indifferent to the spread OF Amer
lean political ideas in great and highly
civilized country like France. We were
asked By the new government to use our
good office jointly with those of European
DoY.rs ia the interest of peace
Our answer was made that the
established policy and the true interest of
the United States forbade them to inter
fere in the European powers. ascertain
ed informally and unoficially that the
Government Of North Germany was not
then disposed to listen to such representa-
t1ons from any power, and though earnest
ly wishing to see the blessings of peace
restored to the belligerents, with all of
whom the United States are on terms of
friendship, declined On the part of this
Government to take Q step which
could only result in injury to our true in
terest. without advancing the object for
which cur intervention was invoked
Should tho time come when the action of
the United States can hasten the return of
peace by single hour that action will be
heartily taken. l deemed it prudent In
view Of the number of persons of German
and French birth living In the United
States to issue, soon after an official
notice of state Of war had
been received from both belligerents,
proclamation defining the duties of the
United States ss neutral power, and the
obligations OF persons residing within
their territory to observe their laws and
the laws Of nations. The proclamation
was followed by others, as circumstances
seemed to call for them. The people
were thus acquainted in advance of their
duties and obligations, and have assisted
in preventing violation Of the neutrality
of the United States.
CUBA AND SPAIN.
1t is not understood that the con-
dition of tho insurrection in Cuba
has materially changed since the close
of the last session of Congress. In
an early stage of the contest, the author
tiles Of Spain inaugursted system of ar
bitrary arrests, of close confinement, of
military trial and execution Of persons
suspected of completely with the insur-
gents, and of summary embargo Of their
property, and the reputation of
their revenues by executive warrant.
Such proceedings, Is far ~ they af
fected the persons or property Of citizens
Of the United States. were in violation of
the treaty of 1795, between the United
States and Spain. Representations Of in
juries resulting to several persons claim
ing to be citizens Of the United States. by
reason Of such violation, were made to the
Spanish government from April, 1869, to
June 80 last. The Spanish Minister at
Washington had been clothed with linn
tied power to aid in redressing such
wrongs. That power was found to be
withdrawn, in view, as it was said, of the
| unfavorable situation in which the Island
of Cuba then was which, however, did not
lead to prevention and suspension of the
extraordinary and farbitrary functions
exercised by the executive power IN
Cuba, and we were obliged
to make our complaint st Madrid. In the
negotiations then assumed and still pend
ing the United States only claimed that for
the future the right of citizens by
treaty should be respected in Cuba, and as
to the past JOIN. tribunal should be es-
tsblished in the United States, with full
jurisdiction over all such clains- Before
such an impartia. tribunal each claimant
would be required to prove their case
On the other hand, Spain would
be at liberty to traverse eve
~ material fact and then complete
equity would be done. A case which at
one time threatened seriously to effect the
relations between the United States and
Spain, has already been disposed of in this
way. The claims of the Lloyd Aspinxsll
for the illegal seizure and detention of
that vessel was referred to arbitrxtion by
mutual consent, and has resulted in the
award to the United States for the
owners OF the same of nineteen
thousand seven hundred and two dollars
and ffty cents in gold. Another and long
pending chain of like nature, that of the
whsleship Canada, has been disposed of
by friendly arbitration during the present
year 1t was referred to the joint con-
sent of Brazil and the United States, and
the decision of Sir Edward Thornton.
her Brittanic Hajesty's Minister At Wash
ington, who undertook the laborous task
of examining the voiuminous mass of
correspondence and testimony submitted
by the two governments, and awarded to
the United States the sum Of one hundred
thousand and seven hundred dollars and
nine cents in gold, which has since been
paid by the imperial government. These
recent examples show that the mode which
the Uuited States have proposed to Spain
for adjusting the pending claim. is just
and feasible, and that i. may
be agreed to by either nation
without dishonor. 1t is to be hoped that
this moderate demand may be acceded to
by Spain without further delay. Should
the pending negotiations unfortunately
and Unexpectedly be without result. it
will then become my duty TO communicate
that fact to Congress. and invite its action
on the subject
The long deferred peace conference
between spain and the allied South
American Republicans has been insugur-
atsd in Washington under the auspices Of
the United States, pursuant to the recon-
mendatlon contained in the resolution Of
the House Of Representatives of the 18th
Of December. 1855. The Executive De-
paYtment Of the Government offered its
friendly Offices for the pronotioa o: peace
and harmony between Spain and the a.
lied Republic. Hesitatioas and obsta
clss occurred TO the acceptance Of tho offer.
Ultimately, however. . conference was ~
hanged, and Wa opened IA this city on the
9eth Of October last, ss which I suthoFissd
the SECRETARY az atasa - preside II VS.
attended BY the Ministers Of Spain. Peru.
Chilli and Eequadoz. In Consequence Of
the absence Of . representative from Be-
livia, the conferences adioarnsd astl the
attendance Of . pleaipstsatiasy from that
Republic could Be secured. or ether meas
ures could be adopted toward composing
it, object. The allied md other Repub-
lies Of 6psnish sElgia O this continent
may 80 in this fact . new proof II yonr
sincere interest in their welfare. Of our de-