The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-07-11
WASHINGTON.

Congressional Committee completed its organ
Izatlon by making an executive committee
consisting of Senators Wilson, Rice, Cameron
Chandler and Sawyer and Representatives
made chairman of the Congressman, Mr. Platt
OF Virginia Secretary and Col. j. FL. Clenden-
ming Treasurer.
NOM NATION CONFIRMED.
The Senate in executive session to-day con
firmed the nomination of Noah Davis as
United States Attorney for the southern dis
trict of New York.
The prevalent opinion is that Murphy will
be confirmed by large majority on Monday.
THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT IN CUBA AND CIT1-
zENs OF THE UNITED STATES. 81
The President has sent to the Senate lot
OF documents concerning the seizure of Amer
lean vessels, and the imprisonment and execu-
ton OF citizens of the United States during the
hostilities in Cuba. The vessels are the Mary
Lowell, Lloyd Aspinwall, Champion and Liz
ze Major. The names of the citizen scondemn-
ed and executed without proper trial, are Chas
Speaakiman, Albert Wyeth, George Bodel, Sam,
Downey, Ivan Tianace Pontepance, Charles
PolhemuS and Earnest mccarthy.
EThe documents also contain list of twenty
one American persons aud firms, including
Danforth Knowles g. Co and Moses TAYLOR 81
Gated O., enlarged, and of thirty eight Amer
lean citizens who have been unlawfulIy i'm
prisoned. The Spanish Minister (Roberts) in
formed Secretary Fish that he had no authori-
ty to settle the cases except few which he
named, and subsequently defended the Span
ish decree forbidding alienation of property as
necessary under the circumstances, On the
9th of June, 1870, Secretary Fish, by direction
of the President, wrote to Mr.. Roberts, relat-
ing at somellength the circumstances and effect
OF MS Two previous protests by order of the
President against the determination proclama-
ton in April, 1869, and DeRodas' proclamation
forbidding the disposal of property in Cuba ex-
cept as the Spanish authorities should approve
He then cites the provisions of the treaty or
1875 between Spain and the United States,
and says 18th great regrets the Government of
the United States feels itself forced to say that
it is informed that the provisions of the seventh
article of the treaty of 1895 have not been
kept in mind by tie authorities in Cuba dur
ing the present struggle. 1t appears to the
President that the sweeping DEGREES of 1869
have been put in operation against the proper
ty Of citizens of the United States and IN vio-
lation OF the treaty agreement that such
property should not be subject to embargo or
detention for any public or private purpose
whatever. The Secretary further protests that
the proceedings against the property of cit
liens of the United States ha 7e not been by
order and under the authority of the
laws, but in the exercise of extraordinary
functions vested in the supreme author
ity of the island; aud that it has been
arbitrary, unusual and without the safe
guards to personal right of property
which ordinarily accompany legal proceeding
and which the seventh article Of the treaty
guarantee. 1t is understood that the citizens
of the United States whose property has been
thus taken .fOrcibly from them have not been
allowed to employ such advocates, solicitors,
notaries, agent and factors as they might Judge
proper On the contrary, as the government
was Informed, their properties had been taken
from them without notice and advocates,
notaries, solicitors, agents or factors had not
been allowed to interfere in their behalf
1t is further understood that the names OF
the parties whose property is thus embargoed
are from time to time published, and their
properties hereafter Immediately seized with
out an opportunity to them or their agents to
be present at any of the proceedings in regard
thereto, at the taking of the examination or
evidence. In many instances these proceed
lngs have been taken against the properties of
citizens of the United States, who were not at
the time at home and have not been during the
continuance Of the disturbances on the Island
of Cuba, nor within the jurisdiction of Spain.
1t is notorious that by going to Cuba after the
official denunciatiOn of their alleged conduct
they wonld subject themselves to arbitrary ar
rest, and possibly summary military trial, if
not tie violence of popular prejudices. The
undersigned has also received representations
from several citizens of the United States COM
planning OF arbitrary arrest and close incarcer-
alton without permission to communicate with
friends and advocates, solicitors, nOtaries,
agents and factors, as they might Judge prop
er. In some OF the cases the parties had been
released and in others they are understood to
be still in custody. In some cases also such
arrests had been followed by military trial
without an opportunity of access to advocates
or solicitors, or of communication with wit
nesses, and without those personal rights and
legal protection which they assuredly should
nave enjoyed Such summary trial, when end
ing in conviction, has been followed by sum-
mary punishment.
In reply to Secretary Fish Senior Roberts,
the Spanish Minister, AYERS that he had no
power to settle the alleged infractions; and
MIR. Fish wrote to Gen. Sickles, instructing
him to bring the whole subject to the notice of
the Spanish government, and to say that the
President hopes that immediate steps shall be
taken for the release of all citizens of the Unit
ed States held in custody in Cubl in violation
of the treaty of 49, or for their immediate trial
under guarantees and with the rights secured
by treaty. Gen. Sickes was also instructed
to ask for restoration to the citizens of the
United States their property so far as the same
have been arbitrarily enlarged in violation OF
the treaty.
The Secretary says you will also endeavor or
try to secure some mode for an early and
equitable indemnifcation aud satisfaction to
the several parties whose rights have been vio-
lated.
OF the amounts which should rightfully
come to each claimant for illegal detention O
property or person you will say that sugges
ton IS made in the interests of peace, justice
and good will in order to secure a measure o
damages in each case which shall be Just be
tween the two Governments.
CALIFORNIA.