The New York herald., 1870-04-11
WASHINGTON.
The Cuban Question in Spain Minister
Sickles and General Prlm--Consu.
lar Affairs in Paris - The
Cherokee Land Sales.

Cherokee Land Sales.
WASHINGTON, April TO- 1870.
Minister Scalss and General Prim-The Cuba
Question.
The latest 0ffic,a advces from Minister Sckles
predicted stormy time in Spain. General siokles
1t Is said, expressed the belief that events were
rapidly progressing to q crisis ana that some i'm
p0rtant movement either on the part OF prim or his
opponents must soon be made SENT official infor.
nation Is to the eject that in the midst OF all the
troubles lrlm and Sickles found time to talk about
Cuban affairs and the chances Of some agree
menr with the United States for the pur-
chase OF the sever faithful isle.n Prlm
Is said TO have bluatly told General sickIes
that the permanent subjugaton OF Cuba by Spain
was not considered probable, and that he himself
stood ready at any proper opportunity to come to
understanding with the United States. but that at
the present time while spain was troubled at home
by internal dissensions, and while the Cubans con-
tnued to defy pt ct arnis the power Of the mother
country the serious opening OF negotiations for the
purchase Of the island must be regarded as imprac-
cabls. This Is simply repetition OF the assurances
and declarations made by the Spanish authorities 10
General Sckies shortly after his arrival In Madrid
Consular Affairs la Paris.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has addressed a
cation from John Bigelow, formerly United States
Consul at Paris concerning the report of General
Starring relative 10 the lease by him Of certain pro-
perry for the use OF the consulate. and the transfer
thereof to his successor General Starring is the
agent OF the United States to examine consulate
anairs and Mr.. Bigelow complains that In the
formers report there Is most lou insinuation
against himself and Mr. Nicolay who was one OF
Mr. Bgei0w's successors at the Paris con-
sulate. The allegations and implications are
that while at Paris MIR. Bigeow took q long
lease OF al office for the consulate In the
name aud for account OF the government;
that In the course OF time the lease advanced In
value; that the city OF Paris having occasion ap-
propriate the premises for public purposes oom-
PEELED Mr. Nicolay to remove the consulate aud paid
one or both Of these $4,000 damages for the SIX or
eight unexpired years Of Mr. Blge0w's lease which
$4,000 one or both Of them put into their pockets
stead OF paying over to the government as General
Starring says they should have done. Mr. Bigeiow
says he did not suppose there any person in
United States consular service WHO would deiibe-
rately convict himself OF such gross ignorance OF
the laws relating to the installation Of consuls
as Is betrayed by General Starring The
consul at Paris Is, or at least was during
the period OF his cOnsulship. allowed
$500 year Tor 0nice rent. He took such an ONCE
as he pleased, where he pleased within the business
part OF the CITY, and payed what he pleased for IL,
but exclusively upon his own responsibility. The
government had no more concern with the con-
ditons OF his lease than with his debts to HIS tailor
or his butcher. II suitable accommodations could
be found for $500 year. very wen, II not, 1t WAS all
the same 10 the government The Consul had to
pay the difference out OF his own pocket. MI.
| Bigelow says
! When the trplicate system of invoices was intro
duced, IN 1S6263, the business OF the consulate
| so much increased that l found myself under the
necessity OF providing for 1t spacious quarters
was fortunate enough to ind very desirable apart
ments for the sum allowed by the government, but
years. Though knew should not remain SO long
In Parls though could not know whether the oca-
toa ! had % chosen , W. would suit my successor; or
the rent when was on the opposite side Of the At
| lan.ic and be compelled to look up tenant under
| great disadvantages took the lease with all its
RISKS ana transferred the consulate to No. 70 Rue
Richesu. When Mr.. Nicoay arrived | suggested
| 10 hun that he had better allow me 10 assign my
lease to him. as did not care TO be responsible for
the rent Of the Office after coasing TO occupy He
| occupied the p, emises, however, until they were
| appropriated to the public use. The city Of Paris
awarded me So, COO as indemnify Tor the Interrupt
| tiOn OF my lease.
! Secretary Boutwell, says 'Geperal Starrings re.
port Is ascensure upon the course pursued by Mr..
Biaelow ana Mr.. Nicolay which does not appear TO
be warranted by the iac,s set forth IN Mr. Bigeiows
letter." or these he prcsuIncs General starring was
| ignorant.
The Cherokee Land Safes.
The House Committee on Indian Affairs has MADE
| Il report OF the arguments on the subject OF the
Cherokee neutral lrnds OF Kansas, TO accompany the
bill reported, declaring all sales null ana void and
providing for the return OF money paid to any OH.
| Ger OF the United States, III pursuance OF any
assumed sales, it being asserted that the title Is In
the United States to said tract or to auy part of it,
james +. Joy, in his argument says:-''The bill
! =
S,ates assumes that the ancient treaties with the
Cherokees void that the recent treaties void;
assumes that the conveyances to me are void; cuts
| through all the securities which the railroad com.
| pany has gwen TO obtain the money; makes value.
less every dollar issued security upon the land.
! aud we have dealt with the United states in good
faith not only under these treaties, but under the
| law; have invited them TO build this road; have
! been seduccd 10 bud this road; and now this very
government is asked to declare every transaction AZ
utterly null and void, and the security have given
wholly worthless. This is the way we are treated IL
this bill passes.n W. r. Laughn, as the accredited
| delegate from the organization originally known as
the Cherokee Neutral Land League" afterwards
! changed to the Neutral Land Home Protection
| Corps" and also informally, but actually, repre-.
senting a. he does very large number OF settlers
not members OF that organization, says, In reply
The pretended purchase or the Cherokee neu.
tra land was not made Dy any railroad company y
but by James +. 10y; and IN the supplemental
treaty of June 49, 1865, not rne slightest intna'ioa
can be found that the purchase was made Dy or for
the benefit of railroad company law auth0riH-
ing a TO buy piece OF land does not authorize TO
buy IL. sale to flames i. JOY" Is not safe to 4
| .'rsiroad company' and Insist that the contract
which contained IN the supplemental treaty Is the
| only evidence that would be admitted III court as
10 who the purchaser was. and that assumed
conveyance OF the land from Joy 10 railroad com.
! papy can bring the original sale TO him within the
| scope Of that law. I the sale to JOY was valid he
ur pDy lnlph iln
thai OF his attempt 10 convey 1t TO the raiiroad com
pany {neaylr or qatie year, nave made ahy other
! uispo5Itlon OF IL he III and no person or
no c0mpdny coad have hndcied HIM. But tue set.
tiers on the Cherokee neutral lands nave full guar
sntee Tor iier protection IN the Grst section VI the
act Itself. which likes tue commencement of the
company's rights TO have tue lands withdrawn from
sale Dy the CnIted states and from homestead and
pre- .eniption settlement al the time when the uc
OF sa.d road ~ definitely settied, Section four OF