Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-07-19
CUBAN AFFAIRS.

Secretary Fish's letter Of June 18th,
1870. to the Spanish Minister, Senior
Maurisio Lopez Roberts, published
with the documents OH Cuban affairs,
recently transmitted to Congress, gives
a condensed account Of the steps taken
by the United States Government to
protect American citizens against the
unlawful acts and DEGREES Of the Cuban
authorities. The illegal and arbitrary
manner in which the persons and prop
critics Of citizens of the United States
were treated may be judged by the
following acts: In April, 1869. Count
Valmaseda Issued Il proclamation de-
claring that every man, from the age
OF fifteen years and upward, found
away from his habitation, and not pro-
yiding a sufficient motive therefor,
would be shot. and that every unoccu-
pied habitation and every house not
flying white flag would be burned.
On April lst, 1869, a proclamation was
issued by the Captain General, Cabal-
lero De Rodas, forbidding the aliena-
ton of property on the island Of Cuba,
except with the revision and assent of
certain officials, and declaring null and
void all sales made without such revi-
sion and assent, Again. on April 18th,
1869, a decree was Issued creating an
administrative council for the custody
and management Of embargoed prop
erty, and ON April 2lst a circular was
published, extending the previous en-
barge to the property of all persons,
either within or without the Island Of
Cuba, who might take part in the In
surrection. On the issuing Of these
DEGREES, proclamations and cir
culars, Mr.. Fish conveyed to the
Spanish Minister the protest Of
President Grant against the manner in
which affairs We're being conducted In
Cuba, and asserting the rights Of Amer
lean citizens. Representations were
also made that the laws and DEGREES
promulgated in Cuba might possibly
lead to infractions of the treaties be-
tween Spain and the United States.
Attention was particularly invited to
the seventh article Of the Treaty Of
1875, which provided that the subjects
Of each of the contracting parties, their
vessels and effects should not be liable
to any embargo or detention on the
part Of the other, for any military ex-
petition or other public Or private
purpose whatever, and that In all cases
of seizure, detention or arrest for debts
contracted, or offences committed, the
same shall be made and prosecuted by
order and authority Of law, and only
according to the regular course Of pro-
ceedings usual in such cases, and that
advocates, solicitors or agents. may be
employed by the accused, and have
free access to the proceedings and to
the takings Of examinations. This
article Of the treaty, Mr.. Fish alleges,
has been violated, and furnishes proof
by a large mass Of documents, specify
ing the cases, the individuals and the
injuries inflicted. In q letter OF June
"A, 1870, to the U. s. Secretary Of State,
Senior Roberts, states that the powers
heretofore possessed BY him to inter
fere in cases Of the seizure Of American
citizens and their property have been
withdrawn by the Home Government.
In consequence Of this action of the
Regent Serrano, the negotiations for
the redress Of grievances must here
after be conducted at Madrid, and the
letters and documents have been trans
mitted to General Daniel E. Sickles,
the U. S. Minister, with instructions
to demand reparation from Spain.