, 1870-06-25

itical system will be purified, invigorated,
and strengthened by bringing the whole
people into the Legislative halls through the
agents Of their own selection. We can
not doubt that the amendment is valuable
improvement in the art Of representative
government, and, if carefully studied and
properly appreciated, would encounter but
little opposition from Iberal-minded men.
SUMNER Oh CUBA.
Mr.. Sumner has presented in the Senate
a series Of resolutions, which affirm:
/. That the United States cannot hear
with Indifference the "reports Of barbara
ties" practised in Cuba As nobody is
responsible for I" reports' Of anything e1-
cept the " "reporters," this resolution does
not touch any international question.
| 2. That the United States protest against
"these outrageous barbarities.' and de-
nounce them. as contrary to the
laws of civilized warfare. The mere
"reports" in the first resolution be-
CAME " outrageous barbarities" in the
second. In other words, Mr.. Sumner con-
fesses, on the face Of his resolutions, that he
proposes to protest without knowing
whether the thing against which he is pro-
testing is an erroneous report,
or an outrageous barbarity. II
the United States should protest against
an outrageous barbarity where
there WAS only an erroneous report, per-
haps got up within the United STATES, We
should be protesting against the acts, very
likely, Of our own citizens, certainly not of
spain.
But, conceding that severe md wholesale
executions OF the, insurgent Cubans and
American fiibusters have been made, is
MI. Sumner prepared to Eay, as a lawyer,
that such executions, however frowned
upon by the more enlightened nations, are
"contrary to the laws Of civilized warfare?"
Did not the English in India, and again in
| Jamaica, order executions equally whole
sale? IN our own acts nf amnesty and for
gsvencss do VIC not. by the very act of remit
| ting the penalty, affirm that d crime has
been committed in resisting our govern
ment, for which, under our statute laws and
the laws of civilized nations, the death
penalty is legally due2 Dothe laws Of any
nation prescribe lighter penalty than
death for the crime of attempting to
overthrow lawful government? Do not
We ourselves, in remitting the penalty, con-
cede that it had been incurred, and that,
too, by hundreds of thousands Of the South
eru people. Does Er. Sumner deny that,
| according to the laws of all civilized nations,
rebels fonnd fighting against Spain, in
Cuba, and captured in the act, may be e1e.
| cuted2 The appeal to Spain must not be
! Oh the score Of Law, but of humanity alone.
| So far is the executions Of spaniards by
the rebels arc concerned, as We have no
| accredited representative to.the rebel gov
| ernment, how shall We send our protest?
| Shall va drop it into the Post Office, as the
good little boy deposited in the Post Office
his letter to Jesus, and received the desired
answer next day? Shall We send an Am
bassador secretly into dominions which we
publicly recognize as belonging only to
Spain? The protest can only be presented
against Spain, and her legal right to execute
her prisoners is undeniable, unless their
surrender is procured by granting terms
which are violated.
3, Mr.. Sumner next demands that slavery
be abolished by Spain in all her dominions
on 44is continent. What should we have
tbo1siht of sdemand" proposed in the
British Parliament, in 1861 that the United
6tates should abolish slavery. Whatever
might have been our indignation then
would be visited upon Mr.. Summers propo-
ntion now, Spain might, with equal pro-
priety, protest against the bringing of cool
les into Massachusetts. ...
4. He next asserts that the United
States g having once been colonists them
selves, believe the day of European sway
On this continent is gone.' Because we
were once colonies Of Great Britain ergo
we believe Spain has no Jurisdiction over
Cuba.
+. Mr.. Sumner proposes to assert that
tho United States sympathizes with
stthe people of Cuba in their ef-
forts to secure independence, when he
must know that at least rs many Of the
people of Cuba are fighting against inde-
pendence es for it. Mr.. Sumner adds be-
nevolenuy that wa sympathize with the
liberal party in Spain, who arc endeavor-
J ing to secure free government for that
| country, We believe that, on the over
throw Of Isabella, our government, through
j; it's Ministers, conveyed to the existing ad:
> | ministration in Spain the cong Grhtulationf
| of the United States to the Spanish people
= that they had got free:go7ernuent. W.
: doubt if anybody eoncurred in these con
3 cratulations more heartily than Mr. Sum
: ner. What has become Of their free gov
1 eminent? Can any exercise of popu1a
!. sovereignty be freer than the liberty t
4 choose either monarchy or q republic, a
= the Spanish people desire; and to take al
i, the tins they want to decide th
e question? The resolution would b
T. an insult to the present Spanisl
@ administration, and would be compli
n mentary only to the Republican f.ctio
$ in Spain, which, confessedly, has about D.
8 / much political strength as the trades
10 unions in this country.
70 G. Finally, Mr. Sumner wishes his pre
g posed screed, sent to the Government c
), Spain !" aul to the people of Cuba" Ho'
10 are we to send it to the s.people c
'e Cuba:' Have we any representative
.. I that Cou1Lf Az IL oAPo5AL4oA u AA"s .@@-
IL resolutions nre beneath comment, as y
d believe the Sonats in which they are o
n terred will deem them beneath notice.
u an international act, they are insulting
ID Spain in matters that in no way coacol
y Cuba charging that Spain has not
le FREQ government, when she has Cortt
ID elected by universal suffrage, and an OF
70 cutiye administration, whose resignation
g. ready whenever the cortes ask
10 As an act of aid to the Cuba
~ rebellion, the resolutions are te
n 1ate and too weak. A platform demandi1
It open recognition of the Cubans as beliee
n ents before the capture of their leaders, IL
If execution of Goicouria, the hight OF 90
# dan, the resignation Of cespeaes, and Il
N general collapse of the Cuban cause wou =
d have had some show of force. Now If n
u none.
ID @@- :?
Senator Wilson, very worthy and mob
:, nrsr Int not. necessari1y, 4 hlbtorla