Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-23

CITY have no established seat of govern
menf they have no prize courts no or
eanization for receiving or collecting rev.
enue no seaport to which prize may be
carried, or through which access can be
had by foreign power to the limited in
terror territory and mountain Businesses
which they occupy. The existence Of
Legislature representing any popular
constituency il more than doubtful in its
uncertainty. There Is no probable evil
dence of an election ;of any delegated au-
thorities of any government outside the
limits of the camps occupied from day to
day by thc moving companies OF the IN
surgents. There II no commerce, no
trade, either internal or foreign no man.
ufactures. The late Commander Chief
of the insurgents, having recently come 10
the United States, publicly declared that
III commercial intercourse and trade
with the exterior world has been utterly
cut of, and he further added To-day We
have not 10000 arms in Cuba 1t is a
well-established principle of public law
that q recognition of . foreign state OF bel
hgerent rights to insurgents under circum.
stances such as now exist in Cuba, If not
JUSTIFIED by necessity, Is demonstration
Of moral support to the rebellion Such
necessity may hereafter arise but it has
not yet arisen nor Is its probability clearly
to be secc. If it be war between Spain
and Cuba and be recognized. it Is our
duty to provide for the consequences
which may ensue in the embarrassment of
our commerce and the interference with
our marine. fbelligerency be recognized,
the commercial marine of the United
States becomes liable TO search and seizure
-, L. - h~An
parties, and become subject to the sd-
Indication of prize courts. Our large
cOastwise trade between the Atlantic and
Gulf States, and between both and the
Isthmus Of Panama and the other States Of
OF our commercial marine, passes, of ne
cessity, slmcs. within sight OF the island
of Cuba. Under the treaty with Spain of
1895, as well as by the laws of nations
our vessels will be liable to visits on the
high seas. In case of belligerency the.
carrying Of contraband goods, which now
is lawful, becomes liable to risks or seizure
and condemnation. ~
"In view Of the gravity OF this cues
ton, have deemed it my duty to invite,
the attention of the law making power Of
the country to all the relations and bear
ings of the question in connection with
the declaration of neutrality and granting
of belligerent rights There is not q Ge,
faeto government in Cuba sufficient to ex-
ecute the laws, or to maintain the Just re-
lations with other nations. Spain has not
been able to suppress the opposition to
Spanish rule on the Island, nor to award
speedy justice to other nations, or to citi-
zens of other nations, when their rights
have been involved. There are serious
complications growing out of the seizure
of American vessels upon the high seas !;
executing American citizens without
proper trial, and confscating or embargo
ng the property of American citizens.
Solemn protests have. been made
against every intrusion of the rights
of citizens of the United
States, or our flag upon the high seas,
and all proper steps have been taken, and
are pressed for proper reparation of every
indignity complained Of The question Of
belligerency, however, which is to be de-
cided upon definite principles, and accord
ing to ascertained facts, is entirely differ
ent from and unconnected with the other
questions of the manner in which the
strife is carried on on both sides, and the
treatment Of our citizens entitled to our
protection. These questions concern our
own dignity and responsibility, and they
have been made, as have said, the sub
ject OF repeated communications with
Spain, and of protests and demands for
redress on our part. 1t is hoped that these
will not be disregarded I; but should they
be, these questions will he made the sub
ject Of further communication to Com
gress. U. 8. GRANT,
Executive Mansion, June Is, 1870"