The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1870-12-13


call for them. The people, thus ac-
qainted in advance of their duties and
obligations, have assisted in preventing
violations of the neutrality of the
Uuited States.
THE CUBAN INsRRECTIoN.
It is not understood that the condi-
ton of the insurrection of Cuba has
materially changed since the close of
the last session Of Congress. In an
early stage of the contest, the authori-
ties of Spain inaugurated system of
arbitrary arrests, of close confinement,
of military trial and execution of per-
sons suspected of completely with the
insurgents, and of summary embargo
Of their properties and acquisitions of
their revenues by executive warrant.
Such proceedings, as far as they affected
the persons or property of citizens of
the United States, were in violation of
the treaty of 1895, between the United
States and Spain. Representations of
injuries resulting to several persons
claiming to be citizens of the United
States, by reason of such violations,
were made to the Spanish government.
From April, 1869. to June last, the
Spanish Minister at Washington had
been clothed with limited power to
aid in redressing such wrongs. That
power was found to be Withdrawn, in
view, as it was said, of the favorable
situation in which the island of Cuba
then was, which however, did not lead
to revolution or suspension of the ex-
traordinary and arbitrary functions
exercised by the executive power in
Cuba; and we were obliged to make
our complaint at Madrid. In the ne
gotiations thus opened, and still pend
ing there, the United States only claim
ed that for the future the rights secur-
ed to their citizons by treaty should be
respected in Cuba, and that as TO the
past joint tribunal should be estab-
lished in the United States, with full
jurisdiction over all such claims. Be-
fore such an impartia! tribunal each
claimant would be required to prove
his case. On the other hand, Spain
would be at liberty to traverse every
materal fact. and thus complete equity
would be done.
SUCCESSFUL ARBITRATION.
A case which at one time threatened
seriously to affect the relations be-
tween the United States and Spain has
already been deposed Of in this way
The claim of Col. Lloyd Aspinwall, fol
the illegal seizure and detention of his
vessel, was referred to arbitration by
mutual consent, and has resulted in
an award to the United States for the
owner of the sum of nineteen thousand
seven hundred and two dollars and fif
ty cents in gold. Another and long
pending claim of like nature-that o
the whale-ship Canada-has been dis
posed of by friendly arbitration during
the present year. 1t was referred, by
the joint consent of BRAZIL and thu
United States, to the decision Of Sil
Edward Thornton, Her Britanni,
Majesty's minister at Washington, whit
kindly undertook the laborious tasl
of examining the voluminous mass o
correspondence and testimony submit
Ted by the two governments, and al
lowing to the United States the sum o
one hundred thousand seven hundred
and forty dollars and nine cents il
gold, which has since been paid by tn
] Imperial Government. These recen
examples show that the mode whicl
; the United States have proposed t
: Spain for adjusting the pending claim
is Just and feasible, and that it may b
agreed to by either nation without di'
honor. 1t is to be hoped that this mod
crate demand may be acceded to b
Spain without further delay. Shoul
the pending negotiations untortunatel
and unexpectedly be without result,
will then become my duty to commu
nicate that fact to Congress and invit
its action on the subject.
THE PEACE CONFERENCES.
The long-defered peace conferene
between Spain and the allied Sout
American Republic has been inaugI
rated i'll Washington under the al
spices of tine United States. Pursuar
to the recommendation contained j
the resolution of the House Of Repr'
sentatives of the 18th of Decembe
1866, the Executive Department of tn
,, Government offered its friendly Office
: 9 for the promotion of peace and harm'
! ny between Spain and the allied II
: publics. Hesitations and obstacles o.
Cured to the acceptance of the offe
, Ultimately, however, conference WI
arranged, and was opened in this cit
3 on the 29th of October last, at whic
e ] authorized the Secretary of Sta
! to preside. 1t was attended by Il
= Ministers of Spain, Peru, Chilli an
!. Ecuador. In consequence of the a
: sence of representative from Bolivi
the conference was adjourned until Il
attendance of a plenipotentiary fro
that Republic could be secured, or OF
. er measures could be adopted towar'
comprising its object. The allied al
other Republics of Spanish origin {
e this continent may see in this fact
d new proof of our sincere interest
d their welfare, our desire to see the
J. blessed with good governments, cap
2 BILE of maintaining order and preser