The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-12-08

CLAIMS AGAINST SPAIN GROWING OUT OF
CUBAN REVOLUTION.
Il is not understood that the condition
!, Of the nsurrection In Cuba has materially
changed since the close of the last ses-
sion of Congress. In an early stage of
! the contest, the authorities of Spain in
augurated system of arbitrary arrests
of close confinement, of military trial and
execution OF nersons suspected of COM
plicity with the insurgents, and Of sum
mary embargo of their properties and re.
QUESTION of their revenues by executive
warrant. Such proceedings, SO far as
they affected the persons or property OF
citizens of the United States, were in vio-
tion of the provisions of the treaty IF 1895,
between the United States and Spain.
From April, 1869, to June last, the Span
ish Minister at Washington had been
clothed with limited power to aid in
redressing such wrongs. That power
vas found to be withdrawn, in view, as it
was said, of the waverable situation in
which the island of Cuba then was,
which, however, did not lead to a revoca-
tion or suspension of the extraordinary
and arbitrary functions exercised by the
execu i've power in Cuba; and we were
Obliged 10 make our complaint in Madrid.
In the negotiations opened and still pend
| ing there, the United States only claimed
that for the future the rights secured to
their citizens by treaty should be respect
ed in Cuba; chat as to the past joint
| tribunal should be established in the
United States with full jurisdiction over
all such claims Before such an impair
4 Fiol ri al oh IL mt xvo1IA no
CURED to prove his case. On the other
hand, Spain would be at liberty to ira
verse every material fact, and thus COM
plete equity would be done. A case
/ which at one time threatened seriously to
affect the relations between the United
States and Spain has already been dispos
ed of, in this way. The claims of the
Col. Lloyd Aspinwall for the illegal seiz-
ure and detention of that vessel was re-
ferred to arbitration by mutual consent,
and has resulted in an award to the Uni
ted States for the owners of the same OF
nineteen thousand seven hundred and
TWO dollars and fifty cents in gold. An
other and long pending claim of like na-
ture of the whale ship Canada, has been
disposed of by friendly arbitration during
the present year. 1t was referred by the
joint consent of Brazil and the United
States, to the decision of Sir Edward
Thornton, Her Britanic Majesty's Minis
ter at Washington, who kindly under
takes the task of examining the volumin-
Gus m IS of correspondence and testimony
submitted by the two governments, and
awarded to the United States the sum of
$l00,7000 90 in gold, which has since been
1 .n,1 bu tba Immortal Thoso
recent examples show that the mode
which the United States have proposed
to Spain for adjusting the pending claims,
is just and feasible, and may be agreed t"
by either nation without dishonor. 1t is
to- be hoped that this moderate demand
may be acceeded to by Spain without
further delay. Should the pending ne
| gntiations unfortunately and unexpected
ly be without result, it will then become
my duty to communicate that fact To- Con
gress, and invite its action on the sub
jet
THE sPANIsH-AMERICAN PEACE CONFER
ENCE.
The long deferred peace conference be-
tween Spain and the allied South Ameri-
can Republics has been inaugurated in
Washington under the auspices of the
United States. Pursuant to the recon
mendation contained in the resolution of
| the House of Representatives Of the 18th
of December, 1866, the Executive Depart
ment OF the Government offered IT'S off
ces for the promotion of peace and har
Inony between Spain and the allied Re
publics .Hesitations and obstacles occur
ed to the acceptance of the offer Ultimate
| ly, however, u conference was arranged
and was opened in this city on the Goth of
October last, at which | authorized the
Secretary of State to preside 1t was at
tended by the ministers of Spain, Peru,
Chill and Ecuador, In consequence of
the absence of representative
| from Bolivia, the conference was
adiourned until the attendance of
plenipotentiary from that Republic could
| be secured or other measures could be
adopted towards comprising its object.
| The allied and other Republics of Span
| ish origin on this continent may see in
fact new proof of our sincere interest in
their welfare, of our desire to see them
blessed with good governments capsule Of
maintaining order and preserving their
respective territorial integrity, and of our
sincere wish to extend our own CONNER
cial and social relations with them.
The time is not far distant when, in the
natural course of events, European polit-
ical connection with this continent will
cease. Our policy should be shaped, in
view of this probability, 80 as to ally the
commercial interests of the Spanish
American states more closely to our own,
aud thus give the United States all the
preeminence and all the advantages
which Mr.. Monroe, Mr. Adams and Mr.
Clay contemplated when they proposed
to join the congress of Panama.