Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-09

interests of the United States for
babe them to interfere in European
questions Jointly with European
powers. I -ascertained,a informally
and unofficially, that the government
of North Germany was not then dis
posed to listen to such representa-
lions from any power, and though
earnestly wishing to see the bless
ings of peace restored to the bellig-
Grants, with all of whom the United
States are on terms of friendship, /
declined on the part of this govern
ment to take a step which could only
result in injury to our own true in
terests, without advancing the OBJ
iect for which our Intervention was
invoked. Should the, time ever
come when the action of the United
States can hasten the return of
peace by a single hour that action
will be heartily taken.
I deemed it prudent in view of
the number of persons of German
and French birth living in the
United States, to issue, soon after
the official notice Of a state of war
had been received from both bellfg-
Grants, a proclamation defining the
duties Of the United States as n
neutral country, and the obligations
of persons residing within their
territory to observe our laws and
the laws Of nations The first proc
lamation was followed by others,
as circumstances seemed to call for
them. The people, thus made ac-
quainted in advance with their
duties and obligations, have assist
ed in preventing all violations of
the neutrality of the United States.
SPAIN AND CUBA.
1t is not understood that the condi-
ton of the insurrection in Cuba has
materially changed since the close
of the last session of Congress. Tn
an early stage of the contest, the
authorities of Spain inaugurated a
system of arbitrary arrests, Of close
confinement, of military trial and
execution of prisoners suspected of
completely with the insurgents, and
summary embargo Of their proper
ties and requisition of their revcn-
ues by executive warrant. Such
proceedings so far rs they affected
the persons or property of citizens
of the United States, were in viola
ton of the provisions of the treaty
of 1895 between the United States
and Spain. Representations of in
juries resulting to several persons
claiming to be citizens Of the
United States by reason of such VIC
lations, were made to the Spanish
government, from April, 1869, to
June last. The Spanish Minister
at Washington had been clothed
with a limited power to aid in re.
dressing such wrongs. That power
was found to be withdrawn, in view,
as it was said, of the favorable stu
alton in which the island of Cuba
then was; which, however, did not
lead to a revocation or suspension
of the extraordinary and arbitrary
functions exercised by the Execu-
tive power in Cuba, and we were
obliged to make our complaint at
Madrid. In the negotiations thus
opened, and still pending, the
United States only claimed that, for
the future, the rights secured to
their citizens by treaty should be
respected in Cuba; and that, as to
the past, a joint tribunal should be
established in the United States,
with full jurisdiction over all such
claims. Before such an impartial
tribunal each claimant would be re-
quired to prove his case. On the
other hand, Spain would be at
liberty to traverse every material
fact; and thus complete equity
would be done. A case which at
one time threatened seriously to af-
feet the relations between the United
States and Spain has already been
disposed of in this way. The claim
of the Lloyd Aspinwall, for the
illegal seizure and detention of that
vessel, was referred to arbitration
by mutual consent, and has resulted
in a award to the United States, for
the owners of the same, Of $40, 7O2,-
so in gold. Another and long pend
ing claim of like nature, that Of the
whaleship Canada, has been dispos-
ed Of by friendly arbitration. Dur
ing the present year it was referred,
by the joint consent of Brazil and
the United States, to the decision of
Sir Edward Thornton, her Brittanic
Majesty's Minister at Washinton,
who kindly undertook the laborious
task of examining the voluminous
mass of correspondence and testi-
mony submitted by the two govern
and awarded to the United
States the sum Of lOO,7OO.O9 in
gold, which has since been paid by
the Imperial government. These
recent examples show that the mode
which the United States have pro-
posed to Spain for adjusting the
pending claims is just and feasible,
and that it may be agreed to by
either nation without dishonor. 1t
is to be hoped that this moderate
demand may be acceded to by Spain
without further delay should the
pending negotiations unfortunately
and unexpectedly be without result,
it will then become my duty to com
that fact to Congress, and
invite its action on the subject.
OUR RELATIONS WITH OTHER AMERI-
CAN REPUBLICS.
The long deferred peace confer
ence between Spain and the allied
South American republics, has been
inangurated in Washington, under
the auspices of the United States,
pursuant to the recommendation
in the resolution of the
House of Representatives, of. 1.-The
18th day Of December, 1865. The
Executive Department of tie Gov
crnment offered its friendly Offices
for the promotion of peace and har-