Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-06-16

the TACT that IL became applicable IN the
new republic as well as tc the mother
country. 1t then devolyes upon US 10 ue-
termine the great question
at what time and under what circum-
stances to recognize new power as enti-
tied to place among the family of ma
tons, as well as the preliminary question
of the attitude to be observed oy this
government towards the insurrectionary
party pending the contest. Mr.. Monroe
cencisely expressed the rule which has
controlled the action OF this Govern
ment with reference TO Z county pend
ing its struggle by saying, that as soon
as the government assumed such q steaQy
and consistent form as to make The sue
cess of the province probable, the rig hts
TO which they were entitled by the laws
of nations as equal parties to civil war
be extended to them. The spirit OF ad-
herence to this rule of public policy has
been one of the highest honors of Ameri-
can craftsmanship, and has secured to
this Government the confidence OF the
feeble powers of this continent. and
which induced them to rely upon its
friendship in the absence of all signs OF
conquest, and to look TO the United
States for example and moral protection.
1t has given to this Government a posi-
ton of permanence and of Influence
which it should not abdicate, but which
imposes upon it the most delicate duties
of right and honor regarding the Ameri-
can question, whether those questions
affect emancipated colonies or colonies
still subject to European dominion.
The question of belligerency is one of
fact, not to be decided by sympathies
for, or prejudices against, either party.
The relations between the present state
of the insurgents must amount in fact
to war in the eyes of International law.
Fighting, though fierce and protracted,
does not alone constitute war. There
must be military forces, acting in accord
ance with the recognized rules aud Gus
toms OF war, flags of truce, caTteis, eX-
change of prisoners, &C., &c, and to
justify a recognition of beliigerency
there must be above all de fdcto politi-
cal organization of the insurgents suffi-
cient in character and resources TO con-
stitute, if left to itself, a State among
the nations capable of discharging the
duties of State, and meeting its just
sponsiuilities. 1t may incur as such
toward other powers in the discharge OF
its national duties.
Applying the best information which
L have been able to gather, whether
from official or unofficial sources, in
Guiding very exaggerated statements
which each party gives to all that may
prejudice the opposite or give credit to
its own side of the question, am unable
to see in the present condition OF the
contest in Cuba those elements which
are requisite to constitute war in the
sense of international law The insur-
gents hold no town or city, have no es-
tablished seat ofGovernment, they have
no prize Courts, no organization for re-
ceiving or collecting revenue, no seaport
to which a prize may be carried, or
through which access can be had by a
foreign power to the limited interior
territory or mountain fastness. which
they occupy. The existence of Legis-
lature representing any popular consti-
tuency is more than doubtful in its un-
certainty. There is no probable evidence
of an election OF any delegates or author
tiles of any Government outside the
limits ofthe camps occupied from day to
day by moving companies ofinsurgents.
There is no commerce, no trade, either
internal or foreign, no manufactures.
The late Commander-in-Ch of insur-
gents having recently come TO the Uni
ted States, publicly declared that all
commercial intercourse o. t:ade with
the interior world had been utterly cut
off, and he further added, "ro-day we
have not Ten thousand arms in Cuba. ,,