Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-12-24

changed since the close Of the last session,
OF Congress. In an carly stage of the con.
test the authorities of Spain inaugurated
system Of arbitrary arrests, and close con.
finetnents, Of military trial and executions
of persons suspected Of completely with
insurgents, and of summary embargo of
their properties and requisitions Of their
revcuucs BY executive warrant Such
proceedings, % faf % they effect the persous
or property Of citisens Of the United States,
were in violation Of the provisions Of the
treaty Of 1885 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 course were made TO the Spanish
Government from April, 1863, to June
last. The Spanish Minister at Washington
has been clothed with limited power to
aid in redressing such wrongs; but this
power was found to be Withdrawn in view,
as it was said, of the revolutionary situation
in which the Island of Cuba then was,
which, however, did not lead to the sns-
pension of the extraordinary and arbitrary
functions exceeded by the executive power
Of Cuba, and we were obliged to make our
complaint at Madrid, and in the negotia-
tions thus opened and still pending there,
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, joint tribunal should
be established in the United States, with
full jurisdiction over all such claims before
such impartial tribunal. The claimants
would be required 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.
EXTRADITION TREATIES.
The policy referred to, it is presumed,
will engage your earnest attention. It is
the obvious interest, especially of neigh.
boring nations, to provide against injury to
those who may have committed high crimes
within their borders aud who may have
sought refuge abroad. For this purpose
extradition treaties have been concluded
with several of the Central American Re-
publics, and others are in progress.
THE VENEZUELAN CLAIMS.
The sense Of Congress is desired as early
as may be convenient on the proceedings
/ Of the Commission on the claims against
Venezuela, as communicated IN the mes
sage of March 4th 1869, aud March 1st,
1870, and March 3lst, 1870. 1t has not
been deemed advisable to distribute any of
the money which has been received from
that Government until Congress shall have
acted on the subject.
A CLAIM DISPOSED OF.
A case which at one time threatened
seriously to affect the relations between the
United States and Spain, has already been
disposed of. This was the claim of the
Lloyd Aspinwall for illegal seizure and de.
tentiou of that vessel. 1t vas referred to
arbitration by mutual consent, and has re-
suited in an award to the United States.
for the owners Of the seme, Of Sl9,7O2 in
gold. Another aud long pending claim of
like nature, that of the whale.shtp Cusada,
has been disposed Of by the friendly arbi-
tratiou during the present year. 1t was
referred by the joint consent Of Brasil and
the United States, and the action of Sir
Edward Thornton, Her Britanic Majesty's g.
Minister at Washington who definitely un.
dcrtook the laborious task of examining
the immense mass of correspondence aud
testimony submitted By the two Govern.
ments, and awarded to the United States
the sum Of 500, 200 % in gold, which has
since been paid BY the Imperial Govern.
ment. .. -.,-.
These recent examples show that the
mode which We hare proposed to Spain |
for adjusting the pending claims, is just
and equitable, and that it may be agreed to
by these nations without dishonor. It 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.
muuicate that fact to Congress, aud invite
its action on the subject. -.,lf
RELATIONS WITH THE SOUTH AMERICAN
.aa4 REPUBLICS. sa ai-e.e7
d The long-deferred Peace Conference be-
tween Spain and the allied South American
Republics has been inaugurated in Wash
ington, under the auspices of the United
States, pursuant to the. Recommendation
contained in the Resolution of the House
of Representatives Of the 7th of December,
1866. The Executive Department of the
government proffered its friendly Offices
for the promotion Of peace and harmony
between Soain aud the allied Republics
hesitations and obstacles occurred to the
acceptance Of the offer; ultimately, howev.
er, Conference was arranged, and was
opened in this city on the 29th Of October
last, at which Iauthorizsd the Secretary Of
State to preside. 1t was attended By the
Ministers Of Spain, Peru, Chill aud Equs.
dor. In consequence Of the absence Of
Representative from Bolivia, the Confer.
ence was adjourned until the attendance Of
. Pleuipotentiary from that Republic could
be secured, or other measures could be
adopted toward attaining its object.
The allied and other Republics of Span
ish origin on this continent may see 10 this