Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-22

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2l.-The President
to-day sent a brief message to the House Of
Representatives in response to resolution
offered by Gen. Banks, on the 9th inst,
requesting information in relation to the
execution of medical students at Havana
\ and the failure Of the Spanish Government
TO carry out in its West India colonies the
reforms promised by statesmen in Spain.
West Indian Emancipation.
The correspondence commences as far
back as Sept. Is, 1870. In November of
that year, Secretary Fish addressed United
States Minister Sickles letter in which the
latter was instructed to represent TO the
Spanish Government our strong desire to
have enforced the decree for the eniancipa-
:. ton Of slavery In the Spanish West India
colonies. Spain owed it to herself to fulfil
the just expectations of the civilized world
in this respect. She owes it to the United
States TO carry out in good faith her re-
peated pledge. g s>s
Minister Sickles to Secretary Fish, Jan.
10, 1871, says, he furnished the Minister of
the Colonies with copy Of the latter's note
respecting the question of slavery and po-
litical reform in Cuba and Porto Rico. The
Minister informed him that the law passed
! BY the Constituent Cortes on the 23d of
Jnne, 1870, hrs been fulfilled and obeyed In
all it's parts-in Cuba from The date Of its
publication, although the absence of regula-
| ti6ns for its execution makes It necessary
that what would have Otherwise been a
matter Of mere form, shat be made the
basis for regular forms providing for a clear
determination of each case. In order that
the execution of the law may suffer no OBJ
struetion, the Minister has determined q
basis to serve as starting point, and has
transmitted to them the provisions of the
law in order that definite regulations for
carrying out the decree in question may be
taken up without delay.
Secretary Fish, the 2sth of February last,
instructed Minister sickles TO continue to
urge the fulfllment of the emancipation de-
cree and other promised reforms.
The Murder Of the Medical Students.
Among the papers is letter from Vice
Consul Hall to Assistant Secretary Of State,
Davis, dated November %, giving ciIcum-
stantial account of the alleged desecration
of the grave of Castanon. the Key West
martyr, as he was held to be by persons of
the peninsular population. The students,
he said, did not break, but merely made
few scratches with a diamond upon the
glass plate that enclosed the niche, and re-
moved or destroyed wreath and replaced il
with one of their own selection. The gov
ernment was utterly powerless and thorough,
" intimidated by the volunteers, and was
finally obliged to compromise with them by
ordering drum-head court martial to try
the prisoners. 1t was found necessary to
prevent more serious conflict that some at
least of the young men should be sacrificed.
The court martial was composed ofthe usual
numbers of regular and volunteer officers.
1t convened at two O'Clock IN the morning,
and at noon the sentences were given out.
The execution took place at five in the af-
ternoon, up to which hour the volunteers
kept up their demonstrations before the
prison and the palace. Throughout the
whole of this affair the government dis
played its utter helplessness in dealing
with such emergencies. The regular
force at its command WAS insig-
nifcant, while that of the volunteers
was large, readily concentrated, and as in
this instance, when nearly unanimous of
purpose, oyerpowering. Hall concludes by
saying that during the comomtion great
alarm prevailed among Cubans and not
little among foreigners. There were well
founded apprehensions that general mas
sacres of Cubans, was intended, and to this
possibly may be attributed as one of the
motives for the compromising with yolun-
teers and the sacrifice of the young men.
Hence he sent the following telegram:
"Nov. 27.-Volunteer demonstration
against the authorities. The govern
ment powerless. Serious apprehension of
massacre every moment. A vessel of war
is advisable. HALL"
The Protection OF Americans
The Secretary of the Navy replies to that
part of the resolution calling for copies of
instructions to naval commanders of the
United States in Cuban waters for the pro-
lection of lives and property of American
citizens, and to maintain the dignity of the
American flag. The Secretary furnishes
the general and specific Instructions. The
first is to Rear Admiral Hoff, dated April 7,
1869, in which he says:
"Appeals are constantly made to you for
protection from persons, some of whom are
Justly entitled to it, while others have only
aclaim to your sympathy and friendly offices.
You must exercise your best judgment,
and discriminate in such cases. But all
citizens of the United States native born
or naturalized in Cuba, engaged in lawful
pursuits, respecting the laws of the coun-
try and taking no part in measures to over
throw the government, are entitled to your
protection as fully as you are able to ex-
tend it."
On MAY 6, 1869, the Secretary of the
Navy wrote Admiral Hoff that reports came
to the department through the press and
Of Aunorioan Uoscals hau-
ing been searched by Spanish men-of-war
in British waters and on the high road of
nations in the Gulf of Mexico. While the
United States Government wishes to OBJ
serve a strict neutrality in regard to the
difficulties now existing in the Island
of Cuba, they cannot consent that
our merchant vessels shall be mo-
Tested in their lawful pursuits, Or
they are found committing some violation
of Spanish authority. This they can only
do by landing arms and munition of war.
This is a subject on which the United States
has always been very sensitive, and on
which they went to war with Great Britain
in 1872. While you are in no way to inter
fere in the difficulty now existing in Cuba,
or to compromise the Government by tax
l0g part WIFI ClJllCl ~ Ia OO lOuA
duty to give full protection to American
citizens and American commerce, whenever
an opportunity occurs for you to do so. This
is the particular object for which naval
force is at this moment kept in Cuban
waters.
Our Attitude toward the Rebels.
In an order to Rear Admiral Poor, dated |
June 8, 1870. The Secretary of the Navy
says, among other things: at is desired
that you should keep some of your vessels
stationed on the north and south ends of
the Island of Cuba, or at such parts as the
so-called insurgents should convene at for
escape from the Island. While the Depart
ment does not desire that you should seek
opportunity to encourage these dis
tressed persons to seek protection
Of the United States flag, you will in no
case refuse to shelter on board Of the vessels
of your fleet, and when they are once under
the protection of the flag their persons and
property will be held sacred against the in
reference of the Spanish authorities. In
no case will you give up any person escap-
ing from the Island, except by authority
from this Department"
On March "a, 1870, the Secretary of the
NAVY instructed Rear Admiral Poor to pro-
ceed to Santiago de Cuba and inquire into
the treatment of the American vice-Consul