The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-24

loot OF soil Dey0nd the reacn OF cPani'i
bayonets that was subject to SpanIst
rule. He referred to the order OF Gen
Dulce, under which eight American
vessels had already been overhauled
and some OF their crews taken out anc
shot. Why the United States govern
ment should concede to Spain the rlght
to insult the American flag on the high
way OF nations, and be afraid to say
that there was another party to the con
flict, was more than he could say. de
never knew belligerent without there
being another belligerent, unless the
other was running away, which was
not the case with the Cubans. lie hac
a list of eight peaceful, unarmed Amer
ican citizens who had been shot IN cole
blood in Cuba, protesting that they hac
never borne arms against Spain. liz
had also list OF nineteen American
citizens who were languishing in Cu6ar
prisons, cut off from all outside commu'
nication, in communication as they were
called; of twenty more who were also
in prison but not in communication
and OF twenty more whose property had
been confscated. In fact the Spanish
authorities had treated the American
name and American authority with the
most sovereign, unmitigated contempt
in the West Indies. He wanted to
show that Spain had some reason for
doing 80. He also had list OF 1879
Cubans, with names and residences
who had been seized and whose fate
was unknown, but who might safely be
set down as massacreed; Of l45 Cubans
condemned to die, but who were fortu'
nately out Of the reach Of the Spanish
authorities, and OF ~ men and women
who had been transported to the
penal colonies of Spain on the
coast of Africa and elsewhere,
and some Of whom were now laborng
on the chaingang. He referred also to
the massacre Of medical students IN
Cuba, charged, but falsely, with having
desecrated the grave Of Castawon, an
Oppressive tyrant. Further, he referred
to the last decree OF VaImaseda. which
he characterized as decree Of exterml-
nation, aud said that while Peru had
acknowledged the absolute Independence
of Cuba, and her belligerent rights had
been acknowledged by Chill, the United
States Of Columbia. Bolivia, and even
by poor, disorderly Mexico. The United
States was the only power recognizing
Tree institutions in all the western world
which had no kind word to say to the
struggling people of that doomed island.
Tue strongest, the treest country,
with all its boasted power,
hearing the dogs OF war rend.
ing the flesh and cracking the
bones of their victims was silent. 1t
WAS miserable spectacle; a most pitt
ful spectacle, aud what made it still
worse was that within three months
after the first gun was fired on Fort
Sumter Spain had recognized the bel
li-erent rights of the Southern Con-
re leracy.
Mr.. Garfield, chairman of the com.
mittee on Appropriations, expressed
the hope that the gentleman from
Indiana (Voorhees) would not antago-
nize the bill with Cuban affairs. What.
ever were the ,nerits of the Cuban con-
troversy this till was not part OF the
controversy excepting in the most re-
mote and indirect way. This was not
the proper moment TO increase our
complication with foreign nations.
The relations with Spain were
already delicate. 1t would be an un-
heard of calamity il trouble with Eng
land should result, breaking down that
treaty which was an honor to human
nature and which ought to be the
example in all future time, for all
nations, in settling their grave ditficul-
ties without war. He hoped the House
would be very slow to take any
measures in regard to Cuba, to Spain,
to Great Britain, or to any other nation
with which we are now at peace, TO
harrass and irritate and deepen the
angry feelings which already existed.
For these reasons he was sorry that his
friend from Indiana had thought proper
on this occasion to go in generally on
that question. He would have pre-
ferred that the House had followed still
further the wise example it had already
set, by attending to the legitimate bust
ness OF legislation aud leaving other
bodies to make winter business Of
politics.
Mr. Banks, chairman OF the commit.
tee on Foreign Relations, said he did
not anticipate any difficulty with Eng
land or with Spain, but be believed
that the best way to secure peace was
in the assertion Of our rights and the
preparation to defend them. He was
sure that the House would have an
opportunity OF discussing the relations
with Spain as legitimate and proper
measure where vote would follow dis
cussion, and for that reason he had not
introduced the question in consideration
of the pending bill. He had listened
to the gentleman from Indiana (Voor-
hees) with great pleasure, aud he
heartily concurred with most OF his
views, but if the House wanted to
break our relations with Span. il
,hould strike at the Minister to Spain,
not the Consul in Cuba, w&o had the
quasi displomatic functions. He would
say in behalf Of the committee on
Foreign Affairs that the House would
have an opportunity OF discussing these
questions at length, when the votes
would follow the deliberations, which
was exactly what was wanted. He
thought the gentleman from Indiana
was perfectly correct in making the
statement. Every member knew how
difficult it was to address the House,
and that he must take such opportunity
as presented themselves.
Debate being closed, Mr.. Holman