The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-05
WASHINGTON.

ter,s office is still engaged in making in.
qulfics 10 answer the questions lately
asked by the counsel for the defendants
In the Tichbornc case. Tho Osprey, OF
Boston, has been clearly traced to Austria
lia In 1854. 1t has not yet been ascer.
taincd whether she rescued any passen.
gers from the Bella, but the Osprey her.
selfwas lost on her return from Australia,
with seventy or eighty passengers on
board. Some days must elapse before
the counsel receives an official reply 10
their inquiries.
The Indian Bureau having today re-
ccivcd information that the Grand Duke
Alexis had agreed TO participate in the
buffalo hunt proposed by Gen. Sheridan,
orders were at once issued TO the proper
Indian agents to take steps to secure the
presence of Spotted Tail and other famous
chiefs on the occasion of the hunt.
The Civil Service Board was organized
to-day by the selection OF Geo. w. Cur.
It's as President, and NJ. d. Connolly, of
Philadelphia, as Clerk. Messrs. Medill,
Walker and Cottelle are still absent
The Board is now ready to commence
work, and will hold daily sessions.
A statement made up by the Post
Office Department shows that the postal
service was placed on 3,1S5 miles of new
railroads during the SIX months from
July 1st, 1871, to January 1st, 1872. The
total number OF miles of new railroad
service ordered during the fiscal year
ending June 3Oth, 1871, was G,1O7 miles.
Frank AIcGraw, one OF the parties
charged with the larcency Of the treaty
seals from the State Department, today
plead guilty 10 petty larceny by consent,
and was sentenced to pay $500 dollars or
be imprisoned three months.
General Sicklcs called at the Depart.
ment OF State to-day and was engaged
with Secretary Fish for several hours on
the subject Of Spanish and Cuban affairs.
He will leave Washington tomorrow and
spend Saturday with President Grant in
Philadelphia and return to Washington
carly next week. Toward the last of the
week he will take passage for Madrid.
From sources altogether reliable it Is
ascertained that the administration has
not, as has been stated, changed its policy
on the Cuban question. but will continue
according to the principles heretofore de.
clared, namely, that while it will observe
strict neutrality in regard TO the difficult
ties now existing on the Island of Cuba,
it cannot consent that our merchant YES
sells shall be molested in their lawful pur-
suits, or oVerhauled and examined, unless
they are found committing some violation
Of Spanish authority.
In accordance with this policy, ourgov-
ernment has protested against the action
Of the Spanish naval officer in boarding
and searching the Florida on the high
seas, and has required the Spanish Gov.
crnment, first, TO apologize; second, to
disAVow the act of the officer; third, to
punish him; and, fourth, TO pay the dam.
ages. That the Spanish Government
will meet these requirments is not doubt
ed. In regard 10 the Hornet there will
be no difficulty, as the Congress has been
dispatched to Port MI Prince to convey
her TO America. If II Spanish Minister
alleges she has committed breach OF
our neutrality, she will be amened TO our
laws, and not to those Of Spain, while il is
true that Sagasta, who is at tae head of
the Spanish Ministry, is known 10 be hos.
tile to the United States, and 1t is also
known that he has no power 10 do harm,
as his party in the Cortes is in minority,
and would therefore outvote him on any
policy unfriendly to this country. 1t is a
matter OF official record, that about seven
months ago Gen. sickles, in a converse
tion with distinguished Spanish General,
whose official employment afforded ample
means of accurate information, was in
formed that more than $4O00OOOO had
been expended for military purposes dur
ing the year then passed in Cuba. He
did not state whether or not this large
sum included any portion OF the amounts
disbursed for the fleet Of gunboats against
the insurgents. Reports of the most cruel
severities against prisoners of war and
against non.combatants, perpetrated by
both parties, continued to reach Madrid.
1t it known that in the course of the
struggle in Cuba the rights Of American
citizens were affected by the steps taken
by the Spanish authorities 10 crush the
insurrCction. 1t being found inconvenient
to refer all such cases 10 Madrid, the
Spanish Minister was authorized to
settle by agreement with the Captain
General of Cuba without consulting the
Spanish government on the questions
arising with this government or It's cih.
zens from circumstances through which
the Island of Cuba was passing, except in
cases of disagreement with superior au.
thority, or in case OF such guaranty that
in the judgment OF Roberts it might re-
Quire previous consultation with the
government. The questions we're thus
9nicably adjusted till the powers were
withdrawn by the government at Madrid,
in view, as it was officially asserted,
of the favorable situation in which the
Island there wasia. The favorable situa.
ton was supposed by our Government to
be the extension OF organized armed re.
sistance TO Spanish authority in Cuba,
and the withdrawal, Of the power of
Roberts without notice 10 the United
States was regarded as an unlriendly act
on the part Of Spain. 1t was after this
that Gen. Sickles wrote his letter to the
Department of State announcing, among
other things, the successes Of the insur.
gents over the Spanish troops.