The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-26

endorsed the actlon OF tne CoulUhi'ee
on Foreign Affairs as the haCbinger OF a
wiser and grander policy. and hoped
that the time was coming when the
Government would afford the amplest
projections to its citizens in other lands,
which it had not done for many years
past. He charged that the Admlnlstra-
ton had been trying chow not to do
it," and al the same to avoid the respon.
sibilty, without exciting the Indignation
of the whole people. II the executive
had discharged its plain and manifest
duty in this matter, there would have
been no necessity for Congress to take
the step which was proposed, and DR..
Howard would to-day be free man.
Andrew johnson had been bad enongh
in allowing American citizens to lie IN
British jails, but it had remained for
President Grants Administration to
discover a new process by which an
American born citizen was transmitted
into Spanish convict by the apparent
throwing off OF American citizenship.
Mr.. Willard, a member of the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, opposed the
resolution and reminded the House OF
the grave importance of the subject.
He had no doubt that the Democratic
side Of the House was always ready and
eager to stretch the powers OF the gov.
ernment for naturalized citizens who had
gone abroad and rendered themselves
amenable to justice in other countries,
while, at the same time, when 1t came
to question OF protecting American
citizens at home from masked midnight
marauders the Democratic side OF the
House always held it to be unconsttl-
tional to interfere for their protection.
When members were found occupying
these opposite positions it was far
case Of suspicion that their seat was
rather a seat to make point against |
the Republican administration OF at'
fairs than to protect honestly the rights
OF American citizens. tie reminded
the House OF the history OF the very |
ferocious resolution adopted by the
House q few years ago touching the
French occupation Of Mexico, and OF
the explanation made 10y Secretary |
Seward to the effect that the House OF
Representatives was not, under the |
Constitution, the manager OF our iore'gn |
relations. So, in this case, he consld-
cred it as nothing short OF impertinence
for the House to declare what form the
policy of the Government should be
This resolution was virtually decIara'
ton OF war, for if the demand OF the
Government for the unconditional re-
lease OF DR.. Howard should be met
with peremptory refusal on the part OF
the Spanish Government, it would have
to be followed up by the strong arm OF
the United States Government.
Mr.. Bingham offered an amendment
70 Mr.. Banks resolution by adding in
effect, unless it shall appear to the Presi
dent that the treaty OF 1875 has been
fully complied with and DR.. Howard
has been convicted under the provisions
of that treaty. He said he respected
the equal rights OF native born and
naturalized citizens, but he also respected
the obligations o! the government.
He denied that an American citizen
cpuld, either by implication or inten'
ton, terminate his allegiance but con.
tended that he must perform some act Of
his own volition in order to sever his
allegiance. The laws required that g.
foreigner should declare his intention
before he could renounCe his allegiance.
He held that il was not the duty of the
House to inquire if Howard had been
.ried in accordance with the treaty, but
that the case was to be remanded to
the Executive to make that examlna-
ton. No American citizen could
claim immunity from crime In foreign
countries, but he desired that the
fullest protection should be afforded to
every one under the treaty Obligations.
Mr. VOORHEES, said every member ac-
knowledged that DR.. Howard was an
American citizen. For thirteen months
he had cried from prison that he was an
American itizen, which, at least, entl-
tied him to an answer from our govern.
ment. In his opinion, the foreign poll
CIV Of this government WAS the
most cowardly and pusiIIanlmon-
that had ever characterized any na,l>n.
Eight citizens OF the United State, had
been shot down in Cuba. One OF them,
boy from his own district, was shot
10 death while vainly appealing for
pro;ection as an American citizen
DR.. Ho.aris case was not the
only one. Forty others Of the same
kind were now in Cuba appealing for
protection. The character of Spanish
warfare was such as the whole civil zrd
world should interfere with. Dr., How
ard had only furnished medicine
10 assuaage the horrors OF war,
and for that he had been sentenced to
neual servtude. If he (Noorhees)
had power he would demand the return
of this man and in the event OF refu-al
would declare war. He had been in.
formed that the Secretary Of State
had family connections which would
prevent his making a proper demand
upon Spain; that some Of his family
were officially connec'ei with the Span
ish government.
Mr. Bingham made point that the
Secretary OF State could not be discussed
under the resolution.
Mr.. VOORHEES, replied that he got hi-
information from Republicans.
Mr.. Banks said the same statement
had before been made he:e aud hal
been refuted.
Mr.. Wool coroboratei Mr. Bank
statement.
Mr.. VOORHEES, said he did not know
that the Spanish men-of- war had enter
tanned so bold a project as to attempt
the release Of the thirty iron clais built
for the Spanish service 10 New York
bsrbor. II this was true he did not see
Il IL