The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-12-05

that residence in foreign land with
out intent to return, shall of itself
work expstriation; we have agreed,
in some instances, upon the length
of time necessary for such intent
1 invite Congress now to make out
and define how and when expatria-
ton can be accomplished; to regu
late by law the condition Of Ameri
can women marrying foreigners; to
fx-the status of children born in
foreign county of American parents
residing more or less permantly
abroad; and to make rules for deter
mining such other kindred points as
may seem best to Congress. In com
plience with the request of Congress
transmitted to the American Min
lister at Madrid, with instruction TO
present it to the Spanish Govern
ment, the joint resolutions approved
on the third of March last, tender
ing to the people of Spain in the
name and on behalf ofthe American
people, the congratulations of Con-
gress upon their efforts to consoi-
date in Spain the principles of uni
versal liberty in q Republican form
of Government, The existence of
this new Republic was inaugurated
| by striking the fetters from the slave.
In Porto Rico this beneficial meas
ures was followed by the release Of
several thousand persons illegally
| sold as slaves. In Cuba next the
Captain General of that colony was
deprived of the power to set aside
The orders Of his superiors at Mad
rid, which had pertained to the of
flee since 1925, the sequestered es-
tate of American citizens, which
had been the cause Of long and fre-
quent correspondence, were ordered
to be restored to their owners. All
these liberal steps were taken in the
face of violent opposition, directed
by the reactionary Shareholders of
Havana, who are vainly striving to
stay the march of ideas which have
terminated slavery in Christendom,
Cdba excepted.
| Unhappily, however, this baneful
influence has thus far succeeded in
defeating the efforts of all the liberal
minded men in Spain to abolish
slavery in Cuba, and in preventing
the promised reform in that Island.
The struggle for political supremacy
continues; the pro-slavery aristocra-
cy in Cuba is gradually Arranging
itself in more and more open hostil-
ity and defence of the home govern
ment, while it still maintains politi-
cal connection with the Republic in
the Peninsula, and although usurp-
| ing, is defying the authority of the
home government. Whenever such
usuTpation or defence tends in the
direction of oppression or of the
maintenance of abuse, it is still
power in Madrid and recognized by
the government.
Thus an element more dangerous
to the continued colonial relation be-
tween Cuba and Spain than that
which inspired the insurreetion at
Yara-an element opposed TO grant
ing any relief from misrule and abuse
with no aspirations after freedom;
commanding no sympathies in gen
erous breasts; aiming to rivet still
stronger the shackles of slavery and
oppression, has seized many of the
emblems of power in Cuba, and with
professions of loyalty to the mother
country, is exhausting the resources
Of the Island and is doing acts which
are at variance with those principles
of justice, of liberty and of right
which gives nobility of character to a
republic.
In the interests of humanity. ofl
civilization and of progress, it is to |
be hoped that this evil influence NAV
be soon averted. The steamer Vir-
ginius was, on the Goth day of Sep
tember, 1870, duly registered at the |
port of New York as a part of the
commercial marine of the United |
States. On the 4th of October, 1870.
haYing received the certificate other
register in the usual form, she sailed
from New York, and has not since
been within the territorial iurisdic
ton of the United States. On the
3lst day of October last, while sail
ing under the flag of the Unitedl
States, on the high seas, she was
forcibly seized by the Spanish gun
boat Tornado, and was carried into
the port of Santiago de Cuba, where
many Of her passengers and crew
were inhumanly, and 80 far at least
as relates to those who were citizens
of the United States, without due
process of law, put to death. Itis a
well established principle asserted
by the United States from the BEGIN
ing of their national independence.
recognized by Great Britten and
other maritime powers, and stated by
the Senate by a resolution passed
unanimously on the 10th of June.
1858, that American vessels on the
high seas in time of peace bearing
the American flag, remain under the
Jurisdiction of the country to which
they belong, and therefore visitation. (
molestation or detention ofsuch yes. (
sci by force on the part of foreign
power is in derogation of the sover-
eighty Of the United States. In &C
with this principle the re- ,
,toration of the Virginius, and the {
Of the survivors of her J
and crew, and a due re- 6
1aration to the flag, and the punish t
nent ofthe authorities who had been ]
guilty of the illegal acts Of violence {
we're demanded. The Spanish Gov /
has recognized the Justice S
# the demand, and has arranged for I
he immediate delivery fthe vessel. L
md for the surrender of the sarvi- t
-ors of the passengers and crew, and g
or salute to the flag, and for pro- e
eedings looking to the punishment p
f those who may be proved to have s
zen guilty ofillegal acts of violence Il
owards citizens of the United States o
nd also towards indemnifying those tt
rho may be shown to be entitled to d
A copy of a protocaI of a n
difference between the Secretary Of p
tate and the Spanish Minister. in IL
-hich the terms Of this arrangement Il
-ere agreed to, is transmitted here o
-ith. As the correspondence on N
his subject with the legation of the VI
'nited States is in cipher and bv "