Connecticut western news., 1873-12-12
Contributed from first page.

oontin,sed from first page.
 -TLe exlstenoe or tuls new republic was in. aueuraJed by striking tue feGters from the slaves Tn Porto Rico. This beneticient measule saud persons. illegally heid as slaves in Cuia. Next the Captain 'Geueral of that colony vas depaved of the power to set aside the 0rdels of nus superlors aE Madrld wUlch had pertain ed 10 the uftice sInee 1925. The seaues,eruu estates Of American citizens, which nau been lbe cause Of long aud frequent correspondence, All these liberal steps were taken in tue face of violent opposition directed by the reaction ary shareholders of Havana, who are vdlnly stIivIug Eo stay the march Of ideas which has termlnared slavery in CnristendOm, Cuba only excepted.
 Unhappiy, however, this baneful influence nas Lhus far succeeded m delea,lng the efforts of all liberal mlnded men in Spaln to abolish slavery ln Cuba, and ln preventing he prom ased reform Ill that island. The struggle for political supremacy continues the proslavery and aristocratio party in CuD3 IS gradually arraIGnlnR itself in more ana more open nos 1llIty and defiance of the home government. while It stlll maintains political connection with the republic ln the penlnSula; and al though usurplug and defyine the authority Of lhe nome government wherever sucn usuFpa- tiOn or defiance tends i'll she direction or op' Dresslou or of he maintenance of abuses. 1t Is stlli power in Madrid and reoognlzeu oF lhe government. , = - tinued colonial relations between Cuba and Epaln Lnau that wnlcn lnspireo the lhsurfel- CIon at Yara. an element opposou IO shanIin apv rehef from miSruc aud abuse, WlIn no &s' piratlous after freedom, commanding no syln- pathirs ill generous breasts, almlnK 10 clret still stronger tue snacRles or slaVery ana op, pression, has selzed many ot the emDiems or power m Cuba. aud, under profess1oaS or lOV- alty to the mother country, IS exDaustiDR tDe resources of tue lsiaDd ana is doing acts which are at variance with those prlDelples Of justice. of llberaiiLy aud Of right which give noblIlLy Of character to a republic. ,,..
 In Llle IntereSts Of humanity, oI oiEuldLiou 6P nru influence may soon be averieo'
 THE vIRclNlus
 The steamer Virgintus was. on the 2eth day EaT ls sny at the port rIGe of the U. &. On the 4th of October, 1870 having received the certificate of her register port of New York. and has not since been with. in the territorial jurisdiction of the United sIates. On the 31st day of October last, while the high seas, she was forcihiy selzed by the Spanish Runooat Tornado. and was carried into the port of Santiago de Cuba, where mauy ana. SO far at least as relatea to those who were citlzens of United States. were without due process of law put to death.
 It is weil-estabfished principle, asserted by the United States from the beginnlng ot their national independence, recognized by stated hV the Seuate n Q resolution passed unanimously on the 18th of June 1856 that Ameftoau vessels Op the high seas Ill time of peace bearing the American flag remain under fbe jurisdiction of the country to which they belong, and therefore any visitation, molesta- non or detent'on of such vessel by force, or by the exhibition of force. on the part of foreign power IS in derogatlon of the sovereignty of the United States.
 atlon ot tue Virg1nius and the surrender of the survivors of her passengers and crew, and due repnration to the flag, and the puplsh- ment of the authorities who had been guilty YlOienHA Ihe spanish governments has recoenized the justice or the demand. and has arranged for Inc immediate delivery of the vessel and for the surrender of the survly0rs of the passen- gers and crew, and for salute to the flag. and for proceedings looking to the punishment Of those who may be proved to have been guilty of illegal acts of violence towards cltlZens of IEe UDited States, and also towards indemnity ing those who may be shown to be entitled to
 copy of a portocol of a conference between the Seer etary 0! State and the Spanish Mlnis- Ter ID which the terms of tbts arrangement were agreed to is transmitted herewith Tae correspondence on this subject with legation of the United States in cipher and by cable snd needs the verlfcation oi the actual text of The correspondence, It has seemed to me to be que to the importance of the case not to submit this correspondence until the accu- reeted shortly and will be submitted when re- ceived.
 In taking leave of this subject for the pres victlon that the existence of African slavery Tn Cuba is principal cause Of the lamentaDle condition of the island. do not doubt that soon be made to disappear, and that peace and prosperity may follow It's abolition.
 The enbsrguing Of American estates in Cuba, cruelty 10 American citizens detected Tn no act of hostsl1ty TO the Spanish govern ment. the murdering of prisoners taken with nnn nrns m n sne,r nsnos. ana nnaily tne capture tue Uuited States flag and bearing United States registry has culminated in an outburst of Inoignarlon that has seemed for time to threaten war.
 Pending negotiations between the United States and fhe government Of spain on the subject of this capture, have authorl zed the Secretary Of the Navy to put our navy on war footing. to the extent at least of the en- gre annual appropriation for that branch of the servlce, trusting to Congress aud tLe public opiplon of the American people to lustify ny acton.
 Assuming from the action of the last Con- gress in appolptinR Committee on Privileges and EIectlons to prepare and report to thlS Conaress 8 eOnstituGlonal amendment to pro- vide Q better method of electing the President ana vice-President of the United States. and slso from the necessity of such an amendment Ehat there will be submitted to the State Legislatures for ratification such an improve ment in Onr Constitution.
 suR gesC two others for your consideration: Flrst, to authOr,se Lns Executive to approve pf 80 much of any measure passing the two ,a nonses 1a or Congress as ms 3uaeme9s may 9ic- approved portion or portions to be subjected to the same rules as now, to wit: to be refer- red back to the House in which the measure pr measures originated, and if passed by 8 two.thirds vote of the two Houses, then 10 be- come a law without the approval of the Presi- De no leg,slatIon by Congress durlug the last tWenty-four hours of It's sitting, except upon vetoes. in order to give the Executive an op- portunlty to examine and approve or Glsap- prove bills understandingiy.
 Second-To provide ny amendment, that when an extra session of Congress IS convened lam m a lRnnaIaflOn ri the continuance of such extra session shall be conhned to such subjects as the Executive may brtng before it from time to tune ln writ ing. The advantages to be gained by these two amend menus are obvious.
 One session ID each year IS provided for by Ilous as to the subject or Legislation by Con- gressI If more are required It ls always in the power Of Congress during their term of office of these amendments would protect the pubic against the many abuses and wastes Of pubic moneys WDlen creep into appropriation bills ana other Important measures passing during erWlse due consideration caunot be given.
 THE TREASURY DEPARTMEET.
 The recep,ts Of the government from all sources for the last fiscal year were $333 738,- 20A ard expenditures on all accounts $29O,345.- 245. thus showing an excess of recelpts over ex pen ditures of s4S, 959; but it IS not prob able that this favorable txnt6lt will be shown IioubifuI whether, except with great economy on the part of Congress ID making approprla- fions and the same economy in admtnlsJeriDg the various departments of government the revenues will not fall snort of meeting actual expenses, 1ncludIng tnterest on pupuc oeDt l nmend to Congress such economy, and point out two sources where It seems to me it might commpnce to wit: in the appropriations for nnhiic hu1J1lnos in rhe many cities where work has not been commenced, and 1n the appro priatlons for river aud harbor improvement In those iocallt1es where the improvements are of but little benefit to general commerce, and for Notifications.
 There is a still more fruitful source or ex- penditure which I will point out later In this message. I refer to the easy metnOo oi manu- 1actur1Ug claims for losses incurred III sup porting the late rebellion. l would not DC un 6erstood here as oruosfng the erection Of good substantial and even ornamental buildings by the government wherever such buildings are needed; m fact, approve of the government owning it's own buildings ID all sections Of the country, and hope the day is not far distant when 1t will not only possess them, DuG VIII