The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-12-12

| the United States may cease to be citizens.
and may Voluntarily render allegiance to other
powers. We have agreed that residence in a
foreign l&ad without intent to return. shall of
| Itself work eXpatriation. We have agreed in
some Instances. upon the length of time nee
essary for such intent. l invite Congress now
| to mark out and define when and how expa-
tIiation can be accomplished, to regulate by
law the condition of American women marry
lug foreigners. to fix the status of children
born in a foreign country of American parent +
residing more or less permanently abroad and
to make rules for determining such ether kin
dred points as may seem best to Congress.
In compliance with ths request Of Congress,
l transmitted 10 the American Minister at
| alairid, with instructions TO present to the
LSpanisl Government. the join! resolution ap-
proved on the Sd of March last. rendering TO
the people of SPAIN in the name and on be-
half of the American people. the congratula-
| tions of Congress upon tho efforts to consuli-
date In Spain the principles of universal lib
erty in a republican form Of government. The
existence Of this Republic was inaugurated
by striking the fetters from the slaves in
Porto Rico. Tins beHeiiceut measure was fol-
lowed by the release of several thousand rer-
sons illegally sold slaves in Cuba Next,
the Captain-G General of tie colony was de-
prived OF the power to set aside the orders of
his superiors at Madrid, which had rertained
to the Office since 1925. The sequestered es-
} taleS Oh American cIllZe!lS. WHICH udd Deeu
the cause of loCS and frequent correspond.
| ence. were ordered to be restored to their
| owners. All these liberal steps were taken in
| the face of viOleut opposition, directed by the
reactionary Shareholders of Havdna, who are
I yan'y striving TO stay the march Of Ideas
that has terminated slavery in Christendom,
Cuba only exce,sed. UnhappiIy, however,
this baneful influence has thus far succeeded
in defeating the efforts { f all lberal-mipded
men in Spin to abolish slavery in Cuba and
in preventing the promised reform in that
| island. The struggle for supremacy coptin-
| ues- The pro-slavery aristocracy in CGba is
I gradually arraying itself III more and more
! open hostility and defiance of the home Gov
! ernment, Th,i. it still maintains 4 political
connection with the Republic in the peniu-
| sulI. and although usurpInG ami defyiGg the
| the auihCIlty Of the home Government when-
! ever such TIsurpation or defiance tends in the
! direction of oppression er Of the maintenance
| of abuses, il is Sti'l power in Madrid and
! recognized by the Government-thus form
I ing al element more dangerous to the colo
NAL relations between Cuba and Spain than
| that which inspired TIE inBurcctIon at YaIra.
An element opposed to granting any rehef
from msrule and abuse, vita no aspirations
after freedom, commanding no sympathie :
in generous breasts. aiming 70 riyet
still stronger tue shackles of slavery
and oppression, has seized many of the en-
LlsIns Of power in Cuba, and under profess
siuns of lovaltv to the mother couutry is ex-
! haustng the resources OF the island. and is
doing acts which are at variance with these
! principles Of justice. liberality and right,
which give nobility Of character to q Repub-
! lie. In the interests Of humanity, of c!y!l!za-
ton, and of progress it is to be hoped that
this evil Influence may soon be ayerted.
! The steamship EIrSiuius was, on the 26th
day of September, 1870. duly registered at the
port of New York as a part of the commercial
marine of the United States. On the llth of
( October, 1870 having the certificate of her
register in the usual legal form. she sailed
from New York. and has not.since Eeen within
{ the territorial jurisdiction of the United
States. On the 3lst of October last, while
sailing under the flag Of the United States on
the high seas, she was forcibly seized by the
I Spanish gunboat Tornado and was carried
into the port of Santiago de Cuoa, where many
Of her passengers and crew were inhumanly.
ana SO far at least, as relates to those who
Z were citizens of the United States
without due process of law, put to death.
1t is a we'll established principle asserted by
the United States from the beginning OF ma
tIonal Independence, recognized by Great
Britain ard other maritime powers. and stated
bv the Senate III resolution passed unanl-
Inously on the 10th of June, 1885, that Ameri-
can vessels on the high seas, in time Of peace,
bearing the American flag, remain under the
jurisdiction Of the country to which they be-
tiou. or detention OF such vessel by force on
the part of a foreign power Ii III derogation of
the sovereignty of the United States. In ac-
cordance with this principle, the restoration Of
the Yirgiuius and the surrender OF the sur
! yIvOrs of her passengers and crew and due
reDaration 10 the fltg and the punishment of
the authorities who had been guilty of the
illega! acts of violence. were demanded. The
I Spanish Government has recognized the jnst-
ice of the demand, and has arranged for the
immediate delivery Of the vessel, and For the
sure nder of the sIrvIrors Of the Passengers
and crew, and for salute to the flag and for
I proceedings looking TO the punishment of
those who may be proved to have been guilty
! of illegal acts of violence toward citi-
Zens Of the United States, and also to-
! ward indeInnify.ng those who may be
shown u be entitled to indemnity. copy Of
{ I protocol Of 4 conference between the Soc
retsry Of State aud the Spauizh Minister, in
which the terms Of this arrangement were
agre.d to, viii be transmitted herewith. The
Correspondence on this subject with the lie
CATION of tbs United States IN CIPHER and by
cable needs the yeIihcatOn Of the actual text
of the correspondence, lut it has seemed to
ZIG TO be due 10 the Importance Of the case
not to submit this correspondence uutll the
accurate text can lie received by mail Il IL
expected shortly, and viii be submitted whcE
/ received In taking leave of tins subject for
the pre- sent, wish 20 recew the expression
OF ny CONVICTION that the existence OF Afr
can slavery II Cuba Is principal cause OF the
lamentatle condition CT the island. l do not
dOub; that Congress shares with me the hope
that it viii soon lie made to d sappear, and
that peace and prosperity may follow
its absoiutioD. The embargolnS OF
estates In Cuba, cruelty 10 American
citizens detected in no act of hostility to the
Spanish Government, the numbering OF pris-
ouers taken with arms IN Their hands, ana
Al lDn "a
sci sail.pg under the United States flag and
bearing a United States registry. has culmi-
mated IN an oufburst Of Indignation that has
seemed for time 10 threaten war. Pending
negotiations between tine United States and
tho Government of Spain on tie subject OF
this CAPTURE | have authorized the Secretary
of the Navy TO put our navy on a war footing,
TO the extent at leGs; IF the entire annual ap-
| prcpriation FOR that branch of the service,
trusting to Congress and the puDlc opinion
of the American people 10 JUSTIFY my acticn
Assuming. from the action Of the last Con-
eress in the appointing Of Ccinmiitee on
| PRIVILEGES and Elections to prepare andreport
I, this Congress ? CONSTITUTIONS amendment
| To nroyide a better method of electlDg tie
president and ylGo-PIesiIent OF the United
| St,,e- ard alSc, from the necessity OF such an
| ameudmeut, that there will be subiaitted tc
the state Legislatures foI ratification such
an improvement IN our condiiiJn, l suSSes
two Others for your consideration pirst, 10
authorize the Executive to approve OF SO
much of any measure passing the two Houses
of Congress as his Judgment may dictate
without approving the whole, the disapproved
portion or portions to lie subjected to the
same rules as now, to wit to be refefrf d
back to tie House in which tho measure or
measures originated, and il passed ny TWO
| thirds vote OF the two houses. then to become
a. law with out the approval Of the President.
1 would add to this provision that there
should be nolegisletion by Congress during
the last tsenty-fonr hours of its sitting ex-