National Republican., 1873-11-18
TUESDAY MORNING. ........ NOV. IS, 1873.
rns PRESIDENTS POSITION.

It has been heretofore noticed In these
columns that the President and the members
OF his Cabinet arc In entire accord on the
subject Of Cuban affairs, and tho existing
complications with Spain. The closest at
tcntion has been given to the whole subject
by the President himself, and whatever shall
be done by him In the premises will, we arc
certain, meet the just expectations OF all
who, while sympathizing with tho Cubans,
desire at the same timo that whatever may
be done by the Government shall be in ac-
cordanco with law, and not prompted by
passion, the clamor Of the hour or q hasty
and illconsidcrcd view Of circumstances
which ut present influence the public mind
Tho correspondence that was recently be-
gun docs not promise an immediate termina-
ton, the desire Of the Government being, as
already expressed in the REPUBLICAN, to OBJ
tain full information as to all the circum-
stances concerning the capture of the Vir-
ginius and the atroclous executions which
followed. No American, however deeply he
may sympathze with those who have suffered
by the murders at Santiago dc Cuba, can cx.
pect the Government to hastily resort to force
In the absence of well-asccrtaiued facts
which, when they are known, may Justify
the most stern and decisive measures.
Tho President Is free in his uttcrauce:
concerning his duty in the matter
and only yesterday said that his GQsernmenI
DW take care ha. me national flag shall b,
every,oherv respected, and american citizen,
eoery,ohere p elected in all hsir rights.
Ever since the rebellion began 10 Cuba the
President, In his messages as well as through
the Secretary of State, has maintained that
Spain, not having acknowledged a state Of
war In Cuba, and the United States never
having granted the insurgents belligcrcnt
rights, a vessel bearing the flag of a friendly
nation Is entitled to enter any Of the open
ports of her possessions. Aud the Secretary
of the Navy, speaking for the Government in
his instructions to the commanders Of the
North Atlantic station, could sec no reason
why vessels pursuing their peaceful voca'
tlons shou'd be overhauled by Spanish
cruisers-thc Spanish Government having nj
jurisdiction on the highway Of nations.
We have already stated in an article baset
upon information derived from ofiicia
sources that the President feels that he hai
no right to commit an act of war; that il
,rh haa
unjustly imprisoned IL becomes his duty t,
demand his release, and II that demand !
not complied with, to report the facts I,
Congress for Its action. Tho Constitution
and the law vests the war-making power ii
Congress. Under these circumstances II Il
apparent that tho Executive cannot use
force, even IL he were so disposed, to righ
the wrongs OF which We have SO long and Sc
frequently complained. Hence Congress viii
be made acquainted with all the facts In tn,
case, so far as they shall have been obtained
at the time of Its meeting, and the responsi
bility will then rest upon 1t to direct sucl
action as the circumstances at that time exist
ing may demand.
These arc briefly the views Of the Prcsiden
as expressed in conversation within the las
twcnty-fOur hours. Ills declaration thai
'thls Government will take care that the ma,
tional flag shall be everywhere respected, and
American citizens everywhere protected ID
all their rights" has the old Jacksonian ring
and will find warm response In every sec.
tion Of the country.