Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-11

colonial relations between Cuba and Spain
| than that which Inspired the insurrecti0n al
Yarra. An element opposed to granting any
| relief from misrule and abuse, with no aspira
| tions after freedom, commanding no sym
pathies In generous breasts, aiming to rive
| still stronger the shackles Of slavery and op
| preston, has seized many Of the emblems Of
power In Cuba, and under professions Of loyal
| ty to the mother country 10 exhausting the
| resources Of the island, and Ii doing
acts which are at variance Will
those principles Of justice, liberality and
| light which give nobility OF character to a Re
| public In the interests Of humanity, of civil
/ ization and Of progress, 1t is to be hoped that
this evil influence may be soon aycrtcd.
| THE vIR0NIus DIFFICULTY.
The steamer virginius was, on the 26th day
| Of September, 1870, duly registered at the port
| Of New York as part Of the commercial ma
rine OF the United States. On the 4th OF DC
ter in the usual legal form, she sailed from The
| port OF New York, and has not since beer
within the territorial jurisdiction Of the United
States On the 3Ist of October last, while
sailing under the flag OF the United States, ON
the high seas, she was forcibly seized by the
Spanish gunboat Tornado, and was carried Into
the port Of Santiago dc Cuba, where many Of
her passengers and crew were inhumanely, and
so far, at least, as relates to those who were
citizens OF the United States, without due
process OF law, put to death. It Is q well
establlshed principle, asserted by the United
States from the beginning Of national indepen-
dcnce, recognized by Great Britain and other
maritime powers, and stated by the Senate In
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, any visitation, moicsta-
ton or detention OF such vessel by
force on the part Of foreign power is
in derogation Of the sovereignty OF the United
States. In accordance with this principle, the
restoration of the Virginius and the surrender
Of the survivors Of her passengers and crew,
and q due reparation TO the flag, and the pun
ishment of the authorities who had been
guilty of the illegal acts Of violence, were de-
manded. The Spanish Government has recog-
nized the justice of the demand. and has ar
ranged for the immediate delivery OF the yes
sci, and for the surrender Of the survivors OF
the passengers and crew. and for salute 10
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 citizens Of the United States,
and also toward indemnifying those
who may be shown to be entitled TO
indemnity. A copy OF protocol OF
conference between the Secretary OF State
Of this arrangement were agreed to-, will be
transmitted herewith. The correspondence
on this subject with the Legation OF the
United States is In cipher and by cable,
and needs the verifcatioH OF the actual text
OF the correspondence 1t has seemed to me
to be due TO the importance OF the case not
TO submit this correspondence until the ac-
curate text can be received by mail. 1t Is ex-
pected shortly, and VII. lie submitted when
received In taking leave OF this subject for
the present wish to renew the expression Of
my conviction that the existence OF African
slavery In Cuba is principal cause of the la
mentable condition ofA the Island. / do
not doubt that Congress- shares with
me the hope that 1t will soon be made
to disappear, and that peace and
prosperity may follow it's abolition. The en-
bargoing of American estates In Cuba, cruelty
to American citizens detected In no act of hos
tiiity to the Spanish Government, the murder
ing OF prisoners taken with arms In their hands,
and finally the capture upon the high seas OF
q vessel sailing under the United States flag
and bearing United States registry, have cul-
minated in an outburst of indignation that has
seemed for time TO threaten war. Pending
negotiations between the United States and
the Government OF Spain on the subject OF
this capture, have authorized the Secretary
Of the Navy to put our navy on war footing,
to the extent, at least, of the entire annual APP
trusting to Congress aud the public opinion Of
the American people to justify my action.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Assuming, from the action Of the last Con-
gress in instructing the Committee on Privi-
ieges and Elections to prepare and report to
this Congress Constitutional amendment
to provide q better method of electing the
President and Vice-President of the United
States and also from the necessity Of such
an amendment, that there will be submitted
TO the State Legislatures for ratification such
an Improvement In our Constitution, suggest
two others for your consideration: First, to
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 disapproyed
portion or portions to be subjected To the
same rules as now, to-wit: to be referred back
to the house in which the measure or meas
ures originated aud Ii passed by a two
thirds vote of the two houses,
then to become a law without the ap-
proval Of the President would add to this
a provision that there should be no legislation
by Congress during the last twenty -four hours
OF It's sitting except upon veto, In order
to give the Executive an opportunity to ex-
anime and approveor disapprove understand
ngly. Second, TO provide, by an amendment,
that when an extra session OF Congress Is
convened by Executive proclamation, leg
islation during the continuance OF such extra
session shall be confined to such subjects as
the Executive may bring before 1t, from time
to time, In writing. The advantages to be
gained by these two amendments are OBJ
vious. One session In each year lie pro-
vided for by the Constitution, In which there
are no restrictions as To the subjects
OF legislation by Congress. IL more are re-
quired, 1t Is always In the power OF Congress,
during its term OF Office to provide for sessions
at any time. The first of these amendments
would protect the public against the many
abuses and waste of public moneys which
creep into Appropriation bills and other i'm
portant measures passing during the expiring
hours of Congress, to which otherwise due
consideration cannot be given.
REVENUES AND EXPENSES.
The receipts Of the Government from all
sources for the last fiscal year were 1888, 1885,
204, and the expenditures on all accounts
$500, 340, 245, thus showing an excess of re.
ceipts over the expenditures Of $43, 800, $50
but 1t is not probable that this favorable ex.
hibit will be shown for the present fiscal year.
Indeed, II Is very doubtful whether, except
with great economy on the part OF
Congress In making appropriations, and
the same economy I'm the Admins.
tration In administering the various
departments OF the Government, the revenues
will not fall short OF making the annual ex.
penses, including the interest on the public
debt, / commend TO Congress such economy,