Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-12-04

VIC peopie VI SPAN, IN the name and
on behalf of the American people the
congratulations of Congress upon the
efforts TO consolidate in Spain the
principles OF universal liberty in a
Republican form of government. The
existence of this new Republic was in
augurated by striking the letters from
the slaves in Porto Rico. This beneti-
cial measure was followed by the re-
lease OF several thousand persons ille-
glly held as slaves in Cuba. Next
the Captain General was deprived of
the power TO set aside the orders of his
superiors at Madrid, which had per-
tanned TO the Office since 1926. The Sc
questratcd estates of American citi-
zens, which had been the cause of long
and frequent correspondence, were
ordered to be restored to their owners.
All these liberal steps, taken in the
face of violent opposition directed by
the rcactionary shareholders of Ha-
yana, who arc vainly striving to stay
the march of ideas that has terminated
slavery in Christcndom, Cuba only ex-
ceptcd. Unhappily, however, this
baneful influence has thus far succeed
ed in defeating the efforts ofall LIBERAL
minded men in Spain to abolish slave
ry in Cuba, and in preventing the
promised reform in that island. The
struggle for political supremacy con-
tinues. The pro-slavcry aristocracy
in Cuba is gradually arraying itself in
more and more open hostility and de-
fiance of the home Government, while
1t still maintains political connection
with the Republic in the peninsula,
and although usurping and defying
the authority of the home government
whenever such usurpation or defiance
tends in the direction of oppression
or Of the maintenance of abuses, it is
still a power in Madrid and recog-
nized by the gOvernment-thus form.
ing an element more dangerous to the
continued colonial relations between
Cuba and Spain than that which in
spired the instruction at Yarra. An
element opposed to granting any re-
lief from misrule and abuse, with no
aspirations after freedom, command
ing no sympathies in generous breasts,
aiming to riyet still stronger the
shackles of slavery and oppression,
has seized many of the emblems of
power in Cuba, and under professions
ofloyalty to the mother country is ex-
hausting the resources of the island,
and is doing acts which are at va
rance with those principles of justice,
liberality and right which give nobili-
ty of character to Republic. In the
interests Of humanity, Of civilization
and Of progress it is TO be hoped that
this evil influence may be soon
averted.
The steamer Virginius was, on the
26th day of September, 1870 duly reg
istered at the port of New York as q
part of the commercial marine of the
United States. On the 18th of October,
1870, having the certificate of her reg
lister in the usual legal form, she sailed
from the port of New York, and has
not since been in the territorial juris-
diction of the United States. On the
31st of October last, while sailing I'M
der the flag of the United States on the
high seas, she was forcibly seized by
the Spaeish gunboat Tornado and was
carried into the port Of Santiago de
Cuba, where many Of her passengers
and crew were inhumanly, and so far,
at least, as relates to those who were
citizens OF the United States, without
due process of law, put to death. 1t
is well-established principle asserted
by the United States from the begin.
ming of national independence, recog-
nized by Great Britain and other mar
thine powers, and stated by the Sem
ate in resolution passed unanimous
ly on the 10th of June, 1858, that
American vessels on the high seas, in
time ofpeace, bearing the American
flag, remain under the jurisdiction of
the country to which they belong, and,
therefore, any visitation, molestation
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 due reparation to the flag, and
tss~ 1,....;ss,.,,,.t of tho e..th>-.sAsss .s--
had been guilty Of the illegal act Of
violence, were demanded. The Span
ish Government has recognized the
justice of the demand, and has ar
ranged for the immediate delivery of
the vessel, and for the surrender of the
survivors of the passengers 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
toward citizens of the United States,
and also toward indemnifying those
who may be shown to be entitled to in
demnity. A copy of a protocol of
conference between the Secretary of
State, and the Spanish Minister, in
which the terms of this arrangement
were agreed to will be submitted here
with. The correspondence on this
subject with the Legation of the Unit
ed States in cipher and by cable needs
the verification of the actual text of
the correspondence, but it has seemed
to me to be due to the importance of
the case not to submit this correspou-
dcuce until the accurate text can be
received by mail. 1t is expected
shortly, and will be submitted when
received. In taking leave of the SUBJ
ject 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 Of the island. /
do not doubt that Congress shares
with me the hope that it will soon be
made to disappear, and that peace and
prosperity may follow its abolition.
The embargoing of estates in Cuba,
cruelty to American citizens detected
in no act ofhostility to the Spanish
Government, the numbering of priso-
ners taken with arms in their hands,
and finally the capture upon the high
seas of a vessel sailing under the Unit
ed States flag and bearing United
States registry, has eliminated 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, l
have authorized the Secretary of the
Navy to put our navy on war foot
ing, to the extent at least of the en-
tire annual appropriation for that
branch OF the service, trusting to Con-
gress and the public opinion Of the
American people to justify my action.
NODE OF ELECTING PRESIDENT.
Assuming, from the action of the
L. sTwnk