The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-12-13
LETTER from JYUShErlOtOyI.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 9, 1873
The Spanish press are in high dudgeon at the
comments on Cuban affairs in President Grants
message. Slavery there, as in this country,
demands to be let alone, and all reference to it
in the way of criticism is considered imperti-
nence.
Secretary Robson has asked Congress for
$500, 900 for the Navy.
1t is rumored that Minister Sicke3 has re-
signed on account Of disagreements with Secre-
tary Fish regarding Cuban complications, but
the story is no doubt sensational and false, as
also that contained in a Herald special from
Havana stating that the American consulate is
guarded by troops, and that an attempt has
been made to burn the Virginius.
Mr. Cox was little premature in pressing
his resolution to a vote in the House yesterday
recognizing the belligerency of Cuba. On a
motion to suspend the rules and adopt the re-
solution 40 Democratic members voted in the
af1irmative-the balance, chiefly Republicans,
voted no. The time has not yet arrived for such
action, especially when crisis in the Minirtry
of CASTELAR, appears to be imminent, and based
solely on his alleged pandering to America.
The subject of confirming the nomination Of
Hon. Geo. W. Williams as Chief Justice has
been partially considered by the Senate Judci-
airy Committee, and it is generally believed
that it will be reported favorably for the action
of the Senate. 1t is quite certain, from the
hyper criticism agants all those spoken OF for
this exalted place. that no nomination could
have been made that would not have met with
opposition both within and outside of Admins
tration circles.
Plans for new national library building are
now being examined by the new Committee
on Library of which Senator Howe is Chair
man. Prizes will soon be awarded to the three
most successful Architects Of 81 800, 81 900 and
$500. 1t is now thought that the new building
will be erected west of the Capitol, near Penn
sylvania avenue.
Senator Sumner has been crtieisng the course
of the Administration in demanding redress of
Spain in the Cuban matter He says our Gov
eminent has taken snap judgment in a
ing what it was driving at. He is very indei-
mite and remarkably like Jack Bunsdy, in Civ
ing his opinion with great chunks of wisdom
dimly projecting through the fog of Sumner.
1t was enough for the Government to know that
a vessel with regular papers carrying our flag
was captured on the high seas. In the Ian
guage of Judge Story, at may be that the flag
of America is assumed by another power to
cover the basest purposes--that cannot alter
the right" The equal right of all nations to
the respected all flags respectively is necessary
to secure commerce. If one nation can assume
that the flag of another is piratical, and cap
ture and murder all on board who are within
the dominion of the country to which she be-
longs, how long could the peaceful pursuit of
trade upon the ocean be continued?
Senator Wright of Iowa made powerful
speech yesterday against the increased pay Of
officials and Congressman. His bill proposes
to return to the old compensation throughout
A bill to restore the free delivery of news
papers the same as before the repeal of the