Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-03
ESTABLISHED MARCH 80, 1886.

steps were taken in the face of violent op-
position directed by the reactiohafy slave
holders Of Havana, who are vainly striving
to stay
The March of Ideas
which has terminated slavery in Chris
tendon, Cuba only excepted. |
Unhappily, however, this baneful
influence has thus Far succeeded IN |
defeating the efforts Of al liberal minded |
men In Spain to abolish slavery in Cuba,
and in preventing the promised reform in |
That island. The struggle for political |
supremacy continues. The pro-slavery
aristocracy in Cuba is gradually arraigniDg |
itself in more and more open hostility and |
defiance OF the home government, while it |
still maintains a political connection with
the republic in the peninsula, and although |
usurping and defying the authority of the |
home government, whenever such usurpa-
tion or defiance tends In the direction of |
oppression. or of the maintenance of pro- |
sisvery views, it is still power in Madrid |
and recognized by the government. Thus, |
an element more dangerous to continued |
colonial relations between Cuba and Spain |
than thst which inspired the insurrection |
at Yara-an element opposed to granting |
any relief from misrule and abuse, with no |
aspiration after freedom, commanding no |
in generous breasts, aiming to |
rivet still stronger the shackles of slavery
and oppression, has seized many of the
emblems of power in Cuba, and under PRO
fessions of loyalty to the mother country, |
is exhausting the resources. of the island, |
and is doing acts Which are at variance with |
those prfneiples Of Justice, of liberty, and OF |
riett which give nobility of character to a |
republic. In the interests of humanity, of |
and ofprogress, it is to be hoped |
this evil influence may be ayerted.
The steamer Virginius
was, ell Tie 10Th day of Sep
tember, 1870, duly registered at
the port of New York as part of the COM |
mercial marine of the United States. On |
the 4th of October, 1870, having received |
certificate of her register in the usual legal |
forms, she sailed from the port of New |
Y ork. and has not since been within the |
territorial jurisdiction of the United States. |
On the 3Ist day of October last, while sail |
ing under the flag Of the United States on |
the high seas. she was forcibly seized by |
the Spanish gunboat Tornado, and was car |
ried into the port of Santiago de Cuba, |
where many of her passengers and crew |
were inhlImanly, and so far at least as to |
those who were citizens OF the United |
States, were, without due process OF law, |
put to DEATH 1t is we'll established prin- |
eiple asserted by the United States from the |
beginning of their national independence, |
recognized by Great Britain and other mar |
atime powers, and stated by the Senate III |
q resolution passed unanimously on tie |
10th of June, 1858, that American vessels |
on the high seas in time of peace, bearing |
the American flag, remain under the jul
risdictiOn of the country OF which |
they belong, and therefore any vlsi-
tation, moleStation or obstruction OF
such vessel by force on the part OF a
foreign power is in derogatiOn of the SOY
ereignty of the United States. In accord
ance with this principle, the restoration OF
the Virginius and the surrender of the sur
vvors of her passengers and crew, and a
due reparation of the flag and the punish
ment of the authorities who had been
guilty of the of the illegal acts were de-
manded.
CasteIar's Concessions.
The Spanish Government has recognized
the Justice of the demand and has arrang-
ed 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
towards citizens Of the United States, and
also towards indemnifying those who may
be shown to be entitled to indemnity.
copv of a protocol of the conference be-
tween the Secretary of State and the Min
lister in which the terms of this arrange
ment 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 verifcation 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
acurate text can be received by mail. 1t is
expected shortly and will be submitted
when received.
In taking leave of this subject for thepre-
sent, | wish to renew the expression of my
conviction that the existence OF African
slavery in Cuba is a principal cause OF the
lamentable condition of the island. L do
not doubt that Congress shares with me the
hope that it will soon be made to disappear
and peace and prosperity may follow its
abolition. The embargoing of American
estate in Cuba, the cruelty to American
citizens detected in no act Of hostility to
the Spanish government, the numbering OF
prisoners taken with arms in their hands
and finally the capture upon the high seas
of a vessel sailing unde" the United States
flag and bearinga United States registry has
eliminated in an ,Outburst of indignation
that has seemed for time to threaten war
Pending the negotiations between the
United States and the government OF Spain
on the subject of this capture | have au-
thorized the Secretary of the Navy to put
Our Navy on "a war Footing
TO the extent at least of the entire annual
appropriation for that branch ofthe service,
trusting to Congress and the public opinion
of the American people to justify my ac-
tion.
constitutional.
Assuming from the action of the last Con-
greSs appointing a committee on privileges
and election to prepare and report to this
Congress a constitutional amendment to
provide a 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 submit
ted to the State Legislatures for ratification
such an improvement in our Constitution,
| suggest two others for your consideration.
1. To authorize the Executive to ap-
| prove of so much of any measure passing
| the two houses of Congress, as his Judg-
ment may dictate, without approving the
whole, the disapproved portion or portions
| to be subjected to the same rules as now,
| to-wit: to be referred back to the house III
which the measure or measures originated,
and if passed by twO-third vote OF the
| two houses then to become the law without
| the approval of the President. lwould add
| to this provision that there should be no
| legislation by Congress during the last
| twenty-four hours ofits sitting, except upon
vetoes, in order to give the Executive al
opportunity to examine and approve or dis
approve Understandings.
2. To provide by amendment that when
an extra session of Congress is convened by
Executive proclamation, the legislation du
ring the continuance of such extra session
shall be confined to such subjects as the
Executive may bring before it from time tC
time in writing.
The advantages to be gained by these two
| amendments are obvious. One session IL
each year is provided for by the Constitu
| ton in which there are no restrictions us t.
the subjects of legislation by Congress. L