The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-12-05

! dicate what is necessary to place us OF
a par With other leading nations IN lib
erality of legislation on this information
al question. We have already in oul
treaties assented to the principles which
need to be embodied in laws intended
to accomplish such results. We have
agreed that citizens of the United
States may cease to be citizens, may
voluntarily resume allegiance to Other
powers. We have agreed that residence
In foreign land without intent to re,
turn, shall of itself work expatriation.
We have agreed in some instances upon
| the length of time necessary for such
! intent. I invite congress to mark out
and define when and how expatriation
! can be accomplished to regulate by
/ law the condition of American women
marrying foreigners to fix the status OF
| children born in foreign country OF
American parents residing more or less
| permanently abroad, and to fix rules for
/ determining such other kindred points
as may seem best to congress.
! SPAIN AND CUBA-THE TWO REPUBLICS.
| In compliance with the request of
! congress, 1 transmitted to the American
/ minister at Madrid, with instructions
| to present it to the Spanish govern
ment, the joint resolution approved on
| the Sd of March last, rendering to the
| people of Spain, in the name and on be-
half of the American people, the con-
gratulations of congress upon the eff
| forts to 1nsolidate in Spain the prin-
! ciples of universal liberty in a repubh-
can form of government. The exis-
| tence of this new republic was inaugu-
rated by striking the fetters from the
slaves in Porto Rico. This benefcent
measure was followed by the release of
| several thousand persons illegally sold
as slaves in Cuba. Next the captain
general of that C lOny 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
qUestered estates of American citizens,
which had been the cause of long and
frequent correspondence, were ordered
to be restored to their owners. All
these liberal steps were taken in the
face of violent opposition directed by
the reactionary shareholders of Havana,
who are vainly striving to stay
THE MARCH OF IDEAS
which has terminated slavery in Chris
tendon, Cuba only excepted. Unhap-
PLY, however, this baneful influence
has thus far succeeded in defeating the
efforts of all 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 ar
raigning itself In more and more open
hostility and defiance of the home gov
ernment, while it still maintains q DO
litical 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 op-
preston, or of the maintenance of pro-
slavery views, it is still power in Mad
rid and recognized by the government.
Thus, an element more dangerous to
continued colonial relations between
Cuba and Spain than that which in
spired the insurrectiOn at Yara, an ele-
ment opposed to granting any relief
from misrule and abuse, with no aspi-
ration after freedom, commanding no
sympathies in generous breasts. aiming
to Iivet still stronger the shackle5 of
slavery and oppression, has seized
many of the emblems of power in Gu
ba, and, under professions of loyalty
to the mother country, is exhausting
the resources of the island, and is doing
acts which are at variance with those
principles of justice, of liberty, and of
right which give nobility of character
to a republic. In the interests of hu-
manity, of civilization and of progress.
it is to be hoped this evil influence may
be averted.
THE STEAMER vIRGINIUS
was, on the 26th day of September,
1870, duly registered at the port of New
York as a part of the commercial ma
rine of the United States. On the 4th
of October, 1870. having receiv, d a Ger
tihcate of her register in the usual
legal forms, she sailed from the port of
New York, and has not since been with
in the territorial jurisdiction of the
United States. On the 31st day of Oc.
tober last, while sailing under the flag
of the United States on the high seas,
she was forcibIy seized by the Spanish
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 TO those
who were citizens of the United States,
were, without due process of law, put
to DEATH It is a well established prin-
ciple asserted by the United States
from the beginning of their national
independence, recognized by Great
Britain and other maratime powers, aud
stated by the senate in a resolution
passed unanim 0usly 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 of which
they belong, and therefore any vista
ton, mOlestatiOn or obstruction of such
vessel by force on the part of a foreign
power is in derogatiOn of the sovereign
ty of the United States. In accord
ance with this principle, the restoration
of the Virginius and the surrender of
the survivors of her passengers and
crew, and a due reparatiOn of the flag
and the punishment of the authorities
who had been guilty of the illegal acts
were demanded.
CAsTELAR's CONCESSIONS.
The Spanish government has recog-
nized the Justice of the demand end has
arranged for the immediate delivery of
the vessel and for the surrender of the
survivors of the passengers and crew,
and for a salute to the flag and for pro-
ceedings looking to the punishment of
those who may be proved to have been
guilty of illegal acts of violence to-
wards citizens of the United States, and
also towards indemnifying those who
may be shown to be entitled to indem-
nity. A copy of a protocol of the con-
ference between the secretary of state
and the minister, in which the terms of
this arrangement we're agreed to, Will
be transmitted herewith. The cores
pondence on this subject with the lega-
tion of the United States IS IN cipher
and by cable, and needs the verification
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 accurate
/ text can be received by mail. It is ex-
! nected shortly and will be submitted