The New York herald., 1873-11-27
One OF "OId Hickory's'' Onieers Points
the Way.

truly, AMERICAN.
One or .OId Hickory's" Omcers Points
the Way.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
In your article entitled american Honor,r pub
lished a few days since, the action OF Presidents
Jackson in the case OF our claim for indemnity Tor
French spoatfon is not made mention OF, per-
haps inadvertently. In 1888. Louis Phllippes gov
ernment appearing TO make haste slowly In that
matter, Old Hickory ordered the frigate Constitu-
tion TO Havre with instructions to Mr.. Liv-
ingston, our Minister &C the French Court,
to urge upon the Kings government the
payment OF our claim, and the
ship sailed with orders TO remain IN the Channel
until the indemnity bill was passed by the
Chambers and ratified by the King. was an 0mcer
OF the ship, and upon arriving at Havre no one
was permitted to land. The ship remained in the
ofilng and messengers were Immediately despatched
to Paris to urge the necessity OF the preservation
or peace by prompt measures.
The result was, tnat In few weeks the IN.
demnity bin was passed and the snip returned to
the United States with Mr.. Livingston and ms
family as passengers, which happily termt-
mated the affair. Every one at the time pre-
saged war; both at home and in Europe, but the end
proved 1t successful peace measure as was every
thing else originating with Jackson. In vain did
Mr.. Berryer-the great leader OF the opposition,
Q legtimist and perhaps the most eminent lawyer
and statesman OF his time in France-denouncc the
measure and state in eloquent terms In the Cham
Der that they were legislating under American
guns sent to intimidate France, urging the Legsla
tive Body reset the humiliating conditions, and
in spite OF the opposition oil all the parties COM
bined against the Ministry, the indemnity bill boz
1 can testify that the prestige given to our ad-
ministration was overwhelming, not only at
home, but also abroad; for, during our cruise
in the Mediterranean which followed, crowds
the ship. with her armament, &C., which had sue
cessfully thrown down the gauntlet to the haugh-
served under every President since Monroe, ana
remember but one, whom need not namc
whose administration "ctvis Rondnuza sum-,
really meant something. In that space OF time /
have seen everywhere ministers insulted, consuls
taken from their domicles and the shelter Of their
nag, some even imprisoned in loathsome dungeons.
and private cluzens OF the united states, VINO nau @
faith OF treaties, robbed publicly OF their property
immured IN prisons and deprived OF the society OF
their families for months and years without any
protection from this government. l
have seen others eagerly claim French or
English protection, with the conviction that to b9
an American was only to invite aggression and X
submit to brigandage from the most pitiiM thiT
or fourth rate Powers OF the earti. ,,.
Notwithstanding the ebulltion Of anger and
cheap patriotism Of the hour, am convinced the
at feet viii be sent TO the waters OF the
great Antile, with orders to the officers to do
the purey
force can do nothing without laEd army to CO.
operate with II either at Havana or santiago. The
latter place has very narrow entrance,
ship having to pass within pistol
shot OF the Morro, rock crowned with
castle from which 1--we shells may be thrown upon
the decks OF q hostile ship which cannot possibly
elevate her guns to reach it; and Havana Is also In
a somewhat similar situation. V3
1 do not imagine that Burriel, Jnlian Zulueto or
the rest will be more than amused by any naval
business;n but will be confined to salutes to
distinguished personages at Havana or Sam
tiago and doing little in the diplomatic
line in which latter department Spaniard6
are immeasurably superior to our green Yankee
observation-disclosures Marcy and Bocanegra-and
force and at once acknowledge the Independence
OF the Cubans or, at least accord them beligerent
rights, when, having the same privileges now ac-
corded to their enemies and oppressors, they
would soon establish the independence Of the
island. Il
What can we hope to accomplish with the naval
show to the bum boatmen OF Havana, who are the
only people that would look at them, with diplO
macy conducted by such foreign representatives
as we have to conduct it2
What can be expected from CASTELAR,, hampereT
with the Carsts in the north Of SPAN and with
Communists in the East, powerless to reach Cuba
or its mobOcrat volunteers
Ii there was an Erie Railroad to be revolution
lied by fraud, chlcanery or audacity, none better
tnan the Spanish Minister to do 1t, the tempting
hope Of fees unlimited in prospect; but when 1t is
only nations jnsuted honor to be avenged, some
other must be found to do Ii.
We don't want Cuba. buC In the name of peace,
security and the blessings oil commercial inter-
course let the CuDans have IL, and, Keeping within
the international law, let as aid them to cast or
the rule Of their oppressors DALGETTY