Connecticut western news., 1875-12-17

guides in like contests between revofted
 colonies and their mother country, and act
 ing only upon the dearest evidence should
 avoid any possibility of suspicion or of i'm
 putation. l
 A recognition of the independence of
 Cuba being, in my opinion, impracticable
 and indefensiblc, the question which next
 presents itself is that of the recognition of
 belligerent rights in the parties togthe con-
 test.
 In former message to Congress: I had
 occasion to consider this question, and
 reached the conclusion that the conflict in
 Cuba, dreadful and devastating as were its
 incidents, did not risesto the fearful dignity
 of war. Regarding it now after this lapse
 ot time am unable to see that any notable success of any marked or real advance on
 the part of the insurgents has essentially changed the character of the contest. It has
 acquired greater age, but not greater or
 formidable proportions, It is possible that the acts ot foreign powers, and even the acts of Spain herself of this very nature, might
 be pointed to in defense of such recognition.
 But now, as in it's past history, the United States should carefully avoid the false lights which might lead it into the mazes of doubtful law1and of questionable propriety, and adhere rigidly and sternly to the rule which has been its guide, and doing only thatwhich is right and honest and of good report. The question of according to or of withholding rights of belligerency must be judged in every case in view of the particu- lar attending. facts. Unless justified by necessity, it is always and justly regarded as an unfriendly act and a gratuitous demon stration of moral support to the rebellion. It is necessary and it islrequired, when the interests and rights of another government or it's people are 50 far affected by a pending civil conflict as to require definition of its relations to the parties thereto.z But this conflict must be>one which will be recog- nized in the sense of internationallaw as war. s,saj- e k-~ ...
 BelIigerence, too, is afact. The mere ex- istence of contending armed bodies and their, occasional.conflictsa do not constitute war in the sense referred to. Applying to the existing condition of affairs in Cuba the tests recognized by publicists and writers on international law, and which have been ob- served bySnations of dignity, honesty and power when free from sensitive or selfish and unworthy sliotives, l. fail to find in the lnsurrection theksexistence of such a sub stantiaI political organization, real, palpa- ble and manifest to the world, having the forms and capable of the ordinary functions of government toward its own people and to other States, with courts for the administra- tion of justice, with local hahitation pos sessing such organization of force, such ma terial, such occupation of territory as to take the contest out of the category of mere rebellious insurrection or occasional skirmishes, and place it on the terrible foot ing of war, to which recognition of bellig. erencywould aimto elevate it. The contest, moreover, is solely on land. The insurrec- ton has not possessed itself of a single sea- port whence it may send forth its flag. Nor has 1t any means of communication with foreign powers, except through the military lines of its -adversaries. No apprehension of any of those sudden and difficult com plications, which a war upon the ocean is apt to- eprecipitate upona the vessels, both commercial and national, and upon the consular officers of other powers, calls for the definition of their relations to the par ties to'the contest, considered as a question of expediency. %RH D
 RECOGNIZING BELIGERENT RIGHTS.
 l regard the accordance of beligerent rights still to be as unWise and premature as l regard it>to5be at present indefensible as measure of right. At some length, the President gives his reasonsfor this opinion. He notes the vexatious troubles that would arise from such a recognition, and adds :- l am satisfied that while the accordance of beligerent rights to. the insurgents in Cuba might give them a hope and inducement to protract the struggle, it would be but a de- lusive hope and would not remove the evils which this government and its people, are but would draw the United States into complications which it has waited long and already suffered much avoid. do not at this time recommend the adop- rion of any measure of intervention. shall be ready at all times, and as the equal friend of both parties, to respond to a sug- gestion that the good offices of the United States will be.aeceptable to aid in bringing about peace honorable to both. I shall feel it my duty, should my hopes of a. satis- factory adjustment and of early restoration of peaceSand the removal of future causes of complaint be Sunhappily disappointed, ,s to make further communication to Congress at some period not far remote, and during the present session, recommending what may then seem to me to be necessary propositions to the favorable consideration of Congress.
 THE MEXICAN FRONTIER. NI
 The free zone, so called, several years since established by the Mexican govern ment in certain of the states of that republic adjacent, to our frontier, remains in full operation. It has always besp materially injurious to honest traffic, for 1t operates as an incentive to traders in Mexico to supply without custom charges the wants of inhab- itants on this side of the line, and prevents the same wants from being supplied by mer- chants of the United States, thereby to considerable extent defrauding our revenue and checking honest commercial enterprise. by armed bands from Mexico on the people of Texas near the frontier con- tinue. Though the main object of the incur sions Is robbery, they frequently result in the murder of unarmed and peaceably dis posed persons, and in some instances even the United States post-offices and mail com munications have been attacked. Renewed femonstrances upon this subject have~b been addressed to the Mexican governments but without much apparent effect The military force of this government disposable for ser vice in that quarter is quite inadequate Ito efectually guard the line even at those points where the incursions are usually made. An experiment of an armed vessel on the Rio Grande for that purpose is on trial, and it IS hoped that, if not thwarted by the shallowness of the river and other natural obstacles, It may materially con- tribute to the protection of the herdsmen of Texas.
 ALABAMA CLAIMS.
 Thirteen hundred and eighty-two claims have been presented, of which 682 had been disposed of at the date of the report. am informed that TO cases were decided during t he month of November. A
 THE CENTENNIAL ExHIBITIoN.@ "
 The powers of Europe, almost without ex- caption, many of the South American states and even the more distant Eastern powers have manifested their friendly sentiments toward the United States and the interest of the world in our progress by taking steps to join with us in celebrating the centennial of the nation, and strongly recommend that