The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-12-16

. TIN sn0ui0 state ifni lie payments were
I fully and speedily anticipated by that Gov
pr1nent, and that the whole amount was paid
within but few DAYS more than two months
from q be date Of agreement, a eopy.of which
Is herewith transmitted. In pursuance oI
. the terms Of the adjustment | have directed
the distribution OF the amount among tho
parties entitled thereto, including the ships
company and such Of the passengers as wert
American citizens. Payments are made ac-
cordingly on application Of the parties enti-
tied thereto.
|E THE CUBNN REyOLUTToN.
There is no evidence ofan approaching
end Of the rlinous conflict which has been
raging for seven years in the neghbOring
island Of Cuba. The same disregard Of the
laws Of civilized warfare and Of the Just de-
mands af humanity which have heretofore
. called forth expressions Of condemnation
from the nations Of Christendom have con-
tinued to blacken the sad scene. Desola-
tion, ruin and pillage are peryading the rich
fields Of one of the most fertile and produce
tive regions Of the earth, and the incen-
diary torch, firing plantations and valuable
factories and buildings, is the agent marking
the alternate advance or retreat of the con-
tending parties. The Drotraeted continuance
OF the strife seriously affects the interests Of
all commercial nations; but those of the
United States more than others, by reason
Of the close proximity, its larger
trade and intercourse with Cuba,
and frequent and intimate personal
and social relations which have grown mp
between its citizens and those Of the island.
Narrower, the property of orr citizens in
Cuba is large and is rendered insecure and
deprecated in value and in capacity of pro-
duction by the continuation of the strife and
the unnatural mode of its conduct. The
same is true, differing only in degree, with
respect TO the interests and people of other
nations, and the absence Of any reasonable
assurance of a near termination Of the con-
flict must of necessity soon compel the States
thus suffering to consider what the interests
of their people and their duty towards
themselves may demand. / have hoped that
Spain would be enabled to establish peace in
her colony, to afford security to the property
and the interests of our citizens, and allow
a legitimate scope to trade and commerce
and the national productions Of the island.
Because of this hope, and from an extreme
reluctance to interfere in the most remote
manner ia the affairs Of another and friendly
nation-especially one whose sympathy and
friendship in the struggling infancy Of our
own existence must ever be remembered
with gratitude have patiently and anX-
iously waited the progress of events. Our own
civil conflict is too recent for us to consider
the difficulties which surround government
distracted by dynastic rebellion at home,
at the same time that IL has to cope with a
separarate insurrection in distant colony.
But whatever cause may have produced the
situation which so grieyousiy affects our in
terests, with all its attendant evils operating
directly upon this country and the people,
thus far all the resorts of Spain have proved
abOrtive, and time has marked no improve
ment in the situation. The armed bands of
the other side now occupy nearly the same
ground as in the past, with the difference
that from time to time more lives are Sacri-
iced, property destroyed, and wider eXtentS
Of fertile and productive fields and more val
liable property constantly and wantonly sac
rificed to the incendiary'S torch. In contests
of this nature, where considerable body
81 people who have attempted TO free
themselves of the control of the Superior
Government have reached such a point in
the occupation of territory, In power and in
general organization as to constitute in fact
a body politic--having a government in sub
stance as well as in name, possessed of the
elements Of stability, and equipped with
machinery for the administration of internal
policy and the execution Of its laws, and pre-
pared and able to administer justice at home
a well as in its dealings with other powers
it is within the province of those other
powers TO recognize its existence as new
and independent nation. In such cases 9th
er nations simply deal with an actual exist
! ing condition of things, and recognize a.
one of the powers of the earth that body pO-
/ litic which possessing the necessary elements,
has in fact become a new power. In word,
+ the creation of a new State is a fact. To es-
! tablish the condition of things essential tC
! the recognition Of this fact, there must be :
people occupying a known territory, united
under some known and defined form OF
| government acknowledged by those
subject thereto, in (Which the function;
! of government are administered by
| the usual methods competent tt
mete out Justice to citizens and strangers
/ to afford remedies for public and private
wrongs: and able to assume the relative in
itemational obligations, and capable of per
! forming the corresponding internationa
duties, resulting from its acquisition of the
rights, sovereignty and power which should
| exist complete in its organizatiOn-ready L
! take and able TO maintain its place among
/ the nations ofthe earth. While conscious tha
the insllrrection in Cuba has shown strength
and endurance which make it at least doubt
1 full whether it will he in the power of Spain
J to Subdue. il seems unqueStiOnablc that NJ
! such civil organization exists which may b,
recognized aS an independent government
| capable of performing its obligations and en-
titled TO bc treated rs one OF the powers o
the earth. A recognition under such cir
cumstances would be inconsistent with tn
facts, and would compel the powers to @ivt
| support bv force 10 a Government to whicl
I it had really only given a real claim of eN
! istence. In my Judgment the United state
/ should adhere TO the policy and the prlncl'
Piles which have heretofore been its sur
| safeguards in like contests between reyoltet
colonies and their mother country, and, act
inc only upon the clearest evidence, ShOulI
avoid any probability of Il suspicion or OF al
| imputatiOn in the recognition Of the indie
/ pendencc of Cuba, il being in my opinion
! impracticable and indefcnslble. The ques
/ tion which next presents itself is that OF tn
/ recognition of the belligerent rights of tn
J parties to the contest. In former mesSag
/ TO Congress | had reason TO consider thl
question. and reached the conclusion tina
the conflict in Cuba, dreadful and devas
tating aS were the evidences, did not rise L
the fearful dignity of war. Regarding !
now. after this lapse of time, | am unabl
to see that any notable success or any marke
or real advance on the part of the in
surgentS has essentially changed the charac
ter Of the contest. 1t has acquired create
age, but not greater or more formidabl
proportions. 1t is possible that the acts q
foreign powers, and even the acts of Spal
herself, of this very nature, might be pointe
TO in defense OF such recognition; but now
as in its past history. the United State
should carefully avoid the false lights whic
might lead IL INTO the maZes of doubtful lay
and Of questionable propriety, and adher
rigidly and sternly TO the rule which ha
been its guide, and doing only that which
right and honest and of good repute. In
question of according or of withholdin
} rights of belligerency must be judged |
every case i'm view Of the particular attend
ing facts. Unless justified by necessity,
is always and justly regarded as an unfriend
.ly act and a gratuitous demonstration {
moral support TO the rebellion. Ii is neces
sary and it is required when the interest
and rights of another Government, or of i
people, are so far affected by pending civ
I conflict as to require a definition
its relation TO the parties thereto. But tn;
[ this conflict must be one which will be recOg
| nized i'm the sense Of international law
beliRrence, too, is a fact-the expense
maintaining armed bodies and their occa
! Sional conflicts do not constitute war in Il
2 sense referred to as applying TO the eXistin
tcOndifion Of affairs in Cuba--the test recOg
2 nized by publiests and writer's on intern!
lonal law and which have been Observed /
! nations of dignity. honesty and power, VINE
tree from sensitive, selfish or unworthy me
y tives. Ifaii TO find in the insurrection Il
expense of keeping substantial polite
. organization, real. palpable and manifest
. the world; having the forms and capab
of the ordinary functions Of government e
; wards its own people and TO other states
) with courts for the administration Of justi'
? with local habitation possessing sue
organization of force, such materia