The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-04-16

was secretary OF State under President
Fillmore. In August OF that year a mob
in New Orleans demolished the build
ing in which the Office OF the Spanish
Consul was located and attacked shops
kept by spaniards, being angered by
news Of the execution OF fifty Ameri-
cans in Havana.
Mr.. Webster admitted that the Span
ish Consul was entitled to indemnity.
But when pressed by the Spanish Min.
lister 10 afford indemnity to Spanish sub
jects injured by the mob, in common
with American citizens, Mr.. Webster
declined to accede TO the demand, as the
rights OF public officer were vastly dif-
ferent from those Of subject. Two
years after, In recognition Of certain
magnanimous conduct on the part OF
the Queen Of Spain, in psrdons be-
slowed on Americans, the Spanish Con.
sui and other Spanish subjects were in.
demnified for the Losses sustained.
The widows and children Of the citi.
zens who lost their lives by mob VIC.
lence, may cue tho leaders and members
of the mob, only in the courts OF the
State OF Louisiana; while the widows
and children Of the Italian subjects who
suffered death have the right TO sue each
member OF the mob, not only in the
State courts, but also before the Federal
tribunals for the District Of Louisiana.
WHAT THE PRECEDENT MAY DO.
1fitbs found that prosecution can be
maintained under the statutes Of the
United States, the case will be present.
ed to the next grand jury according to
the usual methods OF criminal admins.
tration. But II it shaIl be found, as
seems probible, that criminal proceed.
inss can only bstaken in the courts OF
Louisiana, the President eau do no
more in this direction than TO urge upon
the State officers the duty Of promptly
bringing the offenders to trial. This
was done in bis telegram TO the Cover.
nor OF Louisiana as early as tho 18th Of
March.
II It shall result that the case can be
prosecuted only in the State courts oil
Louisiana, and the usual Judicial inves.
tigation and procedure under the Crimi.
nal law is not resorted to, it will then be
the duty OF the United States to consider
whether some other form OF redress may
be asked.
NOT IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS.
The United States did not by the
treaty with Italy become the insurer Of
the lives or property OF Italian subjects
resident within our territory. Foreign
residents are not made favored class.
II, therefore, It should appear that
among those killed by the mob at New
Orleans, there were some Italian sub.
jects. who were abiding in the peace OF
the United States, and obeyiug the laws
thereof, and OF tue State OF Louisiana,
and that the public officers conniVed at
the work OF the mob, or failed to take
any steps for the preservation Of the
public peace, and afterwards to bring
The guilty to trial, the President would
under such circumstances feel that
case was established that should be
submitted to the consideration Of Con-
gress with view to the relief OF the
families OF the Italian subjscts who had
lost their lives by lawless violence.
Accept sir, the renewed assurance OF
my high consideration.
(Signed) JAMES G. BLAINE,
twill be observed that so far from
relations between the two
having been interrupted, they
are on practically the same footing as il
the Minister had not Quilted Washing
ton, for the Marquis appears to bo dis
charging the full functions OF Charge
d. A6aires.
Secretary Blaine's note contains in.
terral evidence that this Government
has not been threatened If an answer
was delayed. It Is also noticeable that
the Secretary promptly checks tho at
tempt made by Rudini to commit the
United States to q promise to pay in.
1t tis also significant that the
Secretary has so far found small author
I.y for the assumption in some quartera
that the United States may prosecute
the guilty parties in its own tribunals,
but It appears that the Department OF
Justlceis still wrestling with the prob
lem.