Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-05-20

OASIS.
The Spaniards could not but feel
themselves injured and insulted by the
conduct of the French towards them;
but without being worked upon by i'm
patience to burst forth in gusts of in
dignation, they treated the subject
with becoming dignity and laid it be-
fore the constituted authorities under
whose cognizance 1t came. On the S9th
of August, 1893, the commissioners of
Spain had complained to the govern
ment of the United States, of attempts
to excite the inhabitants of Kentucky
to an enterprise against the Spanish
dominions on the Mississippi. On that
day the President requested of the Gov
ernor of Kentucky, Mr.. Shelby, to be
attentive to circumstances of that sort,
and If such an enterprise was medi-
tated, to put the citizens of Kentucky
on their guard against the consequen-
ces, and to adopt the necessary legal
measures for preventing it. He was
informed that such measures would be
particularly inausplcious to Kentucky,
at the very moment when her interests,
alluding to the free navigation of the
Mississippi, were under negotiation
between Spain and the United States.
Gov. Shelby assured the President of
his readiness to counteract all such
measures, and of his, the Governors
belief, that one such were in contem-
plation, and of the high sense which
the people of Kentucky had of the OBJ
legations they owed to the general gov
ernment; far too high to admit of their
embarking in any enterprise so injuri-
Gus to the welfare of the United States.
On the 9th of mber, 1893, the Gov
ernor was further informed upon the
representation of the commissioners of
Spain, that on the I'd of October, 1893,
four Frenchmen, La Chaise, Charles
Delpau, Mathurin and Gignou, had
set out in stage from Philadelphia,
authorized by the then minister of
France, Mr.. Genet, to engage as
many as they could, whether of our
citizens or others, ON the road, or
within the State of Kentucky or else
where, to undertake an expedition
against the Spanish possessions in our
neighborhood; and in event to descend
the Ohio and Mississippi, and attack
New Orleans. He was required by
legal means, such as binding the par
ties in recognizance or by the aid of
the militia, if these failed, to suppress
the attempt. The. citizens of Kentucky
could not expect any favorable results
from such measures with respect to the
! freesnasigation of the siississippis rclas
tive to which subject they had long
experienced a restless temper which
that artful man laid hold of to precipi.
tate them into rash expedients. The
legal means of suppression were ex-
posed to the view of the Governor and
he was entreated to use them with ef-
feet. In order to quiet the solicitude
and fears felt by the western people
on the subject of the free navigation
of the Missi ssippi, they were informed
| khra,1h Tho nouarnAr hof tho y1ri q orx,
instruction to our minister in Spain,
was to obtain it, and that the King of
Spain had consented to open a negoti-
alton upon the subject and that all
proper steps had been taken to manage
the negotiation as to give it success. 1t
was stated that the commissioners on
both sides had been for some months
employed, and were then employed on
that subject. 1t was requested that
this communication might be received
as warning against the dangers to
which these unauthorized schemes OF
war may expose the union, and that
iuuiNiuudio hi6uO iOdin w aOHuiCeSe
in the means which the government
had adopted and was pursuing, for the
completion of their wishes. The Gov
ernor was informed that the present
French minister had discovered ant
recalled the commissions. The Gov
ernor of Kentucky, as one of the west
ern people, had entertained the opinion
that the government of the union, haC
not been as attentive to the subject O.
the free navigation of the Mississippi
as its importance required and as the
state of public sentiment in the west
ern country dictated. In sletter to tn,
President, he used expressions CORES
ponding with his feelings; he was
with the information now laid befor
him, invited to revi'ion Of the sub
ject, and to a sacrifice of his resent
ments; and, finally, to a compliance
with the measures which the Presiden
, had consigned to his discretion an,
, execution. 1t had now come to ligh
. that Genet had granted commission
=, to raise men in Ohio, Kentucky, Ten
r nessee, South Carolina and Georgia
, Gov. st. Clair, of Ohio, issued hi
: proclamation condemning and fol
bidding such procedure. Governo
= Shelby, though at first complained Q
!, Spanish injustice, upon receiving q
It explanatory letter, became satisfie
Q and acted with effect. Blount, whe
r he discovered lurking disposition {
= the same tendency here, so severel
n reprobated it that the design WI
a abandoned. On the 18th of Januar,