The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-16


sions were made both by Senator shcr-
man and Senator Hill as to the attitude
OF President Grant and the then secre-
tary OF state, Hamilton Fish. Senator
Sherman declared that there was con-
illct OF opinion over Cuban affairs be-
tween the President and his secretary
OF state. The speaker OF the New York
assembly, Hamilton Fish, son Of the
late secretary. Is in possession OF infor-
nation upon this subject contained in
the diaries kept by his father. that Is OF
great Importance in the controversy.
| On the authority OF these diaries II IL
| shown that President Grant had at one
time, under the circumstances or
pending negotiation at Madrid been In
| cilned TO recognize the bellIgerency OF
| Cuba; hut on June IL. 1870, the opinion
| OF the President and the cabinet was
unanimous that there were no facts TO
Justify the declaration Of belligerency,
and that the satisfaction OF the Presi-
dent with the Cuban policy OF his ad-
| ministration, and it's effects upon the
country and the Republican party.
found expression n few weeks later IN
| thanks to the secretary OF state for
| to his wisdom and judgment
During his eight years service In the
state department, Mr.. Fish kept. chief
| ly as O reference record for his own
eyes, n diary In his own handwriting
containing a minute Of important trans
actions. OF his conversations with the
| President, members OF the cabinet. sem
| ators and other leading public men, IN
| regard to the more prominent OF the
| NtR.NN lTh hn
deal. From May 81 10 June 1S, 1870. the
| date OF President Grants special mes
sage to Congress on Cuban belllgerency,
the entries In the diary are many and
very full in regard TO the origin, prepnr-
| alton, discussions in cabinet, and final
! completion OF the special message.
Some OF these entries have a peculiar
interest in the light OF recent events and
were shown to-day to the correspondent
OF the Associated Press.
Under date OF February 10, 1870
there is n suggestion OF rift In the
unity OF the Republican party In de-
| Tense OF the policy respecting foreign
| affairs, which policy the President had
| announced in his annual meSsage OF the
previous December. The entry Is as
follows:
Ajax with sherman.
Called this morning (by appolnt-
ment) to see Senator John Sherman on
the subject OF the unit OF the coinage.
After conversIng on that question, re-
ferred to his resolution introduced in
the senate and his speech in favor OF
recognizing the belligerency OF Cuba.
and asked II he had recently, examined
the treaty with Spain OF 1875. He said
he had not; was not aware OF the exist
ence OF such treaty. referred 10 Its
provisions. and TO the probable conse-
quenceS OF the exercise by Spain by
right OF visit Tor of search); thought
our people would not submit to II, and
that the consequences would soon de-
velop in war; said that fighting was not
beliigerency; there Is fighting but no
beiiirereucy in Cuba; there is no gov
ernment OF the insurrectionary party:
no political organization, etc. He ad-
mitted that he had not examined the
subject closely, but said there ls good
deal OF excitement In the country on the
subject. l advised him In connection
with the passing OF his resolution OF
belilgerency to prepare bills for the in-
crease OF the public debt, and to meet
the increased appropriation which will
be necessary for the army. navy, etc"
An evident solIcitude among Republi-
cans, lest the party. In presence OF the
AUTUMN NAtGAluIl1 HlIuutN ut
divided on the Cuban question by rea-
son OF representations to the country In
regard to the Presidents real attitude.
Is indicated on June 10 by this entry:
Judge Orth and General Butler call
cd in the evening 10 urge the sending OF
n message by the President on the ques-
tion OF Cuban belllgerency. Orth says
the vote will be close. Banks viii make
the closing speech but there are some
twenty or thirty quiet members who
may be decided by his speech, but would
not 30 against the Presidents views"
on June 18th there Is this entry:
stay Rt home and prepare for mes
sage on the Cuban bclilEecncy ques-
ton, TO be submitted for the Presidents
consideration, in case he agrees to send
one. He has not yet returned from his
fishing excursion"
Tie aI,ssnge Prepared.
OF the discussion in the cabinet on the
18th, the day on which the special mes.
sage was sent to Congress. the dairy
says:
1T is generally admitted that II war
Is TO be TesOrted TO. II should be by d.
rect declaration, and not by embarrass-
Ing Spain by n declaration OF belllger-
ency; agrees unanimously, that no con-
dltidn OF facts exists 10 Justify bciiiger-
ency, Finally, the President amends
his sentences by referring In general
terms to seizures on the high seas, cns
bargoes OF property. and personal out
rhges. Robson adds the concluding
sentences. claiming that the question OF
bcllIgerency Ia distinct from those Quess
tIons OF wrongs, which are being press
cd for Naturalization, and, II not salts.
hed, they will be made the subject OF a
future message. And thus, II IL agreed
that the message shall be sent In"
Speaker Fish Batd that the original
draft Of the message with many erns'
urcs and lnterlincntions. IL nll In Mr.,
FiRh'E own hand. The message sent to
Congress md printed Is verbatim as In
that draft down to the following para
graph nenr the end:
'"rhere IL no detacto government In
the island OF Cuba sufficient to execute
law and maintain Just relations with
other nntions. Spnin has not been able
to suppress the opposition to Spnnlah
rule on the island, nor 10 award speedy
Justice TO other nations or citizens OF
other natlOns," when their rights hnve
been invaded"
Those two sentences were written and
Inserted by the President, the next two
were written In cabinet on the Presi'
dent'a suggestion. added by the sccrn-
thrv OF state; the last ana concluding
three were written and added In cabinet
by the secretary Of the navy. Speaker
Tish then showed extracts to demon
- a. Ill lFNtsf