The National tribune., 1897-01-14
CONGRESS
Abstract of the More Important Pro-
ceedings of Both Houses
TUESDAY, JAN. &

TUESDAY, JAN. 8
Roth Houses of Congress reassembled at noon,
after the two weeks holiday recess. The meet
ing of the Senate Was without unusual incident
the attendance Oh the hoor and in the galleries
being somewhat meager.
Mr. Hoar Mass, RI called attention to
petition from Charles Francis Adams. President.
and others, of the Massachusetts, Historical
Society, urging that the old ship Constitution
be permanently preserved and placed at the
Washington Navy yard, where. like Nelson
famous frigste. Victory. at Portsmouth Eng
land, the ship be used as naval museum.
The first reference to Cuba was in two reso-
buttons offered by Mr.. Call Fla. d. The first
requests the President to send to the Senate. In
secret or open session, as he may deem best all
reports relating to the condemnation to lie
imprisonment. in chains, by the Spanish au-
tborities at Havana, Of Julio Sangulliy, an
American citizen. The second resolution re.
cites the circumstances of Sanguilly's trial and
condemnation, and directs the Secretary OF
State to demand his immediate release" Inc
resolutions went over Mr. Call stating that he
would make some remarks on them.
Senator Hale presented memorandum on
the method of recognition of foreign Govern
ments and foreign States by the Government
of the United States from 1859 TO 1897, which,
notwithstanding the document makes no srcn
claim, unquestionably is intended to bear upon
the question of the recognition of Cuba. AS
suminp that the recognition of the Spanish
American Republics by the United States and
England may be taken as typical, the conciu-
eions reached are:
/. Definite independence cannot be held to
be established and recognition is consequently
not legitimate SO long as substantial struggle
is being maintained by the formerly sovereign
State for the recovery of its authority; and that
tt,a,, fpff no fnrp m.
erly sovereign State or struggle SO lnaoe-
uuate as to offer no reasonable ground Tor
supposing that success may ultimately be OBJ
tanned is not enough to keep alive the rights
of the State and to prevent foreign countries
from falling under an obligation to recognize
as State the community claiming to have De-
come one.
The memorandum takes mp seriatim the
various acts of recognition by THIS Govern
ment. beginning with the recognition OF the
independence of the French Republic in 1873,
when President Washington received nj.
Genet, who had been duly accredited as Min
lister after the proclamation of the Republic by
the Convention of 1892. He calls attention to
the fact that in order that this Government
might be prompt in recognition of the various
changes in the French form of Government at
this critical period, the President supplied the
American Minister to Paris with q blank form
for that purpose. Coming down to the close OF
the Franco German war in 1870. when the
new Republic was proclaimed by Gambetta, 1t
ie represented that Mr.. Washburne, our Min
lister to Paris, WAS authorized by telegraph
from the Secretary of State to give recogni-
tion, the President rendering his congrstula-
sions.
The document concludes with o note from
Mr.. Andrew II. Allen. Chief of the Bureau of
Rolls and Library of the State Department. by
whom the memorandum was compiled, who
says the facts narrated have been gathered in
an examination Of the records Of the Depart
ment to follow along the lines indicated by
Hon. J. Q. Adams and W. E. Hall. Referring
TO Secretary Frelinghuysen's recognition of the
flag of the Congo State Mr.. Allen says:
1t does not appear to have been addressed
20 the State, but 10 in the nature of procla-
nation. No rule has been found requiring
that the diplomatic agent of the recognizing
power should to complete recognition, be re-
ceived officially or formally BY the State recog-
uized.
mo Law of Congress exercising power Of
recognition by Congress has been found among
the rolls deposited in this Department. not
outstanding the statement of Wharton fDi-
gest International Law, and repeated by his
torians and others that President jackson, on
March g. 1887, signed 3 resolution of Congress
for the recognition of the Independence of
Texas The act providing for the civil and
diplomatic expenses Of the Government ap-
proved on that day contained an item for the
outfit and salary of diplomatic agent to be
sent to the Republic of Texas whenever the
President of the United States may receive sat
1sfactory evidence that Texas is independ-
emit power and shall deem it expedient to ap-
point such Minister
at may have been an act OF recognition
when this Government, on Oct. 49, 1870. di-
rected Mr.. Armstrong, our Consul at Rome. who
had received an exequateur from the Papal
States, to apply for Q new one from the King.
upon the decree of the same date uniting the
Roman Provinces, but it hardly appears so. Nc
deviation of method from the rules indicated
has been found. The republican Government
of spain, for instance. in 1873 was recognized
by new credentials to Gen. Sickles at Madrid.
which be presented only to the President ol
zhe Republic. The latest recognition by this
Government was that of the newly-established
Government of the Greater Republic Of Contra
america, the President having received Mr.
Rodriguex, its representative, on Dec. "a, 1896
In the House there was taken up the Loud
Bill to amend the laws relating to second class
mail matter. The bill, which amends the pres
ent law in several particulars the principa
ones of which deny TO newspapers the "sampls
copy privilege" and deny to books sent through
she mails as serials the newspaper pound rates
was debated before the recess for one day
Under the order the debate on the bill vii
close to- morrow.