The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-27

Of the United States the militia of the
several States, to such extent as may
be necessary to carry this acS ioto
effect
The Presidents message, asking Goa
gress to declare war, was sent in during
the morning and vas as follows:
To the Senate apd House Of Represen.
tatives Of the United States of Amer.
ica.
l transmit to the congress for it's
consideration and appropriate action
copies Of correspondence recently had
with the representatives of Spain iu the
Uoited States. With the United States
minister st Madrid and through the lat
ter with the government of Spain,
showing the action taken under the
joint resolution approved April 20,
1898. efor the recognition Of the inde.
pendsnce Of the people Of Cuba, de-
mapdiog that the government of Spain
resinquish its authority aud government
10 the island Of Cuba and to withdraw
its land aud naval forces from Cuba aud
Cuban waters. and directing the Presi-
den, Of the Uaised States to use the
land and naval forces of the United
States to carry these resolutions ioto
effect 1"
Upon communicating to the Spanish
minister in Washington the demand
which it became the duty Of the .execu-
tive to address to the government of
Spaio, 10 obedience to said resolution,
the minister asked for bis passports and
withdrew. The United States minister
at Madrid was in turn notified by the
Spanish minister for foreign affairs that
the withdrawal of the Spanish repre-
sentative from the United States had
terminated diplomatic relations between
the two countries aud that all official
communications between their respec-
tive representatives ceased Herewith.
commend to you. especial attention
the note addressed to the United States
miaister a. Madrid by the Spanish
minister for foreign affairs on the 2lss
inst, whereby the foregoing notification
vas conveyed It will be perceived
therefrom that tbe government Of
Spaip, having cognizauce of.tte joint
resolution of the United States congress
aud in view cf the things which the
President vas thereby required aud au-
thorizsd to do. responds by treating the
reasonable demand Of this government
as measures of hostility. following with
that instant and complete severance Of
relations by it's action which by the
usuage of nations accompanies an ex-
istent state Of war between sovereign
powers.
The position of Spain being thus
made knowo and the demands of the
Uoited States being denied with o cor-
plete rupture of intercourse by the act
of Spain. have been constrained in
exercise of the power and authority
conferred upon me by the joint resolu-
t.oa aforesaid to proclaim. under date
Of April %, 1898. a. blockade of GER
tain ports of the north coast of Cuba
lying between Cardeoas aud Bahia
Honda and the port of Cienfuegos on
the south coast Of Cuba; and, further,
in exercise Of my constitutional powers
aud using the authority conferred upon
me by the act Of congress approved
April %, 1898. to issue my proclama
ton dated April %, 1898, calling forth
volunteers 10 order to carry iuto effect
the said resolution Of April 20, 1898
Copies of the proclamation are hereto
appended.
In view of the measures so taken
and with view to the adoption of
such other measures as may be ne
cessary to enable me to carry out the
expressed will of the congress of the
United States in the premises, re-
quest ofyour honorable body the adop.
ton of joint resolution declaring
that state of war exists between the
United States of America and the
kingdom of Spain and l urge speedy
action thereon to the end that the
definition of the international status
of the United States as belligerent
power may be made known, and the
assertion of al! iteI rights and the
maintenance of all duties in the con !.
duct of a public war may be assured.
WM. MCKINLEY
Executive Mansion. Washington.
April 25, 1898.
The Presidents message was &C.
companied by 10 or Is kilograms and
notes that have passed between the
governments of Spain and the United
States mainly throneh Minister Wood