Year: 1869

hAUAsA08 IsCWS sAVs8 00~es


The telegraph brings US the important in
telllgence that Spanish war steamer arrived
at Havana, with Mr.. E. X. Codrington, the
Consular Agent of the United States at Gibara,
a prisoner on board and in irons. The cause
of his arrest is said to be that he was
suspected Of completely with the rebellion.
We trust there is some mistake in the
statement that a consular officer of the
United States has been arrested and
placed in irons ''upon suspicion of compli-
CITY," The present bitter hatred of the Span
ish volunteers in Cuba for everything that
looks like liberal view Of the revolution now
going on there, and particularly their vindic-
tivcness towards everything American, which
they look upon as the exciting cause of thei:
present troubles, are not likely to make them
the best judges as to what constitutes reason
able grounds for suspicion Of completely"


In their violent anger at seeing Cuba slip
ping from the grasp they have so long held
upon the island. the Spanish volunteers, who
now control the policy of the government, are
blind to everything like reason and justice.
Their course towards the Cubans who have
been arrested merely on suspicion in Havana
has done their cause immense harm in the es-
timation of the civilized world; and the arrest
of a consular officer of the United States,
unless most conclusively sustained by facts
other than their own angry denunciations,
deprives them of all consideration in an
international point of view. If they will not
respect the obligations of international comfy
they are not entitled to claim protection from
them, and place themselves in the position OF
an insane neighbor who insists upon burning
his own house to the imminent prejudice Of
his neighbors. Such insanity must be re-
strained by force.


Admiral Hof is upon the ground, armed
with the diplomatic authority Of the Navy De-
partment, which is the only diplomatic
authority the Captain General of Cuba will
respect, and we trust he has taken immediate
cognizance of the case. A reference of the
case to the sovereign power at Madrid, three
thousand miles away, would be simply denial
of Justice Mr.. Codrington's case must have
an immediate and fair examination, and If
wrong has been done the reparation must be
made at once by the power which committed
the wrong Consignment of the case to the
slough Of diplomatic correspondence would be
practically conceding permission to the Span
ish volunteers in Cuba to do whatever their
blind anger may dictate against American con-
suls and American citizens.


In the meantime, Congress should take up
and pass the resolution offered by General
Banks authorizing the President to do the
needful in the matter Of recognizing the bel
ligerent rights Of the patriot Cabans. Delay
in this matter can only add to our subsequent
difficulties in this feld, and we call upon Cen
eral Butler to put his shoulder also to the
wheel and push the Cuban resolutions through.
We must protect our consuls and our citizens
in Cuba in all their rights, military commits
sions and suborned testimony to the contrary
Notwithstanding. While Congress is doing
this we confde in the naval diplomacy Of Ad-
miral Porter.