Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1870 — The President's Message on the Cuban Question. [ARTICLE]

The President's Message on the Cuban Question.

Is hla meant* <* Cuban aflUra.deHreed to CoDgran on the ISU>, jW deavGnnt racitea that during the ax month* which have named rince the date oi hla annual meeMsetoOongreaa, “ the oondlttoa of the Inaurgente haa not improved, and th* hwurrvQtion Itself, although net aubdned, exhibits no aign of advaaoa, tat aeema to be confined to an irregular system of hostilities carried on by small bands of armed men, without concentration, through the woods and roarsely-populated regions of the island, attacking from ambush conveyances and small bands of troops, burning plantations and estates of those not in sympathy with their cause. But the insurrection has not gained ground. It is equally true that Spain haa not suppressed it. Climate, dis ease, etc., have worked destruction among the soldiers of Spain, and though the Spanish government has posession of every seaport town, they have not been able to subdue the hostile feeling which haa driven a considerable number of the natives to armed resistance against Spain, and still leads them to endure the danger and privations of the life of guerrillas. On the other side, the contest has been conducted, and is now carried on, with a lamentable disregard of human life, and the usages which modern civilisation has prescribed as the necessary process of war. The war of Spaniard and Cuban is alike bringing devastation over fertile regions. Mura, grous and revengeful decrees are issued and executed by both parties. Count Valmaaeda and CoL Bolton, on the part of Spain, have each startled the humanity and aroused the indignation of the civilized world by the execution each of a score of prisoners at a time, while Gen. Quesada, the Cuban chief, coolly, and with apparent unconcern, has admitted the slaughter, by his own order, in one day, of upward of 650 prisoners of war. A summary trial, with a few, if any, escapes from conviction, confirmed by execution, is the fate of those arrested on either side on suspicion of infidelity to the cause of the party making the arrest Whatever may be the sympalhies of the people or of the government of the United States for the cause or objects for which the people of Cuba are understood to have put themselves in armed resistance to Spain, there can be no question of past sympathy in a conflict earned on by both parties alike in such a barbarous violation of the rules of all civilized nations, and with such combined outrage. On the plainest principles of humanity we cannot discriminate in our censure of the mode of conducting the contest between .Spain and Cuba. Each commit the same atrocities, and outrage alike the established rules of war. The property of many of our citizens has been destroyed or embargoed, the lives of several have been sacrificed, and the liberties of others have been restrained. In every can that has come to the knowledge of the government, an early and earnest demand for reparation and indemnity has been maue, and a most emphatic remonstrance been presented against the manner in which the strife is conducted, and against the reckless disregard of human life, the wanton destraction of material wealth, and the cruel disregard of the established rules of civilized warfare.” After alluding to the steps previously taken by the President, “in the hope of bringing the conflict to an end, and for the securing to the people of Cuba the blessings and rights of independence,” which efforts had so far failed of their ob art, and after citing precedents and auorities on the question of neutrality, the message concludes as follows: “ The question of belligerency is one of feet not to be decided by sympathy or prejudice against either party. The relation between the present state of the insurgents must amount in fact to war according to international law. The fighting,' though fierce and protracted, does not alone constitute war. There must be military forces acting in accordance with the rules and customs of war, flags Jot truce, exchange of prisoners, etc.; and to justify’* recognition of belligerency, there m£st be above all a de facto political organisation of the insurgents sufficient in character and resources to constitute, if left to Itself, a state among the nations capable of discharging the duties of a state and meeting the just responsibilities it may incur as such toward other powers in the discharge of its national duties. “Applying the best information which I have been able to gather, whether from official or unofficial sources, including the very exaggerated statements which each party give to all that may prejudice the opposite or give credit to its own side oi the question, lam unable to see in the present condition of the contest in Cuba those elements which are requisite to con stitute war in the sense of international law. The insurgents hold no town or city; have no established seat of government ; they have no prize courts; no organization for receiving or eolketing revenue ; no seaport to which a prize may be carried, or'through which access can be had by a foreign power to the limited interior territory and mountain fastnesses which they occupy. The existence of a Legislature representing any popular constituency is more than doubtful in its uncertainty. There is no probable evidence of an election; of any delegated authorities of any government outside the limits of the camps occupied from day to day by the moving companies of the insurgents. There is no commerce, no trade, either internal or foreign; no man- • ufactures. The late Commander-in-Chief of the insurgents, having recently ceme to the United States, publicly declared that all commercial intercourse and trade with the exterior world has been utterly cut off, and he further added: ‘To day we have not 10,000 arms in Cuba.’ It is a well-established principle of public law that a recognition of a foreign state of belligerent rights to insurgents under circumstances such as now exist in Cuif not justified by necessity, is a demonstration of moral support to the rebellion. Such necessity may hereafter arise, but it has not yet arisen, norjis its probability clearly to be seen. If it be a war between Spain and Cuba and be recognized, it is our duty to provide for the consequences which may ensue in the embarrassment of our commerce and the interference with our marine. It belligerency be recognized, the commercial marine of the United States becomes liable to search and seizure by the oomtniarioned cruisers of both parties, and become subject to the adjudication ot prize courts. Our large coastwise trade between the Atlantic and Gulf States, and between both and the Isthmus of Panama and the other States of South America, engaging the larger part of our commercial marine, passes, of necessity, almost within eight of the island of Cuba. Under the treaty with Spain of 1795, as well as by the laws of nations,'our vessels will be liable to visits on the' high seas. In case of belligerency the carrying of contraband goods, which now is lawful, becomes liable to risks or seizure and eondawntion. “In view of the gravity of this question, I have deemed it my duty to invite the attention of the law-making power of the country to all the relations and bearings of the question in connection with and granting of belligerent rights. There is not a £ fado garemtßtxX in Cuba sufficient to execute the laws, or to maintain the just relations with other nations. Spain has not been able to suppress the opposition to Spanish rule on the Island, nor to award •peody justice to other nations, or

to dtiasna of other nations, when their righto have been involved. There ar* serious complications growing out of the seizure of American vessels upon the high seas; executing American citizehs without proper trial, and confiscating or embargoing the property of American citizens. Solemn protests have been made against every intrusion of the rights of citizen t. of the United States, or our flag upon the high seas, and all proper steps have been taken, and are pressed for proper reparation of every indignity complained of. The question of belligerency, however, which Is to be decided upon definite principles, and according to ascertained facts, is entirely different from and unconnected with tne other questions of the manner in which the strife is carried on on both sides, and the treatment of our citizens entitled to our protection. These questions concern our own dignity and responsibility, and they have been made, as khave said, the subject of repeated cofemun(cations with Spain, and of protests and demands for redress on our part. It'is hoped that these will not be disregarded ; but should they be, these questions will be made the subject of a further communication to Con-

gress.

U. S. GRANT,

“ Executive Mansion, June 13,1870.’’