No. 345.
[Extract.]
General Sickles to Mr. Fish
No. 227.]
Legation of the United States, Madrid,
December 22, 1870. (Received January 13,
1871.)
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy
of a note dated 21st instant, and sent to-day to the minister of state, in
compliance with your instructions Nos. 107 and 109, in relation to the
failure of this government to execute the emancipation act of June last. I
have taken this occasion to reiterate some of the views expressed in your
No. 65. A proposition is now under consideration in the Cortes to authorize
the executive to put in operation, provisionally, most of the important
measures pending in that body having reference to the peninsula.
* * * * * * * *
Inclosed herewith I have the honor to forward copies of these several
propositions. Of the former, the best defense offered for it is, that the
worst of the preceding governments have done the same thing. It will
doubtless be adopted, although a plain violation of the constitution. It is
not probable, however, that the Cortes constituyentes will bestow any [Page 746] further attention upon the
colonies. I should mention that the confirmation afforded by your No. 114,
of the continued suspension of important articles of the law of June, 1870,
made it expedient to dispense with any preliminary investigation in regard
to the execution of that act. That it has not been executed is notorious
here. If I had asked officially for information on the subject the inquiry
would have been referred to Cuba, with the usual delay, and it seemed
desirable that your views should be made known to Mr. Sagasta before the
dissolution of the Cortes.
I am, &c.,
General Sickles to Mr. Sagasta
Legation of the United States,
Madrid,
December 21, 1870.
Sir: I have had the honor on several occasions
to communicate to the cabinet of Madrid the representations I have from
time to time been instructed to make on the subject of the institution
of slavery in Cuba and Porto Rico, and especially to express the earnest
desire of the President that Spain might see, in the abolition of
domestic servitude, a means of promoting the true interests of her
American possessions and of satisfying the advancing sentiment of all
eivilized nations that liberty is rightfully the universal law of labor.
These sentiments, which found the motive for their expression in the
deep interest felt by the United States in the welfare of an adjacent
population with which their relations are intimate and their intercourse
constantly increasing, coincide with the conviction more than once
frankly declared to the government of His Highness the Regent that the
policy of political and administrative reform in Cuba is best calculated
to restore peace to that island and promote its prosperity. It is
therefore with regret that the President is informed of the delay that
appears still to attend the execution of the initiatory measure of
emancipation adopted by the constituent Cortes in June of the present
year. By a recent proclamation emanating from the superior political
governor of Cuba, it seems that several of the most beneficial
provisions of that law yet remain inoperative pending the preparation of
regulations for their enforcement.
The President, relying confidently upon the fulfillment of the assurances
heretofore given to me by his excellency the president of the council,
and by the predecessors of your excellency in the ministry of state
during my official residence in this capital, of the desire and purpose
of the government of His Highness the Regent speedily to abolish slavery
in the Antilles, directs me to represent to your excellency the
solicitude felt by the Government of the United States that the benefits
of the preliminary act of the last session of the Cortes may be no
longer withheld from the limited class of persons contemplated in its
benevolent design. That act, at best, fell far short of the reasonable
anticipations of the President, since his advances on the subject had
been uniformly met by the government of His Highness the Regent in a
temper and spirit that indicated a disposition to co-operate cordially
with the United States in expunging this blot from the civilization of
America.
The progress understood to have been made in the pacification of Cuba may
be lost if the opportunity now afforded in the remaining sittings of the
constituent Cortes be suffered to pass without realizing some, at least,
of those liberal measures of colonial reform to which the cabinet of
Madrid has distinctly pledged itself in its communications to the United
States Government. Among the considerations which have contributed most
to restrain and control the manifestations of the sympathy felt in the
United States for those who are believed to be struggling in Cuba for
self-government, has been the confident expectation, founded upon the
declaration of Spain, that before the dissolution of the constituent
Cortes, institutions in harmony with the Spanish constitution of 1869
would be extended to the Antilles.
The only portions of the North American continent in which slavery
exists, and to which representative government is denied, are found in
the Spanish possessions of Cuba and Porto Rico. Continental surroundings
and associations, which cannot but exert a powerful influence upon the
inhabitants of those islands, have long commended to them the example of
free institutions; and now that Spain has established for herself a
government based upon universal suffrage, it must be more than ever
difficult for her to maintain by force a colonial system which fails to
satisfy just aspirations impossible to repress.
[Page 747]
I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your excellency the
assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
His Excellency the Minister of State.
[From La Gaceta de Madrid, December 20,
1870.]
[Untitled]
The following proposition was read:
The undersigned deputies, desiring to promote the public good, and
believing themselves faithful interpreters of the sentiment of the
country, hereby propose to the Cortes a measure which, according to
their best judgment, that sentiment imperiously demands.
The duties of the high office conferred upon us by universal suffrage
having been performed; the principles proclaimed by the September
revolution having been laid down in the fundamental code; the
illustrious Prince, chosen by the vote of the representatives of the
nation to finish their work, having been elected monarch, and having
accepted the crown, the country asks what we are waiting for in order to
close the already too long constituent period, and in order resolutely
and at once to enter upon our normal life and the proper exercise of our
new institutions.
Some supplementary laws, the passage of which was deferred by the
assembly and that of the ceremonial for the reception of the oath of the
monarch-elect, do not furnish a sufficient reason indefinitely to
prolong the life of the Cortes, and therewith the interim condition and
the evils which all parties have recognized and condemned.
For these briefly stated reasons the undersigned propose to the assembly
to be pleased to decree:
That the Cortes shall receive the oath of Prince Amadeo, King-elect of
Spain, on the day of his arrival at Madrid; and to this end the Cortes
shall, until the 30th day of the present month, discuss and approve the
ceremonial laws for the King’s reception and for his taking of the oath,
the laws for the division of electoral districts, and those relating to
incompatibilities, to the endowment of the monarch, and the negotiation
of treasury notes; devoting two sessions daily to this task, said
sessions to be held every day, holidays included; no other business to
receive attention during the same, save that during the first two hours
of each afternoon session propositions not for new laws and other
matters may receive attention. And in case that, said day having
arrived, any of the aforesaid laws (bills) shall not have been discussed
and approved, the government shall cause the same to be respected as
laws, although they may be discussed and approved by the next Cortes; it
being understood that the reception of the King’s oath shall be the last
act of the constituent Cortes; which having been performed, they shall
be declared dissolved, and their mission at an end.
FRANCISCO ROMERO ROBLEDO.
VALENTIN GIL VIRSEDA.
CRISTOBAL MARTIN de HERRERA.
LAUREANO FIGUEROLA.
SANTIAGO DIEGO MADRAZO.
GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ.
EDUARDO GASSET y
ARTIME.
Palace of the Cortes,
December 19, 1870.
[From El Universal,
Madrid, December 21,
1870.]
[Untitled]
The following petition has been presented to the Cortes:
The undersigned deputies beg the Cortes to be pleased to decree that, in
case the proposed constitution for Porto Rico cannot, for lack of time,
be discussed and adopted, in accordance with the provisions of article
108 of the constitution of the state, it may be one of the bills
comprised in the proposition which is undergoing discussion, the
colonial minister being thus authorized to establish it in Porto Rico at
any time during the month of January next.
JULIAN PELLON y RODRGIUEZ.
JOSÉ MORALES DIAZ. y
ARTIME.
Palace of the
Cortes, December 20,
1870.
