The New York Herald Newspaper, August 1, 1871, Page 3

eens eens SPAIN AND CUBA. Policy of the Government Toward the Ever Faithfal Isle. SERRANO’S ULTIMATUM. Submission to the Government or Rapid Extermination, A CUBAN ASKING FOR JUSTICE. The Policy of Terror the Loss of the Colonies. THN SLAVERY QUESTION. Speeches of Sonors Labra, Nocedal, Ayala, Sagasta, Candan and Admiral Topete. Manni, July 14, 1971. @ada has at last come up in the Spanish Cortes, ‘and has made aa excitement. It was on an opposi- on rrotion that the Chamber should declare the dis- pleasure with which It has seen “the grave assaults which the principle of authority nas suffered in Cuba, and the non-observance of the laws and decrees made aince 1870 to carry to the provinces the demo- eratic spirit of the revolution of Septembet.” » Sefior Lara, the mover, in rising to sustain his proposition, was asked by President Olozaga, ina spiric not highly polite, to be short and to remember the impatience of the Chamber to consider otner topics. Cuba is as unpleasant an appearance in the Cortes as was Banquo’s ghost at a memorable sup- per, and the government ts always in a hurry to turn its eyes away. Sefior Labra is a native of Cuba, Dut has spent his iife in Spain, and is a representa- lve of the Asturias, He expressly disclaimed any purpose to speak as a Cuban, however, but said he spoke merely as a representative of his district, which “has most contributed to carry to the Antilles the spirit of tae Spanish race.” WHAT SHOULD BE DONE FOR CUBA. “It 19 necessary,” sald Sefor Labra, “that our country should give all its energy to a regenerative Movement for the Antilles, reform the laws of the Indies, cause slavery to disappear and destroy the petty interests created under the shadow of op- pressive lezisiation, I know well that the question isserious, It should be discussed without ceding to puerile fears, Some of my friends who belonged tothe late Cortes believed it impossible to treat of the Cuban question here, but through having fol- Jowed this conduct on other occasions we have gone on losing our colonies in America, In the Cortes of 1820 the Deputies sald they could not dis- cuss the question of the provinces, In the next Cortes, although some believed they ought to enter on the question, the general opinion was the con- trary, aud a little afterwards we LOST ALL SPANISH AMERICA nearly. To England the samething happened. At tue end of the last century her North American ooionies rebelled, Lord North was at the head of the English Cabinet. “Don’t speak of America,” sald that Minister, “until she 1s subject to our do- minton;” and in spite of the opinions of other great orators they refrained from speaking of America, and America was lost. In 1855 India rebelled, but a different conduct was then followed by England. The question was amply discussed, and liberal reforms carried to India have consolidated the power of England in those regions. I ought to know some- ahing of what ts going on In the Antilles, for I have there pieces of my heart, who are fighting In the fields of battle, Permit me to offer some considera- tions. Know you what has resulted frome those two years of silence? IN CUBA THERE EXISTS A BRUTAL RULE by the very conditions of the struggic. Cuba is a domain of absolutism. She ts hermetically sealed wo every liberal thought. It is useless to write in her newspapers, as it wili be useless for her ears for mo to make this speech, for It will not enter tto that igiand. instead of this there exists the permanent influence of men who have flourished in the shade ofthe revolniion of September, who say that the Depaties ought not to discuss this point, who speak of “Cuban gold,’’ and who belleve that the integrity of the territory 1s in danger. They even fear we may have a Colonial Minister who thinks of aban- doning Cuba, when nobody ever dreamed of such & thing. To destroy these errors it Is necessary to cause everybody to understand that we, all of us, nave the firm will to preserve wtact the national territory, following a positive policy, and PLANTING THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSTITUTION of 1869 in our provinces, I cannot comprehend, gentiomen, that a democratic Chamber can deny the principles which engendered it. If we sustain a certain policy in Cuba I don’t know why it should not be discussed, as I don’t know why the telegrams received from Cuba are not published in the Gazet’e, If the Ministers give themselves up to secret ; roe ceedings they might as well abandon their posts to the conservatives exclusively, Whose policy hag ever been secret. Gentlemen, in public meetings people baye debated with all liberty the thought of BUSTALSING OR ATANDONING CUBA, yet here we have remained siieat, We ought to dis- cuss the colonial question caimly and without any of those clamors witch only serve to make noe and to create efect, I know or thtok I know THE ORIGIN OF THR CURAN INSURRECTION. Itis alamentable past, Itisin the conduct fol- Jowed In the year 1823, It is in the terrible defection of 1866, These caused the separatist work to com- mence, and the last aggravation was in the late administration of Genera! Lersundi. There arc, gen- ‘Yemen, in the colonies, THRER FUNDAMENTAL PROKLEMS TO SOLVE— Ahe problem of raco, that of labor and that of local Fight, which conducts t# colonial auitononiye Pe, Here are the causes of the insurrection of Cuba. Tnced not utter my opinion about that tnsurrection, I havo ever condemned it aud condemn it still, 1 belleve Cuba has no future, except as a part of Spain, Pxcept for this insurrection the voice o1 the reaction would have found no shelter there, and the half million of staves who are suffering there would bave recovered their liberty. We fave im the Philippine Isiands laws which have been suspended, in Porto Rico laws which have vecn falsified and in Cuba laws which have veen annulled, In regard to Cuda I shall not say a word of the disasters and the violences, for 1 kKaow what wat 18; 1 know our character, with its great precipitation and paroxysams, which sometimes Iead us to great ms and at other times to lamentable ex- cesses. 1 know THR HISTORY OP THE AMRRICAN CONTINENT and 1 am not surprised that a people who have 300,000 Atrican negroes i their midst, a people who for matty years have delivered themselves to the eultivation of material prosperity aad departed from the grand currents of moratity and justice, are pre- Gestinated, by the fatal law of expiation, to sufer disasters, Bat IN OUBA THERE ARE TWO GRAND INTERESTS— ‘the interest of the abolition of slavery and the inte. rest of the integrity of the nationai honor, These ‘two interests are for me one and the same, for I can not comprehend the existence of slavery after the triumph of vhe revolution. JORET'S PREPARATORY LAW OF ABOLITION. Four points were comprehenced in Serior Moret’s Preparatory Law of Abolttion—the liberty of the children born after the 17th of September, 1868; that Of those above sixty years; that of the emancipados ana those who lent services to tne national cause, and sundry reforms in reference to the existing slavery, Not till three months after this law Was prom ved in Spain was it promuigated in Cuba, the on the pro-slavery papers of Madrid satd to trary. Even thon it was not promulgated purely and simply, but with the addttion of an artl- elo ceponns, that tt should not take effect as regards the old ones and the ¢manc:pados until certain regu- lations were prepared, but should remain 10 vigor only for the children, who were to enter into a pa- cronaio, & species of servitude, and for those who jad leat service to the national cause, Do you know me I 8 Who, Bu don the high svas oy the English craisers, remain in Cuba tt they are not carried to Sierra Leone, In Caba they re- ‘main ucder the patronato of the authorities. What abuses, what frauds must have taken place in this point i evident from the fact that I Juve, 170, Sr 25 NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 38 wae declared there only existed 6,000 of these emancipaaos, siter all the seizures of oargocs that had been going on for so many years. Well, these being made to know the law which gave them their liberty, were made to sign contracts, by which they re-submitied themsel ves to forced labor for eight years. low is it that the Minister of Uitramar, who ts ca-oficio we rotector of these unhappy ones, has consented to ais? But we have in Cuba the interest of tue na- Monal mtegrity. I need not speak here of patriot- isa, Of the tuititment of duty one ougut not to boast. I havea duty of patriotism to sustain—the national integrity. HB ONLY SOLUTION OF THE CUBAN QUESTION we can admit is the retention of the island by Spain, Its cession to another peopie would be the most explicit recoguition of our colonial impotence. Its abandonment or recognition of its independence would be a crime of lesa humanity. But there exists the grave problem of the question of force, and in this part I believe that the straggié ougbdtto conclude promptly and well, so that there hall not remain any hope to tne insurgents, [ believe that in the way we have been sustaining the struggle we shali not conclude it, It is sala we have sent to Cuba 66,000 soldiers. But we have been seading then in small dripiets of 5,0.0 to 6,000, pend 30,000 at once end you will conclude the insur- rection; but atthe same time suspend the shoot- Ings aud the embargoes. ‘The shedding of blood prodnces nothing. What 18 necessary to conctude the idea. ink, gentlemen, of the atrul, figure of 6,000 men who have been killed in the in- sUrrecuon, and Wid, though they have been misled by a iamentavie and criminal extravagance, not for (his were less our brothers! CAUSE THESE SHOOTINGS TO CEASE. Suspend also the embargoes on La oi: Pore real contiscations—suspend them for the honor of the nineteenth century, when they lave been abolished by the whole civilized world. And at the same ume, as you remember that the isiand press 18 sub- Ject to the caprice of the autaorities, look well into ‘What 18 written there. ‘Take count of ihe injuries those papers, whose outer page 18 full of advertle. ments of sales of negroes, coumit on all who in Spain aspl.e to the triumph of the grand ideas of liberty and of justice, REMEMBER THAC THE POLICY OF TEREOR IS THE LOSS OF THR COLONIES. Without libertv we cannot save our colonies. Everybody in them who thinks, feels and hives is marching towards ilverty, Let me say two words about TAB VOLUNTEERS OF CUBA, not to launch upon them diatribes ot any descrip- tion, but to express my belief that if you know how to use the great element this institation encloses, in spite of the errors and excesses they have undoubt- edly committed, you will be able to make out ol! ita pata party 1p favor of the principle of national unity. A ORITICAL MOMENT FOR SPAIN—THE NEGROES AND THE CHINESE. GENTLEMEN:—The present moments are critical for Spain. The war ls assuming a frightful character. ‘rhe principal aliment of the insurrection 1s tne negroes and the Chinese. Notwithstanding the great measures the government have taken, and waich f£ applaud, promibiting the immigration of Ch nese and regulating the question of embargoes, they ought to pe well prepared for the day in which the maurrection shall conclude. They ought to think ‘Well wat must be the fate of the insurgent slaves, #0 a8 t? avert Jrom ppain tue terrible danger which snatched St. Domingo from the power of the mother country—the return to SULAVERY of he unhappy Begro Who had already enjoyed his sreedom. T believe T have accomplished the two objects I had m view—namely, to demonstrate that in the Ultraigar the laws are not being tuilliled and to ex- cite tl government to give us explanations onan the state of those provinces, Let us bear in mind, gentiemen, that there are two cardinal points which ought to occupy the attention of Spain outside of herself, The one. in the Peninsula, is Portugal; the other, beyond the seas, is America, Let us not pre- gen; ourselves neither here nor there as the repre- sentatives of absolutism, dictation or slavery, aud we shall have fulfiiled our misston, A ROBNE OF CONYUSION. Several Deputies answered Labra, and confusion and uproar set in in full blast in tue majority, Tue Conde de Toreno, as another, Asturias weputy, rose to associnte himself to tre Sahitncioes against Labra. Then, in the midst of frightfal notse, SHE GREAT CARLIST ORATOR, SENOR NOCEDAL, ASKED T) BE HEARD, He said:—*Four of us traditionalists (Carltsts) are Deputies for Asturias, In their namegand in that of all the Carlists of Spain I deciare that in this propo- sition we shall vote with the Minister of Citramar, 80 as to prove that before the country’s flag all dif- ferences cease.” Frosh confusion, added to by Sefior Gonzalez Alagre, who said :—“I am not surprised at those ntatives of Asturias who have protested here, for, a8 they represent the reaction in Spain, it 1s but natural they should represent the reaction in the provinces. (Terrible row.) But I believe I interpret the sentiments of all the liberals of Astoriws when I associate myselé to the brilliant ideas of Senor Labra. Do you wish the war to cease? Do you wish Cuba to be preserved to Spam? (Great cries of “Yes,"") Well, we also wish it. Sut we also ‘Wish lveral reforms and the abolition of slavery,’? SPNOR AYALA'S SPHECH, Sejior Ayala, Cotontal Minister, spoke as follows:— Gentiemen, the incidents to which Sefor Labra’s proposition has given rise, and the protests made by wecertain part of the Chamber, if they do not ab- solve me Irom answering him, confirm ina clear manner that woat is desired to be transmitted from this place to Cata fs, namely in Spain, there are no differences of party when treating of the imegrity of the country. This qnestion is beyond all party questions, for If we lose the colonies our importance in the world is lesseaed. Who can doubt that mst tutions and reforms coinciding with such a sud event would remain stamped with the seal of mis- fortune? ‘This consideration obliges us to treat these quesifons witu great care, aad to make the reforms with great severity and great pradence, Sv far from denying the importance of the questions Setor Labra has raised I believe it my duty to study them, and at the same tme to denouace to the country the tendeucy of our enemies, so that ja the future we may avoid errors which cost much blood and which do not inspire compas- sion, for misfortunes arisiug irom inaptitude do not even ment compassion. Seior Labra will see I am iu conformity with him as respects the gravity of tne question, But in these moments, when we are just about to close this Legistature, when we need to avall ourselves of every instant to place the govern- meant, whatever it may be, in conditions to subst his proposition bears the defect of being inoppor- tune, of, at least, of being sterile, especially as there 1s no project in 1t referring concretely to his appre- cations. 1 wili not now make A DEFINITE PROGRAMME OF OOLONIAL POuITIC: for as we could not apply it immediately it would inconvenient and would lead to no advantages. For the same reason I cannot follow the speech of sefior Labra step by step. ‘Yhe origin of colonies has sometimes obeyed an excess of home population; at otuers tne expulsion from the mother country of a party who have be- come incompatible with the existiog legality; at others the extension of commerce; at others tie ne- cessity of having a place for the transportation of criminals. According to these various motives has been the conduct followed towards them by the mother ee Spatv opcyed none of these motives in the estaby lishment of her colonies, Ske obeyed no other mo- tive than the noble desire to carry to those distant lands her own nationality and the excess of activity she had athome. Hence {t does not appear to me to be prudent to change i “one moment tne policy of Spain, which has been the policy of assunitation, for another policy which has never been Spanish. What best suits us todo ts to harmonize the ten- dency ot this poltey with the nev institutions, taking tuto account tne constitutional article, wich WW nothing eise than the GUARANTEE OF THE INTEGRITY OF TRE TRRRITORY, ‘fo prociaim the autonomy of tie colonies is to pro- claun their independence, and the 108s of the mother country’s prestige is immediate, Autonomy sup- poses @ protectorate, and Spain cannot discharge the role of provector Without risk Of a rebellion on the part of the protected. Sefor Labra laments the attacks suffered by the principle of autnority in Cuba, and above all, the nobservance of the decrees jasued by the government to carry there the demo- eratic sviit, In deciaring Uiat Thave respected all the decteed of my worthy phegeooreors,, and have Gounseiied this respect to thé colonial authorities, L have made my compicte defence. “All these decrees are in force, mcivding that given by Sefior Moret m reference to education in the Pnilippinas, althongh in one of its articles it pros vided that if the religious ordera feel age rioved they ave to lodge complaint, as they have done, and the thing ts now fore the Council of State for its resolution. Am. 1 to be accused for thisy IisoL declare that, thongh the name of the frailes (‘riars or monks) may sound bad in some ears, one must not forget that they are a necessary element for the sustaining of that Kastera territory. In the Phillipinas, gentiemen, there wre two ele- ents necessary to cause RESVECT TO THR MOTHER COUNTRY, the name of Castile and the mouks! Weil, then, distigure the auciont nation; let there appear a new Spain tu the eyes of the native of our indian archi- pelago, and strip the religious orders of their legitt- Mate influence, and Spain will loge the Pailippine Islands without ever being able to reconquer them ! T look upon those islands a8 80 secare to us that 1 Nave no fear of tusing them, but if we should lose them we shall never recover them! ‘This conviction does not exempt me from accepting reforms which tend W Weir improvement, THR CONSEJO DE PALLLIPINAS, nomtnated by Sefor Moret, Watch is but a new form of the Junta created by me, is studying tho reforms wo be made there, and I, tustead of opposing them, will be one of their most powerful auxiliaries. Let me here remark that the porsiates o/ the Phiilipi- nas hax augmented considerabiy tn jess than ball a century, and that the state of education there is proportionably better than in Spain, which proves thatthe administration there is not so bad as is alleged, ‘This gives us time to study reforms, so as to plant them all the better, Sefior Labra hus spoken of THE DARK PROBLEM OF SLAVERY. Under this head T participate in his ideas. I declare that my object im entering into the Ministry was to carry emancipation to a head. Bus in me inere is. stimulus more powerial than that of applause— namely, the stimulus of duty; and when I entered the government I was convinced it was impossible to mix the war question with the social question, and that it was rseless to initiate the reiorms unul the war had definitely conciuded, In this J sacri- ficed my own glory to a high duty of patriotism. If for this {deserve censure, 1 deliver my cunduct to those who are interested in the good of my country. BMANCLPATION SHOULD 38 MARE BY THE ACCORD Tam sore those have to help init who, it pains me to say, are caljed slave Owners, The time I shail delay tn solving this a aibat will be the time the War_yet jaete, Alter the education decree wag wiven, 2 the preparacory iaw for the abolitton ofslavery. Pine | dulge the nope they will be complied with, but, If not, | Lwill propose their reform by accord both with the masiers and the siaves, The only thing I will op- pose is violent and sudden emancipation, without any preparation whatever. Such emancipation has only beeu effected twice, once by the French Assem- bly and the o:ber by Lincoin in the United States. Well, the ndavisms in St. Domingo, end 1s peeeens slaie, prove that the meusure Was lmpru- dent. LINCOLN RESORTED TO VIOLENT RMANCIPATION 88 & sad and necessary means of war, and he dic- tated it against the enemy. Would tt not be sad for us to do this against those who in Cuba combat for the integrity of our territory? What Seiior Labra has found much fault with 18 that it is prohibited to discuss here the attairs of the ultramax. Who pro- hibits ity Nobody is opposed to it. From the revo- lution onward it nas had nootber mit than patri- olism. Senor Labra’s own speech isthe best proof that can be discussed. Seior Labra said we had CONVERTED THE QUESTION OF CUBA INTO A QUES+ TION OF FORCE. Have the government done this? The Provisional government encountered grave compromises cone tracied by former governments and by the revolu- tionary spirit. They were disposed to fuifll these; but there arrived the question of force, and then we had to resort to defend ourselves, General Dulce carvied authorization to plant the Mberty of the reas, of public mecting as-ociation and the election lecree, Which opened the doors of this House to | the representatives of Cuba. But these liberties Were ontv avatied of to combat us, and then it wag ‘We heard for the first time in Cuba the cry of “Muera Espana /” (“Death to Spain!) The government, therefore, had no alternative bat to remit to the solution of arms that which could not be solved in any other way, Seiior Labra has accused me for TUE NON-APPEARANCE OF THE DEPUSIES FOR PORTO RICO, He has done so tn ignorance of the real cause, whien is that out of respect to Porto Rico the gov- ernment diminished the census, and the ratification of the electoral lusts has retarded the elections, Jn his reforeuce to the attacks saffered in Cuba by the principle of authority, [ don’t know whether Sefior Labra atluded to the volunteer iorce of citi- zens who are tacre gustaining our flag and our cause, INJUSTICR TO THE VOLUNTEERS OF CUBA. Injustices are duly committed against the volun- teers of Cuba, even to the saying that the sacrifices they make are made solely for the sake of their own homes and fortunes, thus establishing the dangerous theory that patriotis:n is worth nothing. It has deen sald that the volunicers were the first to make the wat violent. Under the words ‘the two insurrections’? they have tried to compare and liken the volunteers to the Insurgents. Those who thus speak, doubtiess, trust much to being able to lower our character. If excesssos have been com- mitted, to judge them it is necessary to take Into account that, the passions have been greatly excited there, the same as in our own Civil war and in our war of independ- ence. Because excesses were committed must We now anathematize those glorious epochs? The Cuban war 1s a war of defence axainst traitors who desire to be foreigners! Very agreeable would it be to possess in the heat of the combat the coolness of the magistrate, but 1 don’t expect such from weak buman nature, The volunteers of Cuba have the merit that they appeared when they were wanted, and when the danger has disappeared they will return to their various positions {u civil society. I cannot heip commendtog thetr conduct to the gratituite of the country, for without them we should have lost Cuba from the beginning of the insurrection, Sad ts it, gentlemen, to have these charges made against the volunteers when part of them have mubilized themselves to. combat the insurrection, ana, perhaps, at this very moment are receiving the balis of the rebels, Let me conclude. This 1s fno question of party. Tt isa national question, When we come to discuss principles. then it will be a question of opinions, but, 40 long as the war lusts, all true Spaniards should be on one side. THE POSITION OF TAR GOVERNMENT. Seiior Labra having thus brought about a full dis- cussion of the Cuban difficulty, and developed the attitude of the government in regard to it, withdrew his proposition, but the indiscreet supporters of the government, not satisfied to get au unpleasant dis- cussion quietly out of the way, challenged all the elements of opposition by presenting @ proposition for a vote of confidence in the goverament and of faith m its colonial policy. This made such a row that Marshal Serrano requested the mover to with- draw also this motion, Serrano said:— GENTIPMEN-—Recognizing the noble and patriotic inten- tlon of Senor Romero Robledo and the other enors of his motion, the government believe we ought not to waste time in debates other than those which were occupying us, on the national hnances. After having heard the quent words of the Colonial Minister and of Senor Esco- aura, and secing that almost all the factions of the Chamber are fh accord on this question, as the government do not at present need a vote of. approbation, but votes which will afford them the means of governing the country in these si- preme momenta, I beg Senor Robiedo to retire his proposi- tion, (Cheering and cries of “Ob! oh!) Romero Robledo retired his motion accordingly. MAKING MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITY, But others ecciug the opportunity to distract and disturb the pee a majority presented Sefior Labra’s motion again as their own, and the skir- mishing on it was kept up and continued into the evening, when another counter -proposition was presented, ‘asking the Congress “to support the government in putting an end to the Cuban insur- rection, that they migat realize the promises made by the revolution as far as regards the Antilles,’? MARSiIAL SERRANO AGAIN SAID? All the Ministers agree with the eievated ideus of the Colo- nial Minister, as given to-day. Our only proffer to those who wilt not submit and obey the government created in Spain is wat andextermination. This {s our policy. it is the poiley declared by the majority of the Congress in ite reply to, the th A ee fe the policy of the proposition before ua. if they are by the aide of the ernment jn this question, if in thetr. words there ia no cuplictty or hypocrisy, what they ought to do is to say to the werament, ‘‘Measieurs Ministers, what is it you believe patriotic and in the interest of all!" And the government would reply, *We believe the noble, patriot) worthy thing to do is hot to create em- barrassmeats didicuities for us atthe present moment.’ When the legislature is so advanced as it is do not lose time in things whieh, although they may manifest the honorable idea yon have of carrying styrauius to our brethren in Cuba, tend to debilitate them with this debate. Gentiemen, I comply with my duty ever. What T said this afters yn was not that we should not lose a litle time. I wished Seuor Robledo’s proposition retired, so as to time, and not only #0, but as Senor Eldusgen comprehenda, if we have to govern by coalition—(uproar.. Yes, gentlemen, why not? Docs not everybody know that this is A MINISTRY OF COALITION? Not only ought. we not to lose time, but wo ought to try to harmonize and conctliate all tendencies, To Ry trumigir (give and take)—{t i to concillate, tI we may carey to ahead the noble thoughts which guide us. Twill not diseimtlate the truth, Sudictent weight is on my sboul- ders; too many bitternesses surround me to hide the truth, I direct myseit to the majority and ay fu the bour I have to appear before God I will ncoepl f no help from my cnemies. I wish now none but what comes from the majority, THE INVEGRITY OF SPANISH TERRITORY. ht {9 that, before everything we Ne , Obponition have “so much | patriotism « Senor CAND AU--My thor should maintain the integrity of the Spanish territory, cost what it will and even if the world should sink. (Cheers.) My proposition fs animated by this spirit, and T cede to no- body in that patriotian which serke to carry to our Antilles the liberties compatibie with the integrity of the uation, Once the insurrection is sup) our desire is to carry ail liberties to Cuba, BPNOR RAGAKTA, Minister ot Gobernacton, reviewed the occurrences of the afternoon and avowed adbesion to the declarations of Minis- He insisted that everything ought to be sacrificed he preservation of Cuba, He repudiated the idea of com- promise with the insurgents. “What!” sald he, * with the insurgents? We, who have sent 64,000 of our aol- snatain the Spani 3 we, who have sent ‘a squadron there and abandonet the we needed in 1 We would our terri Spanish nation. Jt wan nevar too late to do, wells and it ‘Would be an act of patriotiam to vote the present proposition, TOPETH’S VIEWS. Admiral Topete also spoke to the proposition and in support of the government policy, insisting upon & suppression of the insurrection as a first necessity in any dealings with Caba. Indeed this was the whole morale of the debate; whatever difference there was shown of parties an: however each may be ready to embarrass the gov- ernment, there was but one policy for Cuhba—sub- Tulssion or extermination. THE LATEST "DEPARTURE." Mocting of the Nachtman Campatga Cl tg Delancey Hall. The memnera of the Tenth Ward Nachtman Club held a mecting at Delancey Hail last night, for the purpose of enrolling new members, The President introduced Mr. Oberman to the Clab, who im a Kpeech made a résumé of the objects or the club, and entreated the burghers of the Sixth Senatorial dis- trict to be united. He made several remarks upon the necesaity of unity, espectaily among the Ger- mans of that district, and proved, by reference to past. history, the utter inanility of @ divided State or party to accomplish any good resuits. He con- cluded by saying, “Be one and be faithful and suc. cess will crown your labors."? Mr. Schnenwetter then took the floor and began Dy trying to show the members of the ciub the ig- nurance and incapacity of the present officials, many of whom to his Knowledgo could neither read nor write, and who could not tell the sum of two ana two, wulch tho gentieman Informed: the society was four, lie stated that ne did not pretend to deny that there were “smart, educated und gentle. inenly Irishmen,’ but he held that as @ class the Germans were more inteliigent avd enlightened than the Irish, He exhorted all German: rally and throw off the Irish yoke and be raled by the sons of “Der priand;? that Germans should throw off all party spirit, and, whether democrat or republican, vote for the German canatdate. ‘Mr. Voskamp’s Speech was one of the most in- teresting features of the evening's proceedings. ‘The Presiient, Mr. Wealing, rose and told them that now was the tiing to strike the blow, While the fron was hot. He said the Germans im the Sixth Senatorial district could, it they were wnited, ‘carry everyining before them.” One of the members made @ motion to adjourn, Which was carried, and forth. With they proceeded below to wet thelr whistles, HOTEL BURNED NEAR NEWBURG, W. Y, On Saturday nighe the hotel of Thomas Ryan, near Vail’s Gate, five miles from Newnurg, was burned to the ground, Tho fire commenced in a barn near the hotel and spreaa to the latcer butiding, all the efforts to stay the progress of the flames proving ineffec- wal, ‘ saved his furniture, stock, &o, The {yeni toes is encimaved, at $5,000, om which there is insurance to the amount of $2,600, The cause of the pay) unknown, but 1 supposed to have been agcl- WASHINGTON. ae Important Decision by the Judge Advo- cate General. Astonishing Increase of Sol- diers of the War of 1812. The Public Mind Relieved— Adjournment of the Ka Klox Committee, Cause of the Late Explosion at the Washington Arsenal, Wasttnctoy, Jnly 31, 187Le Interesting to Army Officers, A law of 1870 provides that officers of me army who sorved In the rank In which they were commia- stoned, and also officers in rebel prisons and in hos- pitals, who could not be mustered in at the date of their respective commissions but were afterwards mustered in, shall be regarded ax mustered back to the dates of their commissions, and patd accordingly. The third section of this law provides that the two foregoing sections should be held not to apply to cases in which an officer could not have been mustered, even if he had his commission. Tae War Department held that this third section annulled the two preceding sec: tions, and therefore the officers whom tie law was designed to benefit failed to receive the arrears of pay to which they were entitied, The subject having recently been referred to the Judge Advocate General of the army, he has decided that the third section affects only a small class of cases, and that the foregoing sections cover those of the larger number of officers, Cause of the Explosion at the Arsennl. During last week General A. B, Dyer, Chief of Ordnance, and General Callender, im charge of the Washingion Arsenal, made @ thorough investiga- tion of tie condition of the laboratory at the time of the terrible explosion on the morning of the 22d inst, There were nine barrels of gunpowder in the bullding, which was being used in making cannon fuses for the artillery at Fortress Monroe and Fort McHenry. There was, however, about the building quantities of chemicals used in the manu- facture of pyrotechnics, The premises were in charge of careful and reliable members of the Ordnance Department, and everything was regarded safe at tue time of closing the might pre- vious to the explosion. The only conclusion the officers could come to as to the cause of the tire was spontancous combustion, but as every precau- tion was taken in disposing of dangerous cheml- cals it was dificult to determine in what way com- bustion could have taken place, It is remembered now, however, that the evening preceding the acct- dent was remarkable for the phenomena visible at this pot. Half an hcur before sundown a brilliant rainbow spanned the heavens, the reflection of which produced a second scarcely less distinct than the object itself. Beyond the rainbow, look- ing east, was a cloudless sky tinged with gold. The declining sun shed @ flood of light upon the Capitol, while Pennsylvania avenue was almost black with darkness, All along the avenue, Irom the Capitol to Fifteenth street, were hundreds of persons enjoying the scene, and it was observed that even at a distance of a mile from the building the peculiar bronze eoloring of the Goddess of Liberty surmounting the dome was diatincuy shown, At night the aurora borealis illumined the heavens. ‘The presence of so much electricity in the atmos- phere led many to suppose that it had nad some e upon certain chemicals used at the Arsenal u mused fire to be generated near the powder magazine in the building. General Callender, unable to assign a cause, addressed the Secretary of War, asking that a court of inquiry might be couvened to ascertain the true condition of affairs at the Arsenal. General Belknap, however, has declined doing this, being fully satisfled that no one is responsible for the disaster. Colonel Benton, in command of the Springfleld Arsenal, Massacnuseits, has, in response to a letter from General Dyer, given his theory of the cause of the explosion, He says that the paste used in the manufacture of cartridges at- tracts hordes of rats, andin scampering about the laboratory ignitablo chemicals may have been thrown together and the fire causing the explosion made in that way. That has always been his theory of the cause of the explosion here in July, 1863, when. over forty persons were killed, A careful survey of the damage done shows that it will not exceed one hundred thousand dollars, Most of the material consumed was old and unserviceable, Probable Murder by Negroes. On Saturday night Andrew Curtain, & white man, while quietly on his way home, accidentally stumbled against a colored man who was carrying awatermelon. The colored man was accompanied by two other men, who knocked Curtain down, while one of the party drew @ razor across his throat, completely severing his windpipe, The wounded man- will probably die. The assailants escaped, two policemen betng unable to overtake them, The Nationa! Republican says:— It is about time this razor business was stopped, and it could be ifin all the cases brought to light the maximum instead of the minimum fines would ne Imposed, a8 was done m a@ case before the Police Court on Saturday. The men who own razors seem to he entirely too willing and ready to use them for iilegiiimate purposes at unseemly times, Soldiers of tho War of 1812. The number of applications for bounty for the War of 1812, already passed, is 28,000, The Third Auditor estimates the whole number of applications at 40,000. Commissioner Van Aernam, in his report to Congress, sald that they would uot exceed 9,000, Attempted Robbery of National Bank Notes, ‘The Comptroller of the Currency was recently ad- vised by one of the Boston national banks of the receipt of a package of their notes one sheet short. Tne mail of the following day also broug bt the infor. mation of the receipt of a similar package with five sheets short, in all $270 short. A subsequent letter informs the Comptrolier of the accidental dis- covery of the missing sheets upon the person of the messenger of Adams Express Company. The national bank notes are carefully counted by sev- eral different competent persons in the Bureau of Fograving and in the office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and are securely ted with strong twine and carefally sealed in the presence of wit- nesses before shipment. Every precaution is taken to prevent mistakes and loss, and the bank referred to was gullty of great carelessness im receiving and receipting packages of money without first exam- ining the packages to ascertain whether they were iu good condition of nad been tampered with, Adjourament of the Ku Klux Committee. The Ku Kiux Committee adjourned to-day until the Both of September, leaving here as a subd-com- mittee Senators Poole and Blair and Representative Buckley to examine the. few witnesses now here and several others on tueir Way hither, It is sup. posed the examination wil be concluded this week. At the meeting In Septetnber reports will be made on the reconstruction acts and the condition of the finances in the late Imsurrectionary States, sub- committees having the subject tn charge. Appointments by the Presiden The President has made the following appoint- ments:— Marsh Giddings, of Michigan, Governor of New Mexico: Wiliam 1. Warring, Assessor of Internal Revenue for the collection district of New Mex co; Frederick J, Simmonds, oqene, Brondl, Joun Brame, W. 1. Roath, Alfred Weston, Wiliam J. Herr ron D. Litvlefield, Eli D. Edmonds, Jonn Dennett, William H. Hand and Osear C, Hamict to be second Heutenants in the revenue servi The Whiskey Trade ia Alaska. ‘The following Executive order was promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury to-day:— TREASURY DEPARTMENT, } WASHINGTON, D. Cyy July 31, 1871.5 The attention of Collectors and othor officers of we customs Ie directed to the lollowing Executive order;— EXgourtve Mansion, WAsntnaton, D. ly 29, Vader and in pursuance of the authority vested in me by the provisions of the, foarth section of the act of Con: entitted © copter Ws ‘AD act to extend the Vaned | [vad folie to ‘oust, ‘commerce a ARCA over the territory, ceded to, the United st sala fo esta bli 1871.-TRIPLE SHEET, regulations wury may In each Instance preserl Py RANT, President. confcrmity with the foregoing order of the President the Collector of Customs of the District of Alaska will dispose of no distilled spirits in cases of seizure of quantities wider $500 in value without first reporting the © to this department for in- stractions, GEORGE 8. BOUTWELL, Secretary, Currency Statement. ‘The following ts the amount of United States cur- rency outstanding: — Notes, oll issue... United States, new issue....... United states notes, issue of 1569, One year five per cent noves. ‘Two year five per cent notes. Two year five per cent coupon notes. . Compound interest notes. .... Fractional currency, first issue 4,415,981 Fractional currency, second issue. 8218, 117 Fractional currency, third tasu 5, g63 Fractional currency, fourth issue 26,026, 176 Weekly Customs Reerip The following aro tbe receipts for customs for the week ending July 22 New York. 2 432, 14 Subscription to the New Loan. The Treasury Departinent received a telegram to- day that Seigman & Co., of New York, had sub- seribed for $200,009 of the Ove per cent bonds paya- ble in coin, Internal Revenue Receipts. The internal revenug receipts to-day are $852,754, The total receipts for July were $14,236,057. Death of a Captain in the Revenue Marine Service, Captatn J, D. Usher, of the Revenue Marine Ser- vice, died at Newbern, N. ©,, yesterday, of brain fever, He had been in the service since 1844 and Was atthe time of his death in command of the Tevenue steamer Stevens, ‘The American Seal Lock Trouble. Orders were issued to-day by the Secretary of the ‘Treasury to Collectors of Customs on the Canadian frontier and United States Consular oficers in Canada to suspend action under any orders hereto- fore issued applying the American seal locks to cars passing the frontier line with dutiable goods Without appratsemeat ; but = that parties who nave bonled under tho act of July 14, 1870, and are now using said locks, will be required to continue their use. This order of the Secretary is made witha view to re-examine by a new comunittee into the practical utility and price of the lock above referred to, as regards its adoption for railroad purposes and the protection of the In- teresta of the government. American Inventions. During July the number of applications at the Patent OfMice were 1,812, being 21 more than in the corresponding month of last year, and of that num. ber 1,121 patents and trade marks were issued, Roster of Examining Surgeo' Arroster of examining surgeons and pension nota- ries of the several States aud Territories has been issued by the Pension Office, The number is over eleven hundred, The examination of pensioners will take place in August. Swedish Censul at New York. The President has recognized Christian Bore as Consul of Norway oud Sweden at New York, THE ITALIAN PROCESSION, They Blame the Clergy for Creating Bogus Meetings—Allegorical Representations of Ancient d Modern Rome—The Tursers Sovicty Will Turn Out 2,000 stroug—Order of Procession. A_mecting of promment italian citizens of the Societa di Unione Fratellanza was held at Prammaggiore’s restanrant, No, 38 Kroome Btrect, lust night. About sixty persons attended, Signor Corradi presiding and Signor Vercelli acting as Secretary. The long table extending through the front portion of this well known saloon ‘was lined with Intelligent looking and impressive countenances, and the order that was preserved throughout the meeting ts wortliy of high commendation, The meeting was opened by the President, who in a few remarks enratied upon the memsers the necessity of making a de- monstration worthy of the cause they were about to honor by @ puiic procession in the city of New York, He had read accounts of another Italian or- ganization, whose oMcers and members were said Ww bear opposition to any public display, for PEAR OF DISTURBING THN PUBLIC PEACE and injuring the feeiings of certain people. such an organization, if any, Was the production of the clergy, or imagined by them and presented to some reporter, But such an effort to disarm us of patriot- ism and common mantiness in fulfilling our inten- tion, which up to then had not been puvitshed, wo look upon with disgust ana consider unworthy of comment, ‘Their committee had made every ar- rangement as to the order and probable expenses of the procession, and had agreed to pay any sum that won be Incurred over that which had been stipa- ated, Ar. PRENGUGIIA, on rising, complimented the President and said bilefly, “We are about to perform @ great national act, let us do It with all our hearts, ‘This 1s not a business, not a mere theatrical proces- ston. We mean, or ought to mean, to perform this festival with reason and decorum, for it is somethin; which, if well performed, or country will be proud of and honorea by. Let us have programmes and let everything be orderly and detintte, #0 twat we may not fail to realize our expectations in this our first public national celebration.”” ‘The /dse was then read, after which several gen- tlemen deposited handsome coniiibutions to the funds of the committee in charge of the festival on the 25th inst. The Jowest amount contributed was $50, y be programme for tue celebration the 251 13 as follows:— About nine o'clock in the morning the Italian societies will meet at the Germania Assembly rooms, thence maron own Bowery, through Chatham stréct, (tho front of City Hall, From City Hall they wiil move up Broadway to Four. teenth atrect, aronnd Fourteenth street to ‘Third down Third they will take the cars to Hight rocession will be composed as follows: 5 ce; 2 Tl Gommandante della Procossione (the Maral); & A trlumphal car, containing an aljegorical repreacniation of ancient Rome; 4. The Itailan rociety, Societa di Unione ratelianza; 5. Music; 6 Triumphai car representing mod- ern Kome; 7. A corps of Bersagilere in the national uniform ; & Ono hundred children, representing tho hundres ebiel cites of Ttaly ; % Cai containing prominent citizens, siien and Atserican; 18 Fintoou of potion ri The Society of Turners of this city, about two thousand strong, seut in a request last night to the comitat or committee of the Unione Fratellanza, stating their wish to join tne Italian Nattoual pro- cession on the 25th Inst. The request will be care- fuily considered on next Monday might, when the General Committeo will meet in the Germania Assembly Rooms, On Weanesday night the soctety whl again meet and make dnal arrangements for the carrying out of the programme of the proces- flon. A MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. Another Case of Drewning at Rockaway Reach=—No Sea Lines to be Seen—Gallant Conduct of «» New Yorker In the Water. Accidents and disasters continue in minor places, noiwithstanding bloody riots or the wholesale siaughter of innocent pleasure seekers on ferry+ boats, Ou Sunday afternoon last a party consisting of three ladies and one gentleman went to take a sea bath at Rockaway beach, opposite the Sea Siae Hotel, Having procurea the necessary bathing dressed they plunged mto tho surf, and were, to all appearance, eujoying the bathing. A pariy of gen- uemen were looking at them from the shore, when, suddenly, three of the party went down, and re- mained down so long that there waa no douvt TREY WERR DROWNING, Presently the fourth head disappeared and immedi- ately # gentleman belonging to New York rushed in after thom, Swimming with great vigor, and cheered by the encouragement given by those who were watching from the beach, he at last succeeded in reacning one of the party. Placing her on shore he returned twice and brought out one each time, thus saving three. Returning a fourth time he was wo much exhausted to-save the er one, Who was carried away out beyond his ch and perished. Finding it impossible to save DHE FOURTH UNFORTUNATE BATAER they at once turned their attention to tose who were still living, Every available restorative was brought into use and in a short time they had the ensure Of seeing them revive su(iciently for con- orsation, The body of the young lady who was drowned Was recovered yesterday moraing alu Was identified as that of Miss Minuig Dorau, of Newark, The gentleman who so narrowly escapet~with iis own Jite in pis noble effort to save the drowning per- sons re! (© give his name, but stated that the cause of the disaster was a hole and the presence of astrong undertow which had drawn thom wader, said there was only a depth of about five feet ot water, and if there had been suMictent sea lings it ib a sigction ‘aietrict therein. ad ee would have been easy 10 Have saved the forr, other purposes,” the «: f 1 Violation of the Executive order of february 4, 18/0, in hereby Bis ermitted under the Secretary of the ry? « More Victims of the Catastrophe. Revelations Morgue, at the The Crushed, Scalded and Dead at Bellevue Hospital. SCENES FROM THE BARGE OFFICE Second Day’s Search for the Drowned. What the Diver Saw at tha Bottom of the River. THE GREAT QUESTION OF THE BOILER What the Experts, the Engineers and the United States Inspectors Say. Experiences of Dr. Shine With the Drowned and Dead. Pathetic Stories of Missing Mem- bers of Sorrowing Families, THE FEELING OF GLOOM AT BROOKLYN. Brooklyn’s Record of the Dead and Wounded. Scenes and Sorrowings on Sta- ten Island Yesterday. Now that the terrible excitement which moved the city yesterday has given way to a calmer yet more poctentous feeling, we can pause to consides the nature, cause and extent of the catastrophe | which so thrilled the commuutty with grief and horror and threw deep gloom over hundreds of hitherto happy homes. Calamitous occur- rences, the result of extraordinary and un« looked-for movements of the forces of nature, leaye behind them widespread grief which meits in tears; but the destruction of human iife, when caused by carelessness, wiiful- ness or criminal neglect, appaiis the mind, lays fas@ hold of the Intellect and engenders rage. Any neg- lect of the ordinary precautions necessary for the safety of life is then regarded as murder afores thought; indeed, a blunder under such circum- stances is worse than a crime. This is te verdict of the populace, and all the jaws ever framed will not make them amend it. The awful sacrifice of life the fall particulars of which we yesterday spread before our readers caunot be charged to Providence. He who rules the waves and carries the winds in the hollow of His hand must not be imptously blamed for the wholesale slaughter of In- nocent men, Women and childrep. Nor will it do to say that steamboat explosions are “the natural re-’ sult of high civilization,” as a befogaed journal yes- terday stated forthe comfort of its readers The evils that so often overtake us are of our own mak- ing, and we can prevent them If we will, In the tong years of tne future THE STORY OF THE WESTFIELD massacre will afford food for reflection and its har- rowing details be to the wise a moral. Over the sickening narrative a million eyes now dr p tears of sympathetic grief, while those who witnessed the human holocaust and escaped to tell the tale will re-' member while life lasts that scene of woe. It Is therefore Importaut that cach fact and circumstance of the sorrowful Sunday stiould be clearly and suc+ vlnetly stated, While the wild tumalt of fresh griet and agonizing expectation held sway it was impos- sivle to gain au entirely perfect account of tue cause of the catastrophe or vo accurately mark its extent; but we are now able to state with precision the primary cause of the massacre, though tae Kast River still hoids the secret of the number of the deat. And that the story of the “steamboat murder" , may not be forgotten in the hurrying events of the tume let it again be briefly tolis—Sunday, July 30, 1871, though cool for the season and threatening showers, was Warm cnough to tempt from the close piaces of New York and Brooklyn thousands of people who panted for air and longed to feast their. eyes on the magnificent scenery of the harbor and bay. As on almostevery Sunday alternoon daring the summer months, a multitude wended ther way to the Battery, for the purpose of crossing over to the beautiful Island sparkling and shining in the pay. THR STATEN ISLAND BOATS , are not particuiarly pleasant to travel in—the con+ yeyances uf monopolists are seldom dystinguisned for comfort, Butthey aro large aad commodious. though old and cheerless. The boat at the slip on Sunday at one o’clock, waiting for the signal to tart on her extra trip to the land, was the West. eld, Captain Isaac Vreeland, aud Buginser Henry Robinson, a colored man, Taut and safe, the boat was considered to be fit for the business of carrying passengers, And doubtiess the Westfield was @ safe vossel as faras her halt was coucerned. But the condition of the hull was of small import- ance compared with the condition of the botier, 4 magazine would he safe if there were no powder in it, The bower was tinkered, aud the tinker was a boteh. For many years people passing to and from Staten Island sat above that piece of thin and trembling tron, unconscious of the fact that a Jot of water the less within it might at any moment cause a crash, a rush of scalding steam and indis- criminate slaughter. Yet all the officers of the com- pany were ready to swear that the botler was per- fectly sufe, The history of the boiler is interesting. Whether new or second hand cannot now be dis- covered, but it was put in the Westiefd when she was launched In Brooklyn in 1862, It was twenty four feet long, ten feet in diameter anu twelve feet in width of frout, with return flues, A GOOD BOILER tn dimensions, surely. Of course, the government oMicers gave the owners of this fire kettle a certifl- cate. Nine years, however, is a pretty long time for iron to resist the corroding attacks of steam ana time, It was often inspected, but notwilnstanding the mepections one fine morning it looked 80 weak in the forward part that the boat was aid up and the company’s Unkers put a patch on the doubtful spot. A government mspector afterwards wrote ob parchment that it was all right, signed his name underneath and plastered a big red seal in the cor ner of the document, On the 12th inst. (@ stngolarly suggestive day) @ Yrite? States oMelal naracd Jona K, Motrhews ey