armed and hostile ship to a neutral state; but, in point of fact, those in command of the vessel, had at the time of her surrender, lost all the characteristics and privileges of a belligerent. They were pirates; no more, no less. The Stonewall belonged to their true sovereign the United States, even without capture. Spain, as it seems to the United States, could not by purchase or conveyance defeat the right of the United States to the vessel. Under these circumstances, and for the reasons stated, it is expected that the vessel will be delivered to the consul of the United States at Havana. Any reasonable expenses which may have been incurred by her Catholic Majesty's authorities, in consequence of the surrender and custody of the Stonewall, will be paid by the Navy Department here, upon presentation of the proper accounts. The undersigned offers to Mr. Tassara, on this occasion, renewed assurances of his highest consideration. Señor DON GABRIEL GARCIA Y TASSARA, &c, &c., &c. No. 205.] Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. * * [Extract.] W. HUNTER. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, * * * SIR: * Your No. 83, concerning the withdrawal of the declaration of neutrality and belligerent rights by this government, was made the subject of a conference with the Spanish minister of state, Mr. Benavides, who answered as usual that he was desirous to take the step indicated. I have subsequently recurred also to this subject, but nothing practical has been accomplished till the knowledge of the President's proclamation of May 10 was communicated to Mr. Benavides, as related in my No. 203 of June 2. To-morrow will appear in the official Gazette a royal decree, signed by the Queen, at Aranjuez, yesterday, simply declaring the termination of the civil war in the United States, and annulling the royal decree of neutrality of June 17, 1861, with its declaration of belligerent and neutral rights, and all the rest which it contained. I have said to Mr. Benavides, from the first, that I considered this the best form for terminating the objectionable state of international relations between Spain and the United States established by that decree of 1861, and I only regret not to have been able to obtain it until the President's proclamation of May 10 has come to stimulate the action of this government. The Gazette of to-morrow will be published in time for me to enclose the printed royal decree of the 4th instant with this despatch, which leaves in the mail of 11 o'clock a. m. to-morrow. With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, HORATIO J. PERRY. Secretary of State. [Translation.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, ROYAL Decree. The war between the northern and southern States in the republic of the United States being terminated, and there being an end, in consequence, by the re-establishment of peace, to the circumstances which induced the provisions contained in my royal decree of June 17, 1861, referring to the neutrality of Spain in the said war, I decree what follows. Only article. My royal decree of June 17, 1861, is abrogated. Given at Aranjuez, the fourth of June, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, under the royal rubric. The minister of state. ANTONIO BENAVIDES. No. 207.] Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. Legation of the United States, Madrid, June 6, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to transmit the original report made by the consul of the United States at Alicant of the proceedings on the occasion of receiving a deputation of the democratic party of that province, who manifested their sentiments in view of recent occurrences in the United States, and requested that the same should be made known to our government. I also enclose the address presented by a deputation of the democrats of Keres, near Cadiz, forwarded by Mr. Little, and referring to the same events. With the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington. [For enclosures see Appendix, separate volume.] No. 208.] HORATIO J. PERRY. Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to enclose the address signed by the natives of Cuba and Porto Rico resident in this capital, on occasion of the death of President Lincoln, and which was presented to me yesterday by a committee of their number. Remarks appropriate to the occasion were made by one of the committee and replied to by me. Your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. [For enclosure see Appendix, separate volume.] HORATIO J. PERRY. Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: On the night of the 10th instant the colonel, lieutenant colonel, two majors, and captains of the regiment of Bourbon, in garrison at Valencia, were surprised in the barracks as they were about to lead the regiment out in insurrection, and were made prisoners. At the same time a force surrounded the progresista club in that city and made sixteen of the leading members pris oners. In consequence of this event the captain general of that province, Lieutenant General Villalonga, marquis of Maestrasgo, formerly a Carlist leader, has also been dismissed from his command, and with him Major General La Rocla, second in command, with many inferior officers. Whatever this movement may have been intended to be, it seems to have been abortive. Nevertheless, the Queen's government seems to be convinced that it has not suppressed the revolutionary symptoms in the peninsula by its vigorous and timely action at Valencia. The military governor of Cadiz has also been removed. The position of troops is being constantly varied, and movable columus of one brigade of infantry, with artillery and cavalry in proportion, have been organized and are moving from point to point throughout the country. It being currently reported that General Prim was at Valencia, again that he was at Perpignan, on the frontiers of Catalonia, again that he had chartered a fast steamer at Marseilles, and was on the Mediterranean, the government has publicly withdrawn his leave of absence to travel abroad, and ordered him in the official Gazette of to-day to proceed by the straight road to Madrid, and report to the minister of war. The Spanish ambassador has, however, telegraphed from Paris that he has not been able to convey this order to the hands of General Prim, because his family, now at Paris, were not able to inform him where the general now is. General Milors del Bosch, also enjoying a leave of absence abroad, has been ordered to report at Ceuta ; various aides-de-camp and officers especially attached to these leaders have been ordered to out-of-way places, or are in hiding to avoid receiving such orders. A circular order of the minister of interior government, published to-day, orders the civil governors of the provinces to close immediately all the clubs, cafés, reading-rooms, or societies, whatsoever be their name or apparent object, in which political subjects may have been or may be treated of, and which, in the opinion of the governor, may contribute to disturb the public tranquillity. This is a sweeping order, and practically will amount to closing all places of meeting and of conversation, except those where the partisans of the govern ment resort. I send enclosed a translation of the text of this order. Everything still bodes that the summer will not pass without a conflict, and the transcendent nature of the questions at issue is confessed by the minister to be nothing less than the destruction of the institutions and the political system now existing. The indications now are that open insurrection will not be long delayed. Still, it is possible that the Queen, by yielding on two or three great questions, such as the recognition of the kingdom of Italy, reform of the electoral laws and lists of voters, &c., may temporarily put off the day when the people of Spain shall require her to vacate the throne. I have the honor to remain, with the highest respect, sir, your obedient ser vant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, HORATIO J. PERRY. Secretary of State, Washington. [Translation.] MINISTERIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SECTION OF PUBLIC Taking into consideration the agitation produced in people's minds by the constant association in different places of meeting of persons who sustain and diffuse illegal opinions calculated to destroy the institutions and the political system now existing, the Queen (whom God protect) has been pleased to order that, in fulfilment of article 5th of the law of June 22, 1864, concerning public meetings, your excellency shall immediately dissolve all the clubs, reading and conversation rooms, meetings and societies, whatsoever be their denomination or apparent object, in which political subjects have been treated or may be treated, and which, in the opinion of your excellency, may contribute to disturb the public tranquillity. By the royal order I communicate this to your excellency for its corresponding effects. God grant your excellency many years. Malrid, June 12, 1865. GONZALEZ BRAVO. Correct translation: H. J. P. No. 212.] Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. Legation of the United States, Madrid, June 25, 1865. SIR: On the evening of the 21st instant I had the pleasure to meet the new minister of state, who took possession of his portfolio on that day, and spoke to him of the urgency of the affair of the Stonewall at the Havana. On the 25th instant I met him again by appointment, at his department, when, after reviewing the facts of her surrender to the Cuban authorities, without any other condition except the advance of sixteen thousand dollars, understood to have been appropriated to paying off her crew and furnishing them transportation out of the Spanish dominions and to their several homes, the minister then informed me that it was the decision of her Majesty's government that the Stonewall should be immediately delivered to the authorities of the United States, our government refunding to the captain general of Cuba the sixteen thousand dollars advanced by him upon the security of this ship. Upon the question whether that was satisfactory to my government, I said, of course that was a question which the government must decide for itself; but, without going into the question of right at all, I considered that if, in point of fact, the sixteen thousand dollars was understood to be the price which it had cost the Cuban authorities to break up this organization of pirates, get possession of their ship, and free her Majesty's dominions of their presence by giving to every man the means of transportation to his own country, so that they should not become a charge upon the authorities of Cuba, and should thus be afforded an opportunity to undertake some honest way of living for the future, I did not doubt the government of the United States would refund that money on taking possession of the ship surrendered to her Majesty's authorities under those conditions by the pirates who had her in charge. I was then authorized to communicate to you that orders would be sent immediately to the captain general of Cuba to deliver the Stonewall to the authorities of the United States, which I did by telegram to Queenstown the same evening. Copies of official notes on this subject will be forwarded. Your obedient servant, I am authorized to say that orders will be given to the captain general of Cuba to deliver the Stonewall to the government of the United States. Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. HORATIO J. PERRY. No. 213.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The chargé d'affaires of his Majesty King Victor Emanuel informed me the day before yesterday that the minister of state, Mr. Bermudez de Castro, had announced to him the determination of the Spanish government to recognize the new kingdom of Italy, and invited him to enter into negotiations for that purpose. The chargé d'affaires told me that he had replied he had no instructions to negotiate on that subject, but he would inform his government of the purpose of Spain, and await its instructions. I am informed that the celebrated prioress of the convent of San Pascual, in Aranjuez, has been removed to a convent in the town of Ubeda, near Jaen. The new electoral law has been presented by the government to the congress of deputies substantially in the terms foreseen in my despatch No. 211, of the 22d instant. It is a little doubtful whether this congress, elected under the influence of the Narvaez cabinet, and with a total abstention of progresistas and democrats from the polls, can be brought to vote this electoral reform and extension of suffrage. But the throne has been so near the brink of an abyss for lack of it, that it is possible these high prerogative deputies may themselves be brought to vote it. If not, we shall have a dissolution-a new chamber elected to vote this bill and as soon as it is voted, another dissolution, in order to arrive at an election under the new law. A general amnesty has been published for all offences committed by the press, with release from imprisonment, refunding of fines, &c., in all cases which have already been decided, and nolle pros. entered in all cases now pending. This sends, as I am told, about one hundred and twenty causes out of court, and puts the newspaper press where it was before the Narvaez cabinet took power. It is understood that the law on the press will also be modified in a liberal sense. The royal order revoking the leave of absence of General Prim and commanding him to report in Madrid was also immediately revoked by the present cabinet, as well as all the military orders against individual officers of the latter period of Narvaez rule. All causes undertaken in consequence of recent revolutionary movements have been dismissed. A general replacement of military and civil employés is going on, which will soon leave none of the adherents of the late cabinet in place. But whether the progresista and democratic parties will be satisfied with the concessions which are now being made to them with full hands is not yet settled. Should they come in and consent to exercise their electoral privileges under the new law, the Queen will have made a great step; they claim, however, a reform of the senate, also, and it is not impossible that, as things go now, they may get it. With sentiments of the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant, : SIR I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No 205, of the 5th of June with its accompaniment, a copy of the Gaceta de Madrid of the 6th of the same month. Your proceedings in submitting the President's proclamation of May 10 to Mr. Benavides are approved, and I have now to express on behalf of the President the satisfaction with which he has learned of the prompt withdrawal by the Spanish government of the belligerent character with which it had heretofore most unnecessarily invested the rebels. * I am, sir, your obedient servant, HORATIO J. PERRY, Esq., &c., &c., Madrid. * * WILLIAM H. SEWARD. |