No. 425.
Mr. Sickles to Mr. Fish.
Madrid, July 11, 1872. (Received July 30.)
Sir: I deem it worth mentioning for your information that on the occasion of the recent anniversary of our national independence, I had the honor to receive at my residence not only the diplomatic body and a notable representation of the society of Madrid, usually present at such festivities, but also all the members of the cabinet, except Mr. Marten Rio, who, had been for some days confined to his apartments by illness. Mr. Ruiz Zorrella and his colleagues tendered through me their felicitations and good wishes to the President.
The incident being exceptional in the official courtesies interchanged at this capital, it may be taken as an indication of the desire of this government to cultivate friendly relations with the United States.
The colonial secretary, Mr. Gasset y Artime, alluding, doubtless, to some misgivings I had expressed to his friends about the apparent tendencies of the recent appointments made for Cuba and Porto Rico, intimated that I need have no mistrust of the real purpose of this cabinet to proceed in earnest with the long-contemplated reforms in Cuba and Porto Rico; that with reference to the emancipation act of 1870, he was already occupied in revising the “regulations” for the execution of that measure; that they would soon be published in the Official Gazette, and he was sure I would find them to be an amplification of the law rather than restrictive of it.
This last remark was perhaps effected by a hint I had thrown out to Mr. Martos, the minister of state, to the effect that, unless critically examined by friendly eyes, it might happen that these “regulations” which have been so long in the hands of the council of state, would be made so numerous, complicated, and mischievous as to diminish if not nullify the beneficial features of the statute. I had pointed out that this did occur not long since in the execution of the act to legalize civil marriages, which was afterward encumbered with several hundred supplementary articles under the name of “regulations;” and I had expressed apprehensions that these familiar tactics would be employed by the slaveholders and their supporters, who had already succeeded in suspending the emancipation act for more than two years, on the pretense that, until convenient “regulations” could be devised for the guidance of the authorities, the act could not be put in operation.
Mr. Moret, recently appointed Spanish minister in London, and who, as minister of the colonies in 1870, was the author of the emancipation act, was also present on the evening of the 4th instant, and confirmed the hopes held out by the assurances of the colonial secretary.
If I do not misapprehend the cordiality manifested in the intercourse between the republican leaders, Catelan and others, and the present cabinet, it is not improbable they may cooperate in measures of colonial reform. It is expected that the republicans will have a larger representation than heretofore in the Cortes to be chosen next month.
Mr. Layard informs me that, in his conversation with ministers, they assure him of their purpose to adhere to the policy of emancipation and reform in the colonies, although Mr. Martos protested that any precipitation in that direction might be fatal to any cabinet.
I am, &c.,