Prior to February, 1854, there had been several causes for irritation between the
Spanish authorities of
Cuba and the
United States, on account of invasions of the territory of the former from that of the latter.
Under cover of a shallow pretence, the steamship
Black Warrior, belonging to citizens of the
United States, was seized Feb. 28, at
Havana, by order of the
Spanish authorities in
Cuba, and the vessel and cargo were declared confiscated.
This flagrant outrage aroused a bitter feeling against those authorities; and a motion was made in the House of Representatives to suspend the neutrality laws and compel those officials to act more justly.
A better measure was adopted.
A special messenger was sent to
Madrid, with instructions to the
American minister there,
Mr. Soule, to demand from the
Spanish government immediate redress in the form of indemnification to the owners of the vessel in the amount of $300,000. The Spanish government justified the outrage, and this justification, operating with other causes for irritation, led to the famous consultation of American ministers in
Europe known as the “
Ostend conference.”
(See
Ostend manifesto.) Meanwhile the perpetrators of the outrage became alarmed, and the
captain-general of
Cuba, with pretended generosity, offered to give up the vessel and cargo on the payment, by the owners, of a fine of $6,000. They complied, but under protest.
The governments of the
United States and
Spain finally made an amicable settlement.
