Caleb Cushing to The Señor, April 12, 1876

No. 291. Mr. Cushing to Mr. Fish.

Sir: I have the satisfaction of now transmitting to you herewith copy and translation of a note just received from the minister of state, by which you will learn that the King’s government, doubtless moved thereto by the recent pressing communications of mine on the subject, official and unofficial, * * * * * * * has at length taken decisive steps to relieve itself of the embarrassments produced by the delays, whether of willfulness or of negligence only, of the council of war in the matter of the arraignment of Burriel and his associates for the outrages committed at Santiago de Cuba.

Legal forms in most countries are the great impediment to the administration of justice. In Spain it is just announced only now that, after the expiration of more than five years, the prosecution of the assassins of Prim is about to pass from its preliminary stage of preparation (sumario) into that of action, (plenario😉 and we in the United States have had a similar case of juridical procrastination in the matter of Tweed.

I do not intend, if it be possible to prevent it, to suffer further delays in the present matter; and therefore propose to continue to follow up the question urgently, and in sign thereof have addressed a note to the minister of state, a copy of which is annexed.

I have, &c.,