Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/299

 The Black Warrior Affair 289 grant, with generosity becoming royalty, customs privileges similar to those enjoyed by the ships of the English Royal Mail Line. In the course of the next twelve months America heard little of the Black Warrior affair. During the vernal months of the follow- ing year the matter of indemnity to the owners of the Black Warrior had reached the stage of discussion in the stormy sessions of the Cortes. The American claimants received ministerial support in the persons of Luzuriaga and Zabala. It was freely acknowledged that the practice observed by Tyng of not declaring goods billed to Xew York or Mobile had " converted itself into a species of cus- tom, constituting almost a law for the master of the steamer who felt sure diat, if he declared the steamer to be in ballast, no inspec- tion would be made, and this was done with the advice (anuncio) and consent of the authorities ".' The official gazette of Madrid- observed that the authorities could not accept the refusal of Captain Bullock to amend the ship's manifest at two or three o'clock as a formal and effective renunciation of a right which the law gave to third parties for the space of twelve hours after the arrival of the boat. A document discovered among the papers submitted by Pezuela' showed that twelve hours had not elapsed from the time of the arrival of the steamer to the moment of the imposition of the em- bargo. In the fact that the Black Warrior carried mail the Spanish ministers found justification for the novel method pursued by the house of Tyng for the purpose of obtaining clearance papers for a vessel that had not yet reached port. In accordance with the recom- mendations of the Cabinet, the owners of the Black JVarrior were granted an indemnity of $53,000. thus putting a last touch to the complete triumph of the American case and severely censuring the administration of the Marques de la Pczuela, who had been recalled in the autumn of the previous year. ^ II. The difficulties of communication with Cuba and the inevitable delays of distance were eagerly seized upon by Madrid as excuses for what might be properly called administrative procrastination, whenever it was feared that an affair might take a turn prejudicial 'Diario de las Sesioncs, P. 8944 (1855) ; ibid., March 29, 1855. 'Gaccia de Madrid, December 6, 1854. 'Ibid. pleasure to inform the Cortes that the Black Warrior affair has been concluded and the feeling of common accord re-established between the two governments."
 * On May 3, 1855, the Minister of State said in the Cortes: "It gives me