The New York herald., 1873-11-20


and the register for foreign trade issued at
New York recites the fact that the vessel to which,
1t was granted the steamer virginius- hereto
fore known steamer Virgin; so there was no
fraudulent concealment OF former name, and the
Custom House officers recognized the egalityNOf
changing the name OF a vessel bought out OF tnes
public service. In addition to this the question
WHETHER THE vIRGINIUs HAD COMMITTED ANY
OFFENCE
affecting her right TO protection fully nvestl.
gated by General Hurbut our Minister TO Colum-
bia, before he applied to Commander White. OF the
Kansas, to convoy that vessel to when block
AIDED by the Pizarro in April, 1872 at Aspinwall.
He found that all that could be proved
was that she had run the blockade OF
the cuban coast, with men and supplies
lor the insurgents, from Venezuela In
1871 and that not having been captured her
liability ceased for that offence on the completion
OF the voyage. 1t is held to fair inference that
she was doing no worse on her late voyage, and,
although there may have been a prtn,a Jucie right
to seize her for the offence OF the moment,
there was no faint on the vessel at all. The pre-
vious Dl0ckading OF the vessel in neutral
port on two occasions before was without any
legal warrant whatever, and the last outrage Is
considered and made worse by the previous treat
ment OF the vessel. 1t Is suggested that the sum-
mary course Of the Spanish officials towards the
vrginius was probably dictated by their resent
ment over
THE CASE OF THE HORNET
in 1870. That vessel was three times seized In
three months at three different ports, and each.
time released in the absence OF proof against her
on giving the bonds required by the Neutrality
act OF 1918, under whi she was seized.
In December OF the same year her
seizure was again demanded by the Spanish
Int Antu yorR md hv f.
torney Noah Davis on the ground that no proof or
evidence was furnished under which she could be
proceeded against If seized, and that she had
nothing aboard to justify her seizure. Minister
Roberts appealed against this to Secretary Fish.
quoting the atter's own words In reference to
England-that the municipal law is for indt
vlduals but the law OF nations is the rule OF duty
for governments. To this Mr.. Fish retOrted In &
caustic despatch that the quotation was inapph-
cable, as it related to an organized state ofwar,
and he then
IN CUBA
or refrain from objecting to Its recognition by
Others or else cease to claim and exercise belge-
rent rights over vessels of neutral Powers. 1t is
remembered, too, that much recrimination Oc-
Cured over the case Of the flibustering
vessel George B. Upton, wherein the at
tempt of the Spanish government to libel
our neutrality laws were defeated by the points
set up by our prosecuting oncer First, that the
vessel, after her fiibustering operations, had
passed into the hands OF innocent owners and,
second, that the former owners officers and crew
were exempted from punishment by an in cidental
passage.
In the Presidents neutrality proclamation OF Oc-
tober II, 1870, where notice was given that all
offences against the neutrality laws thereafter
committed would be rigidly prosecuted; also that
the proclamation itself was necessary notice to
American citizens that there was any neutrality 10
be violated.
A TROUBLESOME FACT FOR SPAIN
in the pending discussion is pointed out In the
TACT that in June 1870 the Spanish government
withdrew from its Minister at Washington the
limited authority granted him in the previous
August to settle questions arising with this
government out OF the Cuban insurrectton.
putting it on the ground Of the improved situation
Of affairs In Cuba, and from that time
onward strenuously objected to any imputa-
tion or act calculated to sustain the
view that anything more than seditious
combination existed in the Island OF Cuba.
BY this course it Is now contended that Spain took
away from herself the right to exercise beIligerenr
rights over vessels OF neutral Powers
and stripped the Tornado Of the right even to
seize the Virginius at ALL especially on the
high seas Your correspondent has been authori-
tatively assured to-day that the position taken in
these dispatches a few days ago. to the effect that
the Spanish government will only be allowed to
set up allegations and proof OF the violation
OF our domestic laws OF navigation ana neu-
tralty in mitigation of damages after the
principal acts OF reparaton and future security
are performed, is correct, and he was referred to
the following quotation from wheaton, significantly
lvp on he dack 0f in pyprv
larry documented vessel:-'1he crew would find
their protection in the nag which was over them.p
The State Department. without Further
News-The President and His Cabinet
Entirely In Accord on the Cuban Conn
plications-Secretary Richardson Inter-
viewed-He Sustains Fish-History or
the virginius-Converts TO Annexation
and the Reasons Why.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 1873.
The State Department has received no recent
news from Madrid which can now be made public,
nor has any late intelligence been received from
Havana.
THE CABINET UNANIMOUS.
As an evidence OF the entire unanimity in the
Cabinet on the exciting complications growing out
OF the virginius' capture and its consequences it
may be mentioned that all the Cabinet oficers,
though guarded in their expressions as to what
diplomatic action has been taken by the govern
ment. or what will be the result OF it, do not hes-
tate to speak in regard to their entire confidence
in the President and the approval by the people Of
the course pursued, when the same shall become
known. 1t is noticeable fact that in these ex-
pressons there is evidence OF thorough accord be-
tween the President and his Cabinet.
IMPRESSION THAT WAR IS NOT LIKELY.
The impression is general in Official and other
circles here to-day that the Spanish government is
disposed to make every EFFORT to settle the impend-
ing difficulties, and gentlemen who hold intimate
personal relations with the President assert their
belief that will not arise from the present COM
pications. inasmuch as Spain, through Castelar,
has given assurances that all proper demandsfrom
this government will be compiled with
robson COMMENDED.
The energy and promptitude OF Secretary Robe