Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-18
FACTS AND RUkoRS ABOUT TIE
VIRGINIUS AFFAIR.

There was long Cabinet meeting at Wash
ington on Friday over the Virginius affair,
but what was said or done 10 kept profound
secret. Members of the Cabinet are not in
the habit Of giving information in regard to
the proceedings of other Departments than
their own; and while they all express their
personal feelings with much warmth in regard
to this affair, they are very careful not to give
any information as to official matters. Be-
there has been no news received by the State
Department.. Mr.. Fish is convinced by this
dispatch that the shooting of the Virginius
captives was deliberately planned murder
on the part of the Spanish volunteers, who
purposely arranged to prevent the possibility
signs were consummated.
The rumor was circulated Friday in pos
tive form, that Ill more executions had
taken place. Mr.. Fish discredited this state
ment, for he thinks if it were true it must
have been known in Havana, and that he
would have been informed. The murders on
the eth and Sth were, without doubt, commit
ted before the order for stay of proceedings
from President CASTELAR, reached Santiago:
those orders would probably have reached
there on the Sth, late in the afternoon, per-
haps, and had an effect to prevent further
operations.
Mr. Fish in abiding to the statement that
he would, in case the Virginius were cap
tured in British waters, look to England to
hold Spain responsible for the violation Of
her jurisdiction, says if the American flag
was insulted, it makes no difference to the
United States in what waters the insult was
offered, and it was certain this Government
would not seek to interpose the British Gov
crnment between itself and Spain. While he
thinks it possible that the capture was within
three miles of Jamaica, he does not regard it
as probable. A very careful study of the
charts and the sailing time of the vessel has
been made, and it seems quite probable that
the capture was near but not within British
waters One fact that strengthens this con-
viction is that the shore of Jamaica, which
the vessels would naturally approach, is
high bluff that can be seen eight or ten miles,
and while the night of the 3lst was moonlight,
SO that the Tornado saw the Virginius during
the whole evening, no mention is made by
any of the reports that the shores of Jamaica
were seen from either vessel.
1t can BE- stated on the authority of the
President himself that he did not, as reported,
personally write dispatch to Gen. Sckles,
directing the offer Of our cooperation to be
made to the President of Spain in movements
to control the Cubans. Nothing of the kind
has ever been suggested, the United States
relying on their own power to protect their
interests without alliance with Spain, who
has shown herself to be almost if not entirely
powerless to enforce compliance, even with
reasonable demands, in the Island of Cuba,
the authorities of which are in most cases
acting independently of all control of the
home government.
The loud calls 20 immediate war made by
3 some of the newspapers are the utterances Of
writer's who do not know that this is consti
tutional Government, and that the President
= cannot declare war, nor commit an act o
war, without the special sanction and author
ity of Congress.