The New York herald., 1873-11-23

as beyond the protection OF tne nag lnat nodteu
above them, or any nag at all.
The State Department repels any idea that this
! government connived at or was Indifferent TO any
| violation OF our laws by the Virginius. ON the
| contrary, our Minister TO Colombia in 1872 did
not content himself with accepting the lrina
.facie evidence OF the right OF the yirgInius
to be recognized and protected as an American
vessel when ne called on the Kansas to defend her
against seizure by the Pizarro. but actually went
to the length OF oflciany investigating the infor-
nal charges then made against her, and put on
record his inability to nnd anything sustained but
the fact that she had run de Jdcto but informal
blockade OF the Cuoan coast, as any neutral vessel
has the right to do without incurring other risk
penalty than capture and condemnation If caught
in the act.
The responsibility Of the commander OF the Tor
nado and General Bnrriel is considered by our off,
cials to be much diminished by the publication of
the details OF the capture and execution OF the
virginius prisoners as 1t now appears that the
former acted under his cruising orders
and General Burriel In accordance with the
customary forms of trial and punishmerI
OF insurgents; but the responsibility is regarded
made more serious by shifting it upon the superior
Spanish authorities, who chose to consider theM-
selves entitled to settle the status and liability of
the vrginius, and who must have permitted the
custom to grow up OF summarily putting to death
all who fell into the hands of the inferior military
commanders.
Affairs at Madrid Critical, If Not Hope
loss-spanish Public Opinion Deters
Castelar's Admin Istrntion from Acceti-
ing TO Our Dema nds-War This Side OF
the Atlantic and Defeat with Loss OF
Cuba Preferred to Overthrow at
Home.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. %, 1873.
Lengthy dispatches received by Secretary Fish
in the past "a hours have placed the government
in possession of full information Of the situation at
Madrid, and the admission Is at least made that
affairs are critical, though not yet entirely hope
less. The policy OF Withholding the intelligence
furnished by General Sickles, and giving out only
the nferences of the authorities based thereon is
of easing the way to an adjustment by freeing the
negotiations from the embarrassment of popular
criticism while the terms are shifting.
Two serious obstacles are now understood to
block the way; the first being the unwiIlingness
of The Spanish Cabinet to concede our demands
without either full investigation made by them
selves or an arbitration conducted joined In by
friendly Powers and the second, the demonstration
or the Spanish people against the crouching OF their
government before the United States.
Enough has been made known OF the substance
of the dispatches OF General Sickles to make it
apparent to government that the Castelar,
administration will stand absolutely alone if it
should decide to avert the alternative OF war
by submission to our demands, losing the
support OF the army, which it has succeeded in
reorganizng at home.
On the other hand. firm refusal to surrender
the vrglnius or release her survivors till the
rights and character Of the vessel and her CON-
pany are better determined than now admitted
BY the spanlards 1t is believed would consolidate
sufficient support to keep CASTELAR, and his party
spanish ron-clads beaten Off our ports.
AS there is no pretence that Cuba would be OF
any value to Spain and her army OF officials if the
extinction of slavery should follow the suppression
OF the slave trade, it is believed in Official circles
and especially in the diplomatic circle, that if
pressed too hard by our government the present
Spanish administration, any that may succeed it
If it should suddenly go to pieces, will prefer even
a losing fight on this side OF the Atlantic to the
chances OF violent downfall in Spain in the effort
TO escape war;
The dilemma OF the Spanish government is re-
garded by the Legations as an almost equal en-
barrassment for our own government, which can
not properly confess desire for war or vengeance
but only for a suitable reparation for insult and
injury to our Tag and those under its protection.
'If this cannot be obtained from the present
republican government OF Spain we cannot high
diplomatic authority says, 'expect to obtain it di-
rectly from the Spanish nation or from any govern
ment set up in place OF Castelar,
Real Nature Of the Secret Dispatches
Has Gcneral Stcktes hept BECK the
Euli Truth or Has Mr.. Fish Withheld
and Denied the Facts.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 90 1873.
The confirmation OF the special Madrid despatch
OF the HEeALD concerning the critical relations
between General Sickes ana the Spanish Cabinet,
arising out OF the insoient demeanor OF
the latter towards our Minister, has
been both a surprise and sensation here to-day
after the pains taken yesterday in Official quarters
to secure the wide publication OF prompt and
sweeping denial OF the whole series OF facts tele-
graphed to the HERALD.
AN AWKWARD POSITION.
The agreement OF the kilograms to the London