Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-11-19
THE SEIZURE OF THE vIRarNIUs.

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The excitement in the East over the ar
bitrary seizure and punishment of the crew
of the Virginius is very great. The Vir-
ginius was merchant vessel, sailing I'M
der the American flag, and its seizure by
the Spanish authorities in Cuba was en-
tirely without justification in law or reason
and gross outrage upon our flag which
the Government win promptly redress. 1t is
possible that the vessel was on an unlaw-
! full expedition, but she was sailing under
the American flag, and Spain at the time
of the seizure had notice that she was en-
titled to bear our colors. If proper steps
| had been taken by the Spanish authorities
to ascertain the facts and the legal method
of redressing their supposed wrongs
had been pursued, there would have been
no complaint. But to arbitrarily seize the
vessel, and summarily to condemn and to
execute, like pirates, four or five of the
crew and imprison the balance, is pro-
ceeding which is SO outrageous, insulting
and overbearing as to demand the prompt
attention it is receiving.
So soon as the news was received at
Washington, our Consul General at Ha-
vana was ordered to investigate and report
the facts, but as the place where the con-
demnation and execution took place is
five hundred miles from Havana, the re-
port has not yet been received. Minister
Sickles, as soon as the news of
the seizure was reported at Madrid,
promptly called upon President CASTELAR,
and his Foreign Minister for an explana-
ton. President Castelar,, who had tele-
graphed to Cuba orders that no action
should be taken in regard to the prisoners
till full report of the capture had been
made to the Government at Madrid. The
indecent, brutal haste of the captors and
representatives of Spanish authority in
Cuba will be fully appreciated by the re-
collection of the fact that the execution
had taken place before President CASTELAR,
and his Minister were informed of the
capture.
The action of the Administration in the
matter is given i'll the New York Times
special as follows:
On receipt of the inform alton of the ex-
ecution here, Mr.. Fish sent a dispatch to
Mr.. Sickles that the seizure of vessel
carrying the American flag upon the high
seas was very grave matter, requiring
explanation, and if it should
appear that American citizens had been |
and shot, the most ample repara-
ton would be demanded. He denounced
in the strongest terms the disgraceful pro-
ceedings and hasty execution. Following |
instructions, Mr.. Sickles has had several |
with the President and Minis
ter for Foreign Affairs of the Spanish |
Government, and has received from them |
assurance that, even in the absence of the |
demands of the United States Government,
every reparation required by public law
shall be promptly made. The regrets of
he Spanish Government have been al
,eady expressed for the haste Of the execu-
ion. The Spanish Minister of Foreign
Affairs has indicated that he will make
urther communication to Minister Sickles
With regard to the affair. The feeling of
President Grant and the Cabinet, there is
to believe, is harmonious and
uily in accord with public sentiment'in
equiring prompt and absolute reparation
or an act which is at once blot upon the
civilization of the age, a disgrace to Spain,
md an insult to our flag,
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