The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-11-25
Was the virVinius an American vssssii

Il is highly discreditable to the Admin
istration that it has not yet furnished the
country with authentic information respect
ing this central fact Of the present grave
situation The Government has two sep
arate duties in matters Of this kind. One
is, 20 protect the national rights and honor
as against foreign powers the other and
not less important duty is, to see that our
own statutes are so strictly enforced that
lawless individuals and filibusters will be
restrainedfrom compromising the national
character and embroing Us in foreign
difficulties by abusing our flag and com
hitting us 10 obligations which we would
not voluntarily assume. Since the Gov-
eminent is bound 10 make its flag respect
ed on all seas, there is no duty to which it
should bring more alert and sleepless Wig
lance than that of seeing that this honored
emblem Of the national authority is not
displayed by vessels which have no title 10
carryit. 1t should be as cautious and sen
sitive on this point as prudent merchant
is to prevent his credit from being dishon-
ored by improper signatures.
II is disgraceful-we employ words with
clear perception of their torce-it is dis
graceful to General Grants Administra-
ton that, at this late day, it is in doubt. or
cannot make up its mind, whether the
Nirginius made q fraudulent use Of the
national ensign. That vessel has been in
the West India waters for more than two
years. The first conspicuous thing she did,
after sailing from this port in July, 1871,
was to disembark men and land arms on
the Cuban coast. Had our Government
been as vigilant as it ought, both the Treas
ury Department and the Navy Department
should have caused that vessel to be mark
ed and watched from that time forward.
She was going in and out Of West India
ports where we had cousuls she could
clear FROM those ports only by the assist
ance and cooperation Of the American
consuls and they ought to have been in
structed, two years ago 10 keep sharp
eyes upon her, and see that she got no pa
pers,clearanees, or protection To which she
was not legally entitled The Instruction
in Cuba was prominent fact which drew
the attention Of the whole world the ex-
istence OF body of sympathizers and abet-
tiers in this country was well known 10 the
Government and its obligation To protect
our flag, and the danger that we might get
entangled in unpleasant complications by
this obligation, should have sharpened the
vigilance of the Administration. Imme-
in 1871, which was a matter Of public no
t1riety, the status Of the Nirginius and
her right % carry our flag should have
been ascertained without delay, and our
cnnsus in the West India ports command.
ed 10 refuse her any further clearances, if
il should be found that her title was not
free from doubt II was only by this
kind of wise and vigorous precaution that
II q La
alive duty 70 protect its flag against for.
eign insult with its equally imperative duty
10 foreign nations 90 see that the flag was
not abused TO their injury.
That indispensable duty was neglected
But an event occurred in July last which
should have forced this duty upon the at
tention of any Government not utterly
needless Of It's obligations to friendly pow
ers aud to its obligation 81 enforce its owl
laws. We refer Of course 10 the attempt
made by the Nirginius upon the Cuban
coast. last summer, to the protection giyci
her at that time hy the American C1nsu
at Aspinwail and D. the defence against
Spanish capture given her 10y the Kansas
one of our own war vessels. II the Ad
ministration had been asleep Tor the pre-
ceding two years it should have awakened
then. Ii was bound 81 ascertain whethe
its agents and its naval force we're afiold
ing protection 10 a vessel which had no it'll
10 IL bound to ascertain whether II wa
encouraging fihbuster, Or only discharg
ing its duty 10 protect the American flag
The Virpinius, which had been blockade,
in the harbor of Aspinwall by Spanish
vessels, slipped out. on the night Of July
and was Immediately pursued by the Span
ish shin of war Bazan followed by thl
American war steamer Kansas. IL is DIS
grdeetai-we repeat tho word because u
other is suitable-that after an affair i
which one of our consuls and a vessel o
our navy were participants, the Admins
tratiOn took no measures TO ascertai
whether the Nirginius was an America
shin and 10 verify her right to the protect
ion of the American flag Itis disgraceft
that after that filibustering vessel has bee
for more than two years plying her voca
ton 10 those waters, the Administration
now cropping aud foundering in the darl
unable 10 determine whether the Virgin
Jus was an American vessel or not
What excuse can the Administrative
make for this scandalous, this criminal nei
lect2 1t cannot say that the recent occu
renee was one of those accidents whic
are beyond the reach Of human foresight
for nothing was more likely than that tn
flibustering vessel which was blockade
in Aspinwall last summer, which was ch
sed for 100 miles by a Spanish war steam
er when she had slipped out in the nigh
aud which escaped by her superior spee,
nothing We say was more likely or rnore
ny ordinary course Of things than tn
thus vessel would embroil US with spain.
- was A. sun acknowledged as an Americ;
aud stall permitted TO carry the A.
nag. And even now as,er . am q. htne
( history Of the last two years !
ration does not know xhsthsr