Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-05
The Merchants Purchasing War
Vessels.


The Merchants Purchasing War
Vessels.
Government Faith i'm Spanish Profess
- sfOns. saE
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The Department
of State has no information to commune
cate concerning arrangements for the sur
render OF the Virginius and her surviving
passengers and crew to the United States
| naval forces. Nothing has been received
| up to a late hour this evening to cause APP
! prehension that that part of the protocol
will not be carried into effect. Statement
| is unreservedly made that the Spanish
! officials are acting in good faith.
| The State Department has received no
adviees in relation to the situation in Ha-
vana, as reported in the press dispatches to-
night.
Resignation of the Captain General.
HAVANA, Dec. Capt. Gen. Jovellar
| telegraphed to the Madrid government to-
night a dispatch to the following effect:
The Madrid government peremptorily or
| ders the Captain-General to deliver up the
Virginius. Gen. Jovellar respectfully re-
| signs his position and demands that another
/
| out the orders of the government, consid-
| ering the excited state of public opinion
and impossibility ofOyercoming difficulties.
| Gen. Jovellar submits that manifest was
| prepared for delay during which opportu-
nifty would be given for reflection and
time gained to allay the fury and patriotic
spirit of the great national party in Cuba,
but strong orders from Madrid
Immediately. to be executed, deprive
| him of this resource, through which
he hoped to save by upholding of the aU-
thority aud the interests of the country.
In order that the Madrid government may
comprehend the difficulties of the situation
and do Justice to the ardOr and persever-
ance with which he began his labor, which
had already begun to produce fruit, the
Captain-General describes the situation in
the island. He declares that the impress
sion produced by the news of the arrange
ment which had been completed between
Spain and the United States can be COM
pared with that produced in Spain by the
treaty of Bayonne, which led to the war of
independence against Napoleon. He begs
to assure the government that the imme-
diate delivery Of the Virginius will instan-
taneously cause
FrightfuI COmmOtiOn
throughout the island, which would be
sure to result in successive catastrophe,
even if man of the highest ability should
be in command here.
The above dispatch was forwarded early
in the evening. The public feeling is in
tensely excited, but the greatest order pre-
walls, owing to confidence which Gen. 10
vellar inspires.
The Cubans Preparing for War.
The VOse de Cuba says the leading mer-
chants of Havana held a meeting this
morning to provide for the purchase and
armament of number of fast steamers, to
act as cruisers in case of war with the
| United States. The same paper says Col.
Jimenes, of the LIST battalion of volunteers,
has offered to arm six sea-going steamers
out of his own means, and merchants of
| Cienfugos have ordered the purchase of two
fine steamers abroad, for war service, and
later information increases the number or
dered. 1t is reported that several new bat
talions of volunteers will be organized i'm
, mediately, and the Catholic society pro-
poses to organize a sanitary battalion
The VOSe de Cuba declares that Senior
Soler, colonial minister, has forwarded his
resignation to Madrid. Captain General
, Jovellar telegraphed his resignation twice
, and the political governor also handed il
his resignation, and that, until tonight, no
answer to Senior Soler's telegram was re
ceived. The authorities have sent by cable
to Madrid, long extracts from a manifesto
they had drawn up in the Virginius case
Many influential Spaniards, in converse
ton tonight, express the opinion that fur
; Their difficulty can be avoided, provided thu
| condition of surrender of the Virginius be
, changed. They are not unwilling to SCI
her delivered into the hands of neutra
: power, and the question OF her right to bea
the American flag decided by arbitration
= | A majority Of the people are determine,
, Not to Permit the Surrender
/ | of the Virginius directly to Americans
4 and if this is insisted on there will be {
1 serious conflict. Calmer people expires
, the hope that the United States will waiv
5 the question of direct delivery. The au
thoritieS are willing to obey the mandate:
a of CASTELAR,, but the Spaniards will not cor
c sent to a direct surrender to Americans
e If CASTELAR, and the Government of tn
t United States insist, the authorities will b.
4 compelled to abdicate. The situation is e1
Il tremely complicated, and nobody can fore
tell the result. There is no naval vessel O
/ the United States in port. One Ryitis
= man-of-war is here. A number of Englihme
(, have arrived in Havana to look after thei
| commercial interests. 1t seems that PreSi
r dent CASTELAR, inquired by telegraph as t.
S the state of popular feeling in Cuba on tn
/ settlement of the Virginius affair. TIL
d Captain-General replied that the peOpl
y were unanimously opposed to the steam
e er's surrender, but before the answer cOul
l. be received at Madrid, CASTELAR, telegraphe
e the terms of delivery. In the port {
t. Havana this caused great surprise anon
l. Spaniards, who expected contrary courS
d would be taken.
y A Flat Denial.
> New YORK, Dec. "A Philadelphia di!
III patch says the officers here of the Souther
u Mail Steamship Company stated that a di;
; patch published and credited to Capt. {
II Barrett, of the YazoO, to the effect that til
. Virginius had been fitted out out as a MAJ
e of-war, and that great alarm was felt {
e Havana by American citizens, is entirel
y false.
Cautious John Bull.
" LONDON, Dec. ), A. M.-The LOndO
ie Times publishes an official list of ii
Is British subjects taYen on the steamer vi
~ ginius, and afterwards executed at SaI
A. tiago. The Times comments on the &C
d and says the British Government, while d.
a manding the surrender of the survivors {
" the Virginius, must carefully avoid con
hitting itself to the proposition that til
+ seizure of the Virginius was Illegal.
MEMPHlS,