Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-11-22

TENNESSEE CONGREssMEN INTER
VIEWED.

TENNESSEE CoNGREssNfEN INTER
VIEWED.
From the Knoxville Chronicle.l
It is not every city that can boast of q
United States senator and two members
of congress. But Knoxville is so fortu-
nate, and thinking their views on 80
important a question as to the duties OF
the government in the present trouble
with Spain, and the probable future OF
Cuba, a Chronicle representative called
upon them 10 learn their views.
SENATOR BRowNLow WANTS CUBA
ANNEXED.
We found Senator Brownlow in his
usual health and in cheerful spirits.
Upon this, like all other topics Of public
interest, he entertains and expresses
very decided conviction as to what
course our government should pursue.
He regards the action Of the Cuban
authorities as being hasty and incon-
siderate, purposely hasty to prevent in
tervention on the part OF the United
States or Great Britain. He believes
the execution of the crew and passen-
gers of the Virginius to have been an
inhuman act, for which the Cuban
authorities should be held to a strict ac-
countability. That their arrest, trial,
conviction, and execution should be de-
manded of Spain, and il refusal should
follow, that proper measures should De
taken to at once force that nation TO ac-
eede to such demand. He is decidedly
in favor of Cuban annexation. 1t is
his opinion that the United States
should at once adopt measures looking
to the annexation of all Spanish terri
tory in the West Indies, either by pur-
chase or by conquest; that if the Presi-
dents policy in regard to Santo Do
mingo had been adopted by congress,
the present troubles would never have
come. The senator thinks that past
history demonstrates, beyond the possi-
bility of doubt, Spain's incapacity to
govern her American colonies, and that
to force her to give them up will be an
act of humanity which our government
is not at liberty to decline. He is of
opinion that the United States and
Great Britain will make common cause
in putting an end to Spanish atrOcity in
and around Cuba. This question will
be one of the first that congress will be
called upon to decide at the coming ses-
sion, and Senator BrownlOw will be
found voting with those who favor
vigorous policy in reference to Cuba
and toward Spain, even if such policy
involve US in war with the
Madrid government.
WHAT MAYNARD THINKS.
Hon. Horace Maynard, member from
the State at large, though not express
ing his views for publication, talked
freely of the situation. He approved Of
the Presidents caution ia first fully as
certaining the facts Of the capture. He
thinks it highly important that the pO-
sition of the government when assumed
should be right, so that there need, be no
subsequent qualifications. He feels that
the circumstances Of the butchery, if as
reported, make very strong case
against Cuban and Spanish authority,
and that under such a state Of facts the
government should pursue a very rigOr-
Gus and decided policy. Mr.. Maynard
thinks if President CASTELAR, feels ready
and willing to dispose of Cuba for fifty
million dOllarssor one hundred million
dollars it would be the easiest solution
of the trouble for the United States TO
purchase 1t. He does not think it
would be polite to take the island, if
with it we must take the i'll will Of
Spain and other foreign governments.
He would rejoice to see Cuba free, aud if
her people were willing, he would not
object to see her under control of our
government.
THoRNBURG THINKS WE OUGHT TO RE-
COGNIZE CUBA.
Hon. J. NJ. Thornburgh, representa-
tive from this district, expressed the
opinion that in the natural course
of events Cuba must become part and
parcel of our government. He thought
the shooting of the Virginius crew,
under the circumstances reported, was
inhuman and demanded prompt action.
He thinks that our government should
speedily acknowledge CUBA rs bellige-
rent power, as by that policy we would
throw a protection over the struggling
Cubans, which would almost equal
actual intervention by force. He would
not object to see Cuba a part Of our ter
ritory, and had long felt that by the
laws controlling the development and
expansion of territory, it would event.
ually, like ripened fruit, drop into our
hands. In his judgment, while the
government should not act in, udiciously
or hastily, its policy should be firm and
of such a positive character as would
amply protect every American citizen
on Cuban soil. The result of the Vir-
ginius affair, Colonel Thornburgh thinks,
is so infamous that it must result in the
overthrow of the present government
on that island.
OUR DEMANDS ON SPAIN.
From the Baltimore SUM-
According to dispatches from Wash
ington confirmation was received on
Sunday night by the government of the
execution Of fifty-seven of the Nir-
ginius prisoners on the twelfth instant,
of whom seventeen were British sub
iects. The British legation is said to be
in receipt of the same intelligence. In
the statement hitherto made of the sew
eraI executions there have been some
discrepancies, so that the exact total
number of victims is, as yet, not posi-
lively known. 1t has been stated in
dispatches from Havana that but
eighteen of the prisoners would escape
execution, and not more than four, if so
many, would be permitted to go free.
The number positively asserted to have
been already put to death is ninety
eight, leaving some fifty or sixty whose
ldlE Is III AlOuuLs IL NlIcC Vi shlAN H1Al VI
these have not been executed their lives
might be saved by prompt action on the
part Of the United States government.
As pertinent to this we have this state
ment from Washington through more
than one source:
In regard 70 the most natural course for US
TO pursue, it is thought that we must demand
reparatiOn from spain. We must hrst de
msnd the instant release OF the men yet hV-
ing who were taken on the Nirginius. Sec
ond, we must demand the release of the Nir
| ginius herself; and third, We must demand
/ the surrender of the Spanish officers who
/ we've responsible for the murders, to be tried
! for their crime There is reason to believe
| that this demand hes already been decided
/ upon, and that Minister Sickles, ere this, hai
/ been directed to present II to the Madrid gov
| ernment.
Itwould be more satisfactory, however
| to know that while these very proper
demands are being made, something
practical is being done on our own ac'
count to insure the saving of the live
of those Of the crew who still remain
as well as to bring the captured ship
again under our flag; for in view of th'
contempt with which Spain is treated
by her Cuban colony, it is most probable
| that this is the only
way in which these end
can be lliioly SueCLeVi hOnSASA mlhlDs
Spain may be in the premises. We arr
as averse as any one to measures, ever
in Vindiostion Of humanity, which vii
precipitate war, but 1t is legitimate 70
our government to secure the surTende
of the men of the Virginius who still
live, and this without waiting the action
Of congress. 1t is nearly two weeks ye
before that body assemblies, and by tina
time the last Of the crew of the Virgin
| ius may have been executed. Will
diplomacy is vigilantly continued, i
ought to be accompanied by action, OF
Judging by the past, it will be Of litu
avail. The first batch of murders oc
cured on the fourth instant: the butch
cry of Captain Fry and thirty six of hi
crew on the seventh, and this has bee
4 folloWed bv the alleged slaughter of fifty