The New York herald., 1873-11-24
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.

News from the State Department-Thcrc
Has Been No Danger OF War with
Spain, Nor Is There Any Likelihood
or Danger-Former Spanish Protests
Against the virginius-A Case In Point.
WASHINGTON. Nov. %, 1873
This heing the Sabbath It's sanctity not broken
by wars or rumors OF wars, and serenity appears
to pervade every department OF the government.
The Secretary OF State has enlisted number OF
jealous advocates OF peace on his side.
to whom the State secrets are con-
dded for extensive circulation that there
has at mo- time been any danger OF
war; nor is there likely to be. on the contrary, the
indications are all against war, and 1t can be
stated on the authority OF the State Department
that nothing will be urged that has the
semblance OF warlike measures. This sud-
den reversal OF what was supposed to De the
attitude OF the administration s ascribed to
the fact that the Spanish government is not only
prepared to prove that the Virginius had long
since forfeited all right to the protection OF our
government. but that the state Department had
been officially advised OF the evidence in the pos
session OF the Spanish authorities, and that
the United States government, through the State
Department mad been requested to cause the de-
tention OF this vessel whenever she appeared In
port where there was an American Consul. When
the Spanish war steamer, Bazan, under command
Of Lieutenant Jose Maria Autran, who was
the Naval Prosecutor against the Virginius
at Santiago, was at Aspinwall in June last the
controversy arose between Autran. Consul Thor
rington and Commander Reed, OF the United States
steamer Kansas, as to the legality Of the papers
of the VirglniE and her right to the pro-
lection OF the American nag. In corre-
spondence which ensued Lieutenant Autran
protested, in the name of the Spanish government,
against the yirglnius being longer protected as an
American vessel, on the ground that she was
pirate. He asked, In consideration Of the good re-
lations existing between the two countries,
that the Consul and the Commander
would direct the vtrginius to be sent
to the United States, to be there judged before
our own Courts, to which he said Spain would send
the proofs she has in her possession, with the un-
derstanding that IL these proofs be not sufficient
| to condemn the Virgnius, then, as the represent
| atiye OF the Spanish Government he pledged tina {
nation to pay all damages growing out OF her
detention. Commander Reed advised the consul
that he candidly believed the vrginius had for
feited all right to the protection OF the United
States government In 1urther communca-
ton Lieutenant Autran said that it was
undeniable that the virginius had re-
| peatedly sailed under the Cuban nag
while carrying the very register which now
protected ner as an American vessel; tnat IL was
also undeniable that the government OF the United
States had not acted upon the complaint brought
before 1t some time previously. Under these CIR
cumstances Spanish war vessels had been In
structed not to permit the yirginius free passage
to wherever she might wish to sail, or even
to leave neutral port where she had found pro-
lection and support. 1t was not the fault OF the
Spanish government that the United States had
not withdrawn altogether Its protection to the
Virginius. II that protection was invoked for her
now, 1t was an arbitrary act and he was convinced
OF his right to resolutely prevent her departure
unless he received instructions to the contrary
from his government He also said that he would
ask the Spanish Consul at Panama to transmit his
protest to the Spanish Minister at Washington
in order that the latter might present TO
the American government the proper observations
and claims, so that the yirgnius should cease to
fly the Gag of a nation at peace with Spain. All
this was done, and, while the State Department
was presented with the correspondence OF our
naval oficer, no notice whatever was taken either
of the protest OF the Spanish Minister the con-
frmatory statements presented IN the special let
ters o. Commander Reed.
This announcement has caused decided sensa-
tion here to-day, and the query now Is what ex-
panaton can be made to Congress for the expen-
diture OF millions on our naval vessels