The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-12-04
kindred points as may seem best to Con-
THE SPANISH REPUBLIC.

gFesS, transmitted to the American Min
lister at Madrid, with instruction to pre-
sent to the Spanish government, the Joint
resolution approved ON the third of March
last, rendering to the people of Spain, in
the name and on the behalf of the Ameri-
can people, the congratulation Of Congress
upon the efforts to consolidate in Spain the
principles of universal liberty in repub-
lican form of government The existenc e
of this new republic was inaugurated by
striking the letters from the slaves in Por-
to Rico. This benefcient measure was fol-
lowed by the release Of several thousand
persons illegally held as slaves in Cuba
Next the Captain General of that colony
was deprived of the power to set aside the
orders of his superiors at Madrid, which
had pertained to the office since 1926
The sequestered estates of American citi-
zens, which had been the cause of long and
fruitless correspondence, were ordered to be
restored to their owners. All these liber-
al steps. were taken in the face of a vio-
lent oppp9n, directed by the reactiona-
ry slave hs ers Of Havana who are vainly
striving to Stay the march of ideas which
has determinated slavery in Christendom,
Cuba only excepted. Uuhapily, however,
this baneful influence has thus far succeed
ed in defeating tie efforts of all liberal
minded men in Spain to sbolish slavery in
Cuba and in preventing the promised re-
form in that island. The struggle for po-
litical supremacy continues there. The
pro-slavery and arristocratic party in Cuba
is gradually arraying itself in mere and
more open hostility and defiance of the
home government while it still maintains
political connection. with the republic in
the peninsula, and although usurping and
defying the authority Of the home govern
ment, whenever such usurpot ton or defiance
tends in the direction of oppression or of
the maintenance of abuses, it is still power
in Madrid, and is recognized by the govern
ment. Thus an element more dangerous to
continued colonial relations between Cuba
and Spain than that which inspired the in
surrectioni at Yara-an element opposed to
granting any relief from misrule and abuse
with no aspirations after freedom, comman-
ding no sympathies in generous breasts, aim
ing to rivet still stronger the shackIes Ct
slavery and oppression, has seized many of
the embiens Of power In Cuba. aud under
professions Of loyalty to the mother country,
is exhausting the resources Of the island, and
is doing acts which are at variance with those
principals Of justice, of liberty and of right
which give nobility Of character to a republic
in the interest of humanity, of civilization
and Of progress. It's to be hoped that this
evil influence may be soon averted.
~ THE STEAMER vmGINIUs. .-...
The steamer Virgiuius was on the Goth
day Of September, 1870, duly registered at
the port Of New York as part of the COM
mercial marine Of the United States. On
the 4th Of October, 1870, having received
the certificate of her register in the usual
legal form, she sailed from the port of New
York, and has not since been within the ter
ritorial jurisdiction Of the Uuited States
On the 3lst day of October last, while sail
ing under the flag of the United States on
the high seas, she was forcibly seized BY the
Spanish gun-boat Tornado, aud was carried
into the port of Santiago de Cuba, where
many Of the passengers and crew were inhu-
manly, and so far at least as relates to those
who we're citizens of the United States, were
without due process Of law, put to death. 1t
is a we'll established principle asserted by the
national independence, recognized by Great
Britain and other maritime powers, and sta
ted by the Senate in resolution passed u
unanimously on the 18th Of June, 1868, that
american vessels on the high seas, in time
of peace, bearing the American flag, remain
under the jurisdiction of the country to
which they belong, and therefore any vista
ton, molestation or detention of such vessel
by force, or bv the exhibition Of force, on
the part Of foreign power, is in deroeation
of the sovereignty of the United States
In accordance with this principle the re-
storatiou Of the Virginius and the surrender
of the survivors of her passengers and crew
and due reparation to the flag, and the pun
ishment Of the authorities who had been
guilty Of the illegal acts of violence were de-
manded. The Spanish Government has rec
ognized the justice Of the demand and has
arranged for the immediate delivery of the
vessel and for the surrender of the surviv-
ors Of the passengers and crew and for sa-
Lutte to the flag and for proceedings looking
to the punishment of those who may be
proved to have been guilty of illegal acts of
violence towards citizens of the United
States, and also towards indemnifying those
who may be shown to be entitled to indem-
nifty.
A copy of protocol of a conference be-
tween the Secretary of State and the Span
ish Minister, in which the terms Of this ar
rapgement were agreed to is transmitted
herewith.
The correspondence on this subject with
the legation of the United States at Madrid
was conducted in cypher and by cable, and
needs the verifcation of the actual text of
the correspondence It has seemed to me to
be due to the Importance Of the case not to
submit this correspondence until the accu-
rate text can be received by mail. It is ex-.
pected shortly, and will be submitted when
received.
In taking leave Of this subject for the
present, wish to renew the expression of
my conviction that the existence Of African
slavery in Cuba is principal cause of the
samentable condition of the Island. do
not doubt that Congress shares wit me the
hope that it will be soon made to disappear,
and peace and prosperity may follow its abo-
lition.
The embargoing of American estates in
Cuba, cruelty to American citizens detected
in no act of hostility to the Spanish govern
Z IL