The New York herald., 1873-12-18
Colombian Opinion OF the Case.
AN OLD TIME vIRGINIUS CASE,

AN OLD TIME VlRG1N1US CASE.
The Black Warrior Seixure-A Dema nd
tor Reparation That Was. Speedily
I Mei-Forty-EightH Hours Given for Set
tlcmcnt-The Vessel and Cargo Re-
leascd-s3OO,O 900 Indemnity Paid.
Now that the virgnus affair appears to be
settled In kind Of way it may be well to recur TO
the case OF the Black WARRIOR which was seized In
the harbor OF Havana in the month of February,
1854. The tone OF the administration Of tina. day
towards the Spanish authorities was different
from what 1t is to-day, and the difficulty was
settled in manner consistent with the dignity
of the country, and our aggreved citizens fully in
demnifed Tor the losses they sustained. The Black
Warrior was engaged in the trade between Mobile
and New York, and en- route 1t was customary to
run into Havana She neither took on board nor
discharged cargo at that port, and her stay was
usually limited to three or 1our hours The vessels
of the line entered as in ballast, and for long
time this practice was well known to the Cuban
authorities, who expressed themselves entirely
satisfied with the arrangement. In fact, the
steamers frequently arrived and took their de-
parture before and after Custom House hours with
the full consent Of the Collector and his subord-
mates.
SEIZURE OF THE VESSEL.
On the occasion In question the Black Warrior
arrived at Havana, with 900 bales OF cotton destined
for New York. Much to the surprise OF Captain
Bullock, the commander, when he presented the
usual form OF papers, he was informed that he had
committed an infracton Of the custom laws in
stating his vessel was in ballast when she had
cargo on board. Representations were made as to
the long standing usage but they were Of no avail.
The steamer was seized and the discharge of the
cotton commenced The officers crew and passen-
Uar nh nod ha nv
another conveyance for New York.
ACTION OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
On the news reaching Washington President
Pierce sent message to Congress, in which he de-
nounced the proceeding as high-handed outrage
Special instructions were despatched to Mr.. Pierre
Soule our Minister at Madrid directing him to de-
mand instant reparation. That gentleman lost no
time in the matter. He addressed note to the
Spanish Minister OF Foreign Affairs setting forth
the circumstances Of the seizure and requiring the
surrender or the vessel and cargo, an indemnity OF
$500, 900 for the losses sustained by the detention
of the ship, and the punishment OF all the officials,
either high or low, who had participated in the
seizure. The Spanish Cabinet habitually slow in
such affairs, allowed three days to pass without
knowledgng or replying to the demand. Soue,
acting under Instructions then senta second note,
stating that unless his request was complied with
IN EoRTY-EIGHT HOURS
the United States government would consider that
the Spanish government approved OF the conduct
Of the Cuban officials. He met with refusal. He
was informed that until report was received from
Havana OF the occurrence, so as to be able to come
to satisfactory conclusion, nothing could be done
in the matter. and that it would be beneath the
dignity of the queen to yield to demand made in
such peremptory manner. He was also informed
that such exactlng requests would only tend
to defer a settlement OF the question. The Spanish
Foreign Minister, in addition, intimated that as
the cargo had been returned there could be no
reasonable demand for indemnity, and that
country high spirited the United States could
not think OF accepting pecuniary recompense for
the alleged insult to its nag Nations had other
ways of condoning or rendering satisfaction for
such kind of wrongs. Soue replied in spirited
manner and ntimated that any government that
could tolerate or defend such conduct as CON-
planned OF on the part OF its subordinates de-
serving OF little respect.
SECRETARY MARcy's DESPATCH.
A despatch from Mr.. Marcy, Secretary OF State,
brought the negotiations to speedy conclusion.
He was instructed to state that the President was
dissatisfied with the action OF the Spanish Cabinet.
The seizure was totally unjustfable, and the prog
ress OF the affair made the conduct OF Spain ap-
pear unfriendly and Its government indisposed to
make reparaton for gross wrong. The
President also considered the transaction one that
might give sufficient cause for obtaining salts
faction at Havana, independent oil the home
authorities; but as there were many other outrages
on American vessels and citizens committed in
Cuba. for which no satisfactory settlement had
been reached, the United States government
would not require Mr.. Soule to proceed any further
in the Black Warrior case, as 1t was its intention
to present them all at one time and require proper
reparation.
THE REPARATIoN
In the meantime the Spaniards made active
naval preparations and proceeded to reinforce the
army In Cuba. But second and more peaceful
thoughts prevailed when Mr.. Marcy's despatch
was communicated to the Cabinet OF Madrid. The
warlike movements were stopped; and, after
short delay the seizure OF the Black Warrior was
disavowed and apologzed for. the officials who
acted In the matter were nominally punished
and the full sum OF $s0o,00o demanded
In the first place paid in the way OF
indemnity. When 1t Is remembered that Mr..
Soule was sent to Spain for the purpose OF In
ducing, II possible, the government OF that coun-
try to sell Cuba to the United States-a proposition
most repugnant to the Dons or the Peninsula-that
England and France advised Spain to reject all
overtures bearing on the subject and promised
her assistance In case OF need and that contempt
and dislike OF this country was even greater then
than 1t is now in Cuba, 1t viii be seen what good
effects bold and fearless policy had In 1854, in
comparison with the feeble and tme-serving ac-
tion OF the state Department. in the virginius af-