Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-11-27
THE VIRGINIUS AFFAIR.

A despatch from Consul General Hall, to
the Secretary of State at Washington, dated
Havana, November 18th, says thai "the
Consul at Santiago de Cuba, reports, under
date of the 18th, that the total number of
executions of prisoners from the Virginius
we're 6fty-three, and there had been no execu-
tions since the 9th instant. Statements pub
lished on the 14th instant, respecting fifty
seven additional executions, prove untrue"
Warlike preparations are continued in the
Navy departments, work on some of the ves-
sells being prosecuted night and day. All
ordinary seamen and landsmen at the Wash
ington Navy Yard who have seen service,
have been enlisted for three years, and a
naval recruiting station has been ordered to
be opened in New Orleans. The Spanish
fleet in Cuban waters numbers forty-6ve war
vessels-some of them iron.clads of heavy
armament-manned by force of 13,000 men.
The naval armament of the United States
for effective service, in the event of war, is
twenty.six wooden steamers, carrying five
hundred and thirty guns.
A recent Washington despatch says:
As an evidence Of the entire unanimity in
the Cabinet on the exciting complications,
growing out of the Virginius capture and its
Consequences it may be mentioned that all
the Cabinet officers, though guarded in their
expressions as to what diplomatic action has
been taken by the Government, or what will
be the result of it, do not hesitate to speak in
regard to their entire confidence in the Presi-
dent and the approval by the people of the
course pursued when the same shall have be-
come known. 1t is noticeable fact that in
these expressions there is evidence of thorough
accord between the President and his Cabi-
net.
Secretary Richardson, in conversation with
a representative of the Associated Press,
stated: II have every confidence in Secretary
Fish. He will do just right and you may
rest assured he will not be carried away by
excitement, neither will he yield one whit of
the National honor"
In reference to the ability of the United
States to wage successful war with Spain,
should it be necessary to resort to arms, he
said: "Should such a course be determined
upon the Treasury Department is fully pre-.
pared. We have enough money to commence
with, but exactly as to what will be done at
forwards depends upon the prolongation of a
war though l have no doubt it would be of
short duration. AS Congress will be here in
two weeks it is very certain that there will be
no difficulty in raising all the means we want.
A war, of course, will be expensive, as it re-
quires large sums of money to move armies
and fit out ships; but we are equal to the
emergency"
Hethen asked the question, "Do you find the
Cabinet warlike?" and upon being answered
that the sentiment seemed to be to uphold
the National honor, he repeated: "The opin-
ions of Mr.. Fish are correct and the Treasury
Department is prepared to maintain these
opinions"
Question Do 1 understand, Judge, that
you are in favor of the annexation Of Cuba ?
Answer (after significant silence): While
do not say what I am in favor of, l do say
that I will stand by Mr.. Fish and whatever
the State Department does. l believe the
Secretary of State is cautious, careful and
iudicious man, and that he will not get US
into any embarrassments. That is my decided
opinion have not given much attention to
the subject in its present shape. 1t belongs
entirely to the Department Of State. 1 as
sumo that if we had war with Spain it would
result in the annexation of Cuba"
The Secretary was then asked if the acqui-
sition of that island would not materially dis
arrange our tariff system, to which he re-
piled "At first, of course, it would upset
everything, as we would lose a large sum of
money the first year from the import duties
on sugar and tobacco, which we now receive,
but after that our internal collections on those
articles, especially on tobacco, would much
more than compensate for that loss."
Prominent gentlemen who have heretofore
been opposed to the acquisition of Cuba now