The New York herald., 1873-12-01
THE NEWS FROM WASHINGTON,


But Little Excitement Over the Proto-
col-Grant Resolved Upon the Sur
render Of the virginius-Thc Spanish
Argument for the Vessels Piracy.
WASHINGTON Nov. 80, 1878.
1t is not expected that the House will complete
It's organization tomorrow until late in the after
noon, and when the committee OF both the Senate
and the House wait upon the President to inform
him that Congress is organized aud ready for the
transaction OF business he will inform the commit
tee that he is not ready to communicate his
Message, but will do so on Tuesday.
THE PROTOCOL
agreed upon yesterday by the Spanish Minister and
Secretary Fish will be referred TO at length and
attention called to the diplomatic correspondence
which has taken place between Spain and the
United States during the past year. 1t is not gen.
orally known that one OF the last acts OF the Forty
second Congress was to request the President to
transmit resolution to the American Minister at
Madrid with instructions to present the same TO
the Spanish governments joint resolution that,
in the name and behalf OF the American people,
the congratulations of Congress are rendered to
the people OF Spain upon their efforts to CONSOLE
date the principles OF universal liberty in repub
lican form OF government This has been done,
and the President will alude to the manner in
which it was received by the Spanish government
The publication of
THg POINTS OF THE PROTOCOL
by the government has scarcely excited any inter-
est in Washington. Those who have given 1t any
consideration express the opinion that it will be
substantially a victory for Spain II she can show
that the Virginius had denationalized herself and
had no right to carry the American flag. The State
Department has become satisfied that the only
offence committed by the virginius was that of
smuggling, ana the harshest words the Spanish
government was entitled to pronounce against her
was that she was o smugger. That is
not an offence against the neutrality laws
or any other laws OF this country. The Virginius
ran the risk OF being captured as such in Spanish
waters, but beyond Spain's urisdction she was not
subject to search or detention. IT. however, the
Spanish government can prove that
THE vrRGTNIUs FORFEITED HER RIGHT
TO the protection Of the nag by violation of our
Registry laws. in any way whatever, then she will
have the satisfaction OF knowing that our govern
ment has protected with the navy
denationalized vessel and will proudly
naunt the fact to the civilized world that many
months ago she asked the United States to invest-
gate the character OF the vessel and examine the
proof which was then in her possession in support
OF the fact that the vessel had no claim whatever
upon the United States. or her ability to do this the
Spanish Minister says there is doubt, and had 1t
been attended to long ago the United States would
have avoided the expenditure OF millions OF dol
lars and his government would have been spared a
most serious strain upon her effort TO firmly estab-
lisn republican form OF government.
SPAIN GENEROUSLY ADMITS THAT THE SEIZURE OF
THE VESSEL WAS NOT LEGAL.
but Will plead in extenuaton OF the act the preser
vation OF her Jurisdiction In the Island OF Cuba
and the unwillingness OF the United States govern
ment to apprenend the vessel for abusing our nag.
There is no pretence that there was a blockade,
any acknowledgment OF an armed rebellion
beyond the Spanish government, but 1t Will be
shown that the virglnius was
BOUGHT BY THE CUBAN JUNTA
through John r. Patterson in New York for the
left that port. and that he was only her
nominal owner, the real owners being the
Cubans themselves; that she has been ofllcered
by foreigners, cleared under the Cuban dag
from Venezuelan port, and has, An numer-
Gus instances, forfeited all right to carry
the American flag; that 1t was not until
the United states government, through It's oficial
representative, seemingly winked at the service
the virgnius was giving to the lnsurrectlon; that
she was judcially condemned as pirate, not law.
fully entitled to the protection OF any government
and the officers Of the Spanish navy ordered TO ap-
prehend her wherever found.
The spanish government will not defend
rHR sKEURK ON THE HIGH sEAs
except on that ground. and the commanding