The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-12-30


leather 5reecheS ?'
MIR. Madison thought he could did
better; gave him an order on his tailor
for the breeches; and Mr.. Swcaringin
went happily on his way.-From Old
and New far January.
TIE PRINCIPLE OF THE VIRGINIus >
CASE. This, then, is the result to which,
with perfect calmness and with general
consent, the government of the United
States came when she was dealing with
one of her peers. Her territory was in
vaded. She did not make war. She pro-
tested against the act A; and negotiation
of five years followed. The principle was
then determined, that exceptions to the
great principle of respect for the invioa-
BILE character of the territory Of indepen.
dent states land their ships are part OF
such territory do exist. Those excep-
tions should be confined to cases in which
the necessity of that selfdefence is in.
stant overwhelming; that which has no
choice of means, and no moment of de-
liberation.
That is the law now as between Amer
lea and England.
1t has also been agreed, that the case
of the Caroline came within that law
SO far; that England having declared
that no slight or disrespect was intended
to the authority of the United States
that the English government regarded it
as most serious occurrence and that an
explanation and apology were due for it,
the United States would complain of this
violation no further.
Our government had already justified
Gen. Jackson's invasion Of Florida and
capture of St. Marks and Pensacola on
the same plea. Mr.. Monroe's language
was, " When the authority Of Spain ceases
to exist there, the United States have
right to pursue their enemy on princi-
pie Of self.defence." "Orders
have been given to the general in CON-
maud, to respect the Spanish authority
wherever it is maintained
Gen. jackson, as we have remarked,
construed these orders as permitting him
to send the garrison of St. Marks to Pen
sacola, and then to send the garrisons OF
both posts to Havana.
The question with regard to the Vir-
ginius is, whether her capture comes
within the fair exercise of self. t.deience, as
defined by Mr.. Webster in the definition
agreed to by Lord Ashburton, when that
definition is interpreted 10 the light of the
I" Caroline case, for which it was first
put in form, and in the light Of the inva-
sion of Florida which has special inter-
est, as being case arising between the
United States and Spain.
Into that question We do not now 60.
1t does not seem necessary. True TO ey-
cry tradition of Castillian honor, CASTELAR,
has remembered that gentleman often
" comedies something from his right"
He has offered to surrender the " Virgin
ius." 1t may prove that prize court Of
the United States will decide that she is
not ours, and that she will go back to
Cuoa. That would oc dramatic close
to the discussion. We have only to say.
that if. in the excited feeling of people
in Cuba, any band of marauders there
man aud arm a steamer to make descent
on our coast if any officer of our navy
sights her and overtakes her, We believe
he will capture her and bring her into
port, whether, at the last moment, she
flies at her peak skull and cross bones,
or the red cross of England, or the stars
and stripes, or the crimson and gold of
Spain, And we believe the government
will justify the officer who does so.-E.
E. Hale, ia old and NeD. for January.
1t was Platt Evans of Ciccinnati who
taught his friends how to buy tender
geese, but he couldn't always got them in
the market. One morning he saw lot
and inquired of the farmer how many
there we're. about a Dozen" was the
reply. "W-w.well," said Platt, /" l k.
keep boarding house, and my b.
b.boarders are the darndest e.e-eaters you
ever s-s.saw. P-p-pick out n-n.nine of
the t.t.toughest you've g.g-got" The
farmer complied, and laid aside the other
three tender ones. Platt picked them
up carefully, aud putting them in his
basket, said, 81 -b.b-belieye I'll TT take