Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-11-28
Minister Sickles Said to Have
Demanded his Passports
The Breach Widening.
The President and Mr.. Fish Push.
ing Negotiations in Prepara-
tiOn for the Meeting
of Congress.
What Our Government is Insist
ing UpOn-The Prospect
Spanish DissensiOns
in Cuba.

Ing UpOn-1no prospect
Spanish DissensiOns
in Cuba.
THE NEW YORK HERALD CORRESPON-
DENT NARRATES.
| PARIS, November 26.-The following
dispatch has just arrived, in cypher,
| from the Herald correspondent in Mad
rid, dated the twenty-sixth: 'The situa-
ton is grave. On the nineteenth Gen
eral Sickles, by order of President Grant,
| delivered a formal atitiBldtItn to Presi-
| dent CASTELAR,, demanding prompt and
vigorous reparation for the insult to the
| flag, the restoration of the ViTginius,
| the release of the surviving prisoners,
indemnity to the families of the muir
dered land punishment of the murderers,
and also guarantee against future out
RACES in Cuba. The demand was
couched in a kind and sympathetic
tone, but no alternative was given.
General Sickles was also instructed 10
say that if CASTELAR, did not comply
with the demand in a week he should
ask for his passports and leave Madrid
with the legation. The week expires to-
day, and no answer has yet been re-
ceived. Everything at the legation is
packed up ready for immediate depart
ure. General Sickles has no hope that
the ultiD1Gtum will be complied with,
and telegraphed to Paris yesterday to
have all his official correspondence that
might be there kept. Sickles, in a con-
versation to-day, says that he does not
see how war can be avoided, as Castel-
~ rrir I'D
will be Obeyed in Cuba, and that
public feeling is also opposed to cOnces-
siOns. Unless Castelar, responds this
evening, General Sickles will leave inn
mediately. All the American ships in
the Mediterranean have been ordered to
| Key West. In the event of General
Sickles leaving the British minister will
probably protect the archives and the
| American residents. President CASTELAR,
is personally anxious to accept the
British minister's good offices to effect a
| compromise, but there is no hope to-
| night.
PROBABILITIES AND PRECEDENTs.
WASHINGTON, November 26.-As it
is not customary for the government to
publicly make known, unless by compe-
tent authority, the progress of negotia-
| tiOns, it can, therefore, be said that the
statements regarding an alleged agree
ment between Spain and the United
States are, to say the least, premature.
1t is known that our government has
protested to that of Spain against the
seizure of the Virginius while flying the
American flag, and the summary eXecu-
ton of number of the persons captured,
notwithstanding the efforts of our vice
consul to secure a delay in order that our
government might be heard before judg-
ment should be pronounced, the
conduct of the Spanish man-of-
war and that of the commandant
Of Santiago de Cuba being contrary not
only to international law, but against
the country, which should always exist
among civilized and friendly nations.
| By the stay of further executions at
| Santiago de Cuba, by order of CASTELAR,,
the government has placed the case in a
condition for settlement. This govern
ment has already shown to the Spanish
government, or assumed that the Vir-
| ginius, having a United States register,
and carrying the United States flag,
was Orinld .fdcie an American vessel.
At least this character was attached to
her at the time of seizure, and hence
the United States, in the absence of
proof, hut the ownership resided in
some foreign parts, were bound to pro-
tect the flag she carried. The Spanish
government has been afforded an Oppor-
tunity to make proper explanations on
these points, and TO justify the
conduct of those acting under
its authority. The nationality of
the vessel is settled; the remaining
points viii be comparatively easy of
solution, and these include the nation
ality of the captives. If it should be de-
termined that the Virginius was an
American vess sci int sense that shield
ed her from capture, her surrender
would follow as matter of course, and
the firing of a salute to our flag would
not be a severe draft on Spanish pride,
and demand for the surrender of the
surviving passengers and crew and for
suitable indemnity for the benefit of the
families of those slain at Santiago de
Cuba would depend on the contingencies
and on the facts Cf the entire question.
If such a demand were made it could
not certainly include the families of
those whose nationality was other than
our own. Spain has before now
delivered captured American yes els to
their owners through the intervention
of the United States government after
long delays, the contest always being as
to the lawfulness of their transaction,
and our government has for many years
been engaged in procuring release from
time to time of American citizens un-
justly imprisoned or deprived of their
property in the island of Cuba, while
insisting upon respect to the United
States flag and the right to navigate the
great highways of nations without the
exercise of search or other molestation.
In repeated cases indemnity has been
claimed for families and those cruelty
and uDiustifiably put to death. Latter
cases of this kind being those of Speak
man and Wyeth, who several years ago
were executed atSantiago de Cuba. While
| it can be repeated that the Spanish
cabinet still manifests a disposition to
do whatever their honor will warrant,
and while the United States ask Moth
| ing more than what the facts in the
present controversy may justify, there
| is as yet no such condition OF affairs as
| will authorize the statement that con-
clusiOn has been reached placing be-
yound doubt the surrender of the Nir-
ginius, for whatever agreement Admiral
Palo may have made with Seere-
tary Fish will depend on the ratification
of the Spanish cabinet, who, as ex-
pressed by several gentlemen in high
public positions, will consider the effect
of their action with painful apprecia-
ton of political and military embar-
rassments with which they have to
deal at home irrespective of the condi- |
ton of affairs in Cuba.
OTHER EVIDENCES OF SPANISH
TREACHERY.
1t was announced that private letter |
from Santiago stated that twenty men,
who embraced the Catholic faith, did so
on the condition that their lives should
be spared. They were, however, shot. |
A Havana letter says that General Bur- |
rill has issued circulars to the lieutenant
governor and captains of the eastern
department calling on them to aid in |
crushing the rebellion by arresting all
persons suspected of completely with the |
Insurgents, who soon, he says, with all |
help cut off by sea and land, will perish |
like wild beasts as they deserve.
STATEMENTS ON RELIABLE AUTHORITY.
WASHINGTON, November 27.-It is |
stated on what is believed good authori-
ty, that our government has extended |
the time for definite reply from Spain |
TO the demands of our government, and |
1t can be said, coming from an official
source, that negotiations are still in |
progress, but affairs are in such q eondi- |
| lion that not even an intimation can be |
| learned Of their character. There ls
reason for saying, with certainty, that
| the prospect is not so favorable f0T an
adjustment of the Xirginius difficulty, as
several days ago there were grounds for