The New York herald., 1873-11-18

spect from other nations if we do not pay respect
TO this Spanish nation and all It's dependencies.
But we also pay respect to ourselves-to public
law. to humanity to civilization, and we are de-
termined tnat in the future that this example OF
Spain in regard to the Virginius shall not form
precedent and shall nave no followers. (Tremen-
dous cheering.) And now, whatever may turn up
by this voyage of the Virginius her ownership and
our flag, OF this we are certain, that all OF that
ships company who were American citizens have
been sacrificed by no law OF nations and by no law
Our duty, then, is plan II aairs, as 1t seems en-
tirely probable, show that the power OF Spain no
longer controls the action OF the Cubans, II 1t be
true that the people have all the responsibilities OF
irregular warfare, we Will see to 1t that they have
are not to be driven from one recourse to another
but we are to obtain such amends Tor the present
and such protection for the future as will make
the people resume their quiet and renew their
proud progress, so that neither shall ever again
be disturbed in the future forever.
VICE PRESIDENTS.
The following, with large number OF other
notable and influential men, were appointed Vice
George
Barrett, General sigel, Henry E. Davies. General
J. H. wilson, Samuel j. TIlden John X. K. aacsets,
Charles Dononue,. Thurlow Weed, Theodore Triton,
John jacob Astor Cornelius Vanderbilt, L. P. Nor
ton, Douglas Taylor Edwin w. Stoughton, Judge
Ger saea H Mae oswod
General Anson McCook. General J. 7. owen, Pnilo
T Rugglsss Wheeler esI Peekham Joseph H.
Horace Porter, Clarkson N. Potter, Noah Davis,
General Burnside, General Knburn Knox, A. d.
Yanderpoel and jenkins Van Schack.
SPEECH OF S. s. cox.
Mr.. Cox who was received with loud and long
continued cheering, said
LADIES AND GENTLEMES-the eminent publicst
who has preceded me has in his own mas
facts in relati on to this great question. also
propose to lay before you the law and the facts,
but IN a much more general way and to state to
you what has always been understood as be-
lieye, to be law In reference TO this seizure.
seizure OF the virginusS was there breach Of
that law2 And II . breach what Is the remedy for
Perhaps it would be wiser to leave the interna.
ticnal question TO such 'publicists as the honored
chairman OF this meeting. But as premise for my
quoting too many authorities l may hint at the
nature OF that seizure. II the seizure was right 1t
does not follow, however, that the brutal conse
quences at santiago can be JUSTIFIED In any form
OF conscience or justice.
one thing is beyond doubt. The vessel was duly
authenticated by our government Our nag, right
fully, was at its mast. II had our register and
clearance. The seizure was on the high seas not
within spanish waters; not within the marine
league. There was no recognition by Spain of be-
lgerent rights to the insurgency in Cuba. Then
c,sey your right 70 walk the city parks or streets
coequal with that OF any otner person. No man,
except by warrant OF law, can obstruct your loco
motion. The sea Is common. IL Is no ordinary
progress OF human thought which has made this
the doctrine, not OF America, but OF the world.
lHc iottclS Whiou SbOHkcE ubtlOus nave imposed
on commerce, and especially upon neutrals, have
melted away under the civilizing influences OF
time, This country has been the chief
agent in that amehoration of maritime relations
In the Trent case, England under our doctrine re.
claimed Slidell and Mason, and mtigated her own
laws and admiralty decisions-her own attempts to
make the sea British highway. Upon what prin.
cipeS Precisely that laid down as early as i7s5
by Franklin In his treaty with Prussia. Washing
ton approved OF It. Quincy Adams following
Grotius, elaborated 1t In 1923 to Colombia Clay did
the same to our Panama commissioners. Pierce
and Marcy clinched 1t. Indeed, although we ended
the war OF 1872 Without setting the question in
iavor OF sailors rights and a Tree sea, yet time
has done what our army and navy failed 10 do.
The doctrine, broadly stated, is that the vessel
Is the noating territory OF the nation
under whose nag 1t sails and no power can
rigntfully question or curtail Its .,risn priv.
leges. Every prominent American statesmah
has insisted on this doctrine. Monroe, when MIN.
lister to London, in 1904 held that neutraa ,, nag
on the high seas was safeguard TO those sa,iing
under it. Madison In his Message OF MAY ~ aolo.
held that "each State had exclusive Ju,isulcs'oai i
It's own vessels. Its laws govern IN tneu, anu
offences against those laws are punlsnapie py ies
tribunals ony.r In the case oI tne fuginius