New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-24
= on,n,, at the tim. Of the capture was

- =, tina time az the capture was
the ',S,,on q, tho Neutrality laws OF the
IA states andnot OF the sovereignty OF SpsiD' ana
I,ed States alone possessed Jurisdiction over the
~ We should abandon our sovereignty u we per
s,,,n or ANY other nation 70 capture vessels Of
NJ, td states because they may at the time OF such
"r me-. ,ave violated our laws. The capture OF this
o ON the high seas then. gross disregard
49, .,thor,ty OF the United states as u would have
-. ~ the Tornado had seized her In the harbor OF
s~york and she was much under the protection OF
~, coyerpment the one ease as in the other
IIam correct in the above view, the next point is
,.d soain right carry tho vessel into Spanish
It, Clearly she had not Her doing so was but
n,,nuston OF the original wrong, aud was an equally
,o.hla and indefensblo outrage upon our
ffovs,egnty; but conceding that at the time
= the capture the vessel upon the high seas,
. a not pretended that che in Cuban waters within
distance of league OF tho shore and consequently
nd subjected herself TO Spanish jurisdiction. When
..n.ured !, the only oIense she had committed
enc against the United States. Suppose that che
contemplated landing men and arms in Cuba In aid Of
,he ,nsurgents-lt but unexecuted purpose. as
boy 80 as when she left New-York. This purpose she
NIGHT have abandoned. and If she had, no wrong
uhsteyer would have been done 10 Spain.
she too, was liable 10 capture by
American man-oi-war, and TO be brought into the
United States for judgment a violation Of
traitv laws and them also, oenSe would have been
committed against Spain or wrong done her. Can it be
doubted that the steamer before the capture
snervsrd while being carried to Cuba. could
have claimed the protection of any United States
,snowar, or that 1t would have been the duty OF the
latter present 70 have prevented the capture or 10
have recaptured her. and by force II necessary That
this would been done by any of naval officers
may, think, be considered to be certain.
II II had been done, could Spain have
Justly complainedi Would Government have re-
buked the ocerl On the contrary would he not have
been accorded praise for protecting American ship
and maintaining the honor OF the American flag The
egay OF the rapture Of the virgnius by the Tornado
and the responsibility Of Spain for the consequences
seem to be too plain for serious controversy.
Third The atrocities committed upon the crew and
passengers Of the Inflated steamer independent OF the
acred laws Of humanity, without justification or
excuse under the public law of the world. Not
having teen legally captured, they not prisoners
snd were much exempt from the jurisdiction of Spain
- when they stood upon American soil, and Spain is
consequently as responsible TO the United States for
their execution she would been If she had got
Zen possession Of the by the invasion Of our ter
uiory
Mr.. johnson concludes by expressing the belief
that the CASTELAR, Government VIII be willing to
render every possible indemnity and that our Gov
eminent will not make any but just aud reasonable
demands