Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-31


sureties; but there were no sureties
upon the bond given by Patterson and
Shepherd. Pains have been taken to
ascertain if there was any insurance
upon the vessel, but nothing of the
kind has been found out. Quesada,
Varona, and other Cubans who took
passage upon the Virginius, instead of
going on board at the wharf in the
usual way, went aboard off tug after
the vessel had left the harbor of New
York.
/ cannot do otherwise than to hold,
upon the evidence, that Patterson's
oath was false. and that the register
obtain in his name was fraud upon
the navigation laws of the United
States. Assuming the question to be
what appears to conform to the in
tent Of the protocol-whether or not
the Virginius, at the time Of her cap
ture, had right, as against the United
States, to carry the American flag,
| am OF the opinion that she had no
such right, because she had not been
registered according to law; but | am
also Of the opinion that she was as
much exempt from interference on he
high seas by another power on II at
ground as though she had been law
fully registered. Spain, no doubt, las
a right to capture vessel with an
American register, and carrying the
American flag, found in her own waters
assisting or endeavoring to assist in
surrection in Cuba but she has no
right to capture such vessel or the
high seas upon an apprehension that,
in violation of the neutrality OF the
navigation laws Of the United States,
she was on her way to assist said re-
belliou. Spain may defend her terri
tory and her people from hostile acts
from what is, or appears to be, an
American vessel, but she has no jaris
diction whatever over the question as
to whether or not such vessel is on the
high seas in violation of any law of the
United States. Spain cannot rightly
raise that question as to the Virginius
but the United States may and, as |
understand the protocol, they have
agreed to do it. and, governed by that
agreement, aud without admitting that
Spain would otherwise have any in-
terest in the question, decide that
the Virgfnius, at the time of her cap
ture, was without right and improper
ly carrying the American flag. Very
respectfully,
GEORGE H. WILLIAMS,
Attorney General
NEW York, December %. = The
Tribune's Key West telegram give an
account of the surrender Of the Vir-
ginius prisoners to Lieutenant. .Comman-
der Braine, of the Juniata. 1t APP
pears that the Spanish authorities to
the last moment kept the poor wretch
es in ignorance of their prospective re
leas, and with: :basee humanity lea them
to suppose that they were to be axeeu-
ted. Friends were with them, taking
their confessions and dying aecsara-
tions, and imploring them to look to
God for pardon. They were taken oat
of prison in despair, but on their way
to the slaughter pen, as they supposed
their eyes fell upon the Juniata flying
the flag Of the United States. when
they realized the truth. scene oceur-
red which begars description. Their
enthusiasm knew no bounds, They
were speedily transferred to the deck
Of the Juniata, and gave vent to the
most extravagant and touching demon
strations Of JOY, embracing each other,
some crying, some kissing, and others
audbly offering thanks to the Almigh-
ty for their deliverance from the bor
rofs OF their dungeon and the prospect
of an ingnominious death. On the
night before the surrender, the officers
end crew of the Juniata were stationed
at quarters, her guns being turned on
the city. The Spanish volunteers
having been excited to open riot by the
rumor that the surrender was to take
place, large number of volunteers
went in body to the Governors Pal
ace and begged permission to attempt
the capture of the Juniata, saying that
they could do it with knives alone.
The Governor refused to grant per-
mission. Our officers believe that the
the application was made in earnest,
and not few regret that it was not fa-
vorable entertained, as the Juniata
alone, not to speak of the Kansas and
Pinta, would be more than match for
their assailants.
PARIS, December 25.-Marshal Ba-
zaine has left Versailles for Ste. Mar
guerite.
MADRID. December 26.-Fourteen