Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-12-30
WAS THE REGISTRY FRAUDULENT,

GOLD HILL. TUESDAY, DEC. so. 1873
WAS THE REGISTRY FRAUDULENTt
1t will be recollected that Attorney
General Williams. In his opinion late
~ published regarding the status OF the
virginius and her right to the regis
try papers under which shs was cleared
from the port Of New York, aud was
sailing at the time Of her capture, al
legged that certain facts, not contra
dicted. had been presented from which
he concluded that the true owners OF
the vessel not those In whose
name she was registered. but we're Gu
bans and aliens. The Virginius was
registered as In the ownership OF John
F. Patterson, Of New York. who-the
opinion Of the Attorney General more
than hinted-was guilty Of perjury In
his oath Of ownership at the time she
was registered. 1t appears that Dir.
Patterson takes exception to this opin-
ion Of the Attorney General aud has
sent a letter to Secretary Fish, under
date Of the 18th Inst, declaring
that he Is the registered owner OF the
steamer Virglnius, aud protesting
against the opinion Of the Attorney
General, by which he and his vessel
have been condemned on er pdrte tes-
timouy furnished by Spain. He al
leges that the Solicitor OF the Treasury
gave him q bill Of sale Of the steamer,
and %thereupon he tPatterson) truly
sworc he was the owner, and the Gov
eminent gave her an American regis.
ter. which has ever since protected her,
and declares that any testimony charg-
ing him with perjury Is false. He
says that hitherto, By advice Of his
counsel, he has kept silent, and also
because he has thus far not been noti-
fled nor called upon by the Government
to testify or defend himself In relation
to the matter. He now requests that
a copy Of the evidence upon which the
Virginius and no were condemned by
the Attorney General be sent him, and
that he be notified Of the time and
place for the examination Of any other
witnesses. The dispatch from which
these later statements are derived, also
adds that a copy Of Patterson's letter
to the Secretary Of State has also been
forwarded to the Attorney General.
As the conclusions OF General
Williams were almost entirely
based upon the assumed fraud In
the registration Of the Virginius, as,
In fact, tue law Of 1872 was Invoked to
clinch the arguments against her, by
showing that unless properly register.
ed she had no right to the protection
Of u flag. and that, therefore, If cap
tured In Spanish waters she was a law
full prize, the assertions Of Mr.. Pat
terson are highly important. Should he
sub,tantiate his allegation that at the
time OF her registry the Virginius was,
In fact and In law bis property, ii
would follow that the registry papers
were legal, the protection Of u flag
was guaranteed her, and her capture
BY the Spanish was an insult to the
United States aud 4 violation Of Inter-
national law. 1t would. moreover,
sustain our original demands against
the Spanish Government aud effectual-
ly negative any claim for the surren-
der OF the Virginius and dam
ages which might otherwise be
preferred against our Government
BY Spain. 1t will be readily seen,
therefore, that tho substantlation OF
Mr.. Patterson's allegations would ma
terially change the present aspect o!
affairs, and place u Government
upon much more tcnable ground In
regard to the action thus far had in
this case. Should Mr.. Patterson prove
his ownership Of the Virginius there
will remain but a single point to be
settled regarding the genuineness o
her registry. viz: the alleged fact that
the bond. which by law is required tc
accompany the oath Of ownership. wa:
never duly executed. Upon this slight
technlcality and the position Of the
Virglnius when captured IL. O..
whether on the high seas or In Spanish
waters, will the whole question be-
tween this Government and Spain Their
depend.