Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-03

usurpation or defiance tends in the direction OF
oppression or Of the maintenance oil abuses,lt Is
still power in Madrid aud is recognized by the
government.
Thus au element more dangerous to contln-
| ued colonial relations between Cuba and SPAN
than that which inspired the lnsurrectlon at
Yara an element opposed to granting any re-
lief from nisrule and abuse. with no aspirations
after freedom, commanding no sympathlcs III
generous breasts, aiming to rlvct still stronger
the shacklcs of slavery and oppression, has
seized many of the emblems Of power 10 Cuba,
and uuder professions OF loyalty to the mother
country is exhausting the resources of the Is
land, and is doing acts which are at variance
with those principles of justice, of literally and
of right which give nobility Of character to
Republic In the interests Of humanity. OF
civilization, aud of progress, it is to be hoped
that this evil influence may be soon avertcd.
The steamer "Virginius was on the &c.
day of September 1870, duly registered at the
port of New York as part of the commercial
marine of the United States. On the All OF
October, 1870 having received the certificate
of her regiter in the usual legal form. she Sail
ed from the port OF New York, and has not
since been within the territorial jurisdiction OF
the United States =.
On the 3lst day Of October last while sailing
under the flag Of the United States, on the
high seas, she was orcibly SEIZED by the Span
ish guuboat Tornado, and was carried luto the
port of Santiago de Cuba, where many OF her
passengers and crew were 'nhumanly' ana SO
far at least as relates to those who were cltzens
of the United States without due process, OF
law, put to death.
1t is a well established principle asserted by
the United States from the beg inning Of their
national independence, recognized by Great
Britain aud other maritime powers, and stated
by the Senate, in a resolution passed unanl-
mously on the 10th of June, 1858. that Amer
lean vessels on the high seas, III time of peace,
bearing the American flag, remain under the
jurisdiction of the country to which they be-
long. and therefore any visitation, mocstatlOn,
or detention of such vessel by force, or by the
exhibition of force on the part of foreign
power, is in derogation OF the sovereignty Of
the United States.
In accordance with this principle the restora
ton of the Virguus and the surrender Of the
survivors of her passengers and crew, and due
PREPARATION to the flag, and the punishment OF
, the authorities who had been guilty OF the IL
legal acts OF violence, were demanded. The
Spanish Government has recognized the JUS
tice of the demand, and has arranged for the
immediate delivery of the vessel, and for the
surrender of the survivors Of the passengers
and crew, and for salute to the flag, and for
proceedings looking to the punishment OF those
, who may be proved to have been guilty OF Tile
gal acts of violence towards cltlzcus or the Uni
. ted States, and also towards lndemnlylug
those who may be shown to be entitled TO IN
demnity A copy of protocol OF a confer
ence between the Secretary of State and the
Spanish Minister in which the terms OF this
arrangement were agreed to is transmitted
herewith.
The correspondence on this subject with the
Legation Of the United States III Madrid was
, conducted il CIPHER and by cable, and needs
the verifcation Of the actual text Of the cores
pondeuce. It has seemed to me 10 be due TO
the importance of the case not to submit this
, CORRESPONDENCE until the accurate text can be
f received by mail 1t is expected shortly and
!, will be submitted when received
In taking leave Of this subject for the present
[ wish to renew the expression OF my conviction
that the existence of African slavery 10 Cuba
, is principal cause Of the lamen.able condition
. Of the Island | do not doubt that Congress
shares with me the hope that it will soon be
made to disappear, and that peace aud pros
, perity may follow it's abolition.
, The embargoing of American estates in Cuba;
cruelty 70 American citizens detected IN no act
of hostility to the Spanish government; the
numbering of prisoners taken With arms IN their
hands; and finally, the capture upon the high
seas OF vessel sailing under the United States
, flag, and bearing Uoitcd States registry, has
, eliminated in al outburst Of indignation that
seemed for time to threaten war; Pending
negotiations between the United States and the
government of Spain on the subject OF this cap
, ture, | have authorized the Secretary of the
, NAVY to put our navy on war footing to the
, extent at least of the entire annual approprla-
ton for that brauch of the service, trusting TO
, Congress and the public opinion OF the Amerl
can people to justify my action.
Assuming from the action OF the last Con
gress 10 appointing a committee on "PrIvll
eyes and Elections, to prepare and report to
this Congress a constitutional Amendment to
, provide better method Of electng the PrcSl-
dent and Vice President of the U. S: and also
, from the necessity Of such an amendment, that
there will be submitted to the State Leglsa-
lures for ratification such an improvement IN
our constitution, | suggest two others Tor your
consideration First-To authorize the Exec
ntive to approve of so much of any measure
passing the TWO Houses of Congress as his judg
ment may dictate, without approving the
whole. The disapproved portion or portions to
, be subjected to the same rules as now, to wit:
To be referred back to the house In which the
measure or measures orig mated, and if passed
, by two-thirds vote of the two houses then to
become law without the approval OF the Pres
ident. I would add to this provision that
there should be no Legislation by Congress dur
ing the last twenty-four hours of its sitting, ex
cept upon vetoes, in order to Civ, the Exccu-
tive an opportunity to examine aud approve or
, disapprove bills understaudiDgy.
Second. To provide by amendment that " hen
an extra session Of Congress is convened by
Executive proclamation, legislation during the
continuance of such extra session shall be con
fined to such subject as the Executive may
bring before it FROM time to tune in writing.
The advantages to be gained by these two
amendments are obvious. Oue session in each.
year is provided for by the Constitution, 10
which there are no restrictions as to the sub
iects of legislation by Congress. II more are
required, it is always 10 the power OF Congress,
during their term Of Office, to provide for SEES
sions at auy time. The first of these amend