The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-12-03

Ing " kuo p6oplo W SPs.At ..aJo
he Concentrations OF Congress upon the
efforts to consolidate In spain me pLlncl-
pies Of universal liberty In Republican
form Of government The existence OF
this new republic was inAugurated BY
striking the letters from the slaves In
Porto Rico. This muniacent measure
was followed by the release OF several
thousand persons illegally held as slaves
In Cuba. Next the Captain General Of
that colony was deprived oil
the power 10 set aside the or.
ders OF his superiors at Madrid
which had pertained 10 the office since
1895. The aequesterd estates OF Amer
lean citizens, which had been the cause
OF long and fruitless correspondence,
were ordered to be restored TO their
owners, and these liberal steps
were taken In the face Of violent
4 opposition directed by the reacttonary
slave holders Of Havana, who are vainly
striving TO stay the march of ideas which
has terminated slavery in Christendom,
Cuba only accepted. Unhsppily, how
ever, this baneful influence has thus tar
succecded In defeating the efforts oil all
liberal minded men in Spain TO abolish
slavery in Cuba and In preventing the
promised reform on that island. The
struggle for political supremacy continues
there. The pro-alavery and aristocratic
party In Cuba Is gradually arranging Itself
| In more and more open hostility and
defiance to the home government while It
still maintains political connection with
the Republic on the peninsula, and al
though usurpiDg nddetying the authority
OF the home government, whenever such
1usurpation or defiance tends In the direc-
ton OF oppression or oil the maintenance
of abuses, 1t Is still a power In Madrid
and is recognized by the government
Thus an element more dangerous 70 the
continued colonial relations between Cuba
and Spain than that which inspired the
instruction at Yara-an element opposed
to granting any relief from misrule and
abuse, with no aspiration after freedom,
commanding no sympathies 10 generous
breasts, aiming 10 rivet still stronger the
shackles oil slavery and oppression-has
seized many OF tho emblema Of power IN
Cuba AMI, under professions Of loyalty TO
the Mother Country, Is exhausting the re-
sources OF the Island, and Is dong acts
which are OF variance with those princi-
pies OF justice, of liberalily and OF right
which give nobility Of character to q Re
public. In the interests Of humanity, OF
civilization and Of progress 1t Is to be hoped
\ that this evil influence may be sUon
ayerted. The steamer Virginius was, on
the 26th day Of September, 1873, duly
registered at the port OF New York, q
port OF commerce marine Of the United
States. On the 4th oil October, 1870, hav.
ing received the certificate Of her register
| 10 the usual legal form, she sailed from
the port of New York, and has not since
been within the territorial jurisdiction OF
the United States. On the 3lst OF Octo-
tober last, while sailing under the flag Of
the United States on the high seas. she
was forcibly seized by the Spanish gun
boat Tornado, and was carried into the
port of Santiago de Cuba, where many Of
her passengers and crew were Instantly,
and so far at least as relates TO those who
were citizens of the United States, were
without due process Of law, put to death.
It is well understood privilege asserted
by the United States from the beginning
OF their National Independence, recog-
nized BY Great Britain and other mari.
time powers, and stated by the Senate in
resolution passed unanimously on the
10th OF June, 1868, that American vessels
on the high seas in time of peace bearing
the American fsg, remain under the
Jurisdiction Of the country to which they
belong, and therefore any visitation, mo-
lestation or detention Of such vessel by
force, or by the exhibition oil force, on the
part,of a foreign power, Is derogation
from the sovereignty Of the United States.
In accordance with this principle, the
restoration Of the Virginius and the sur
render OF the survivors Of her passengers
and crew, and q due reparation 10 the
flag, and the punishment Of the authori-
ties who had been guilty Of the illegal acts
OF violence, were demanded. The Span.
ish Government has recognized the JUS
tice of the demand, and has arranged for
tho immediate delivery OF the vessel and
for the surrender OF the survivors OF the
passengers and crew, and for q salute to
the flag, and Tor proceedings looking to
the punishment Of those who may be
proved TO have been guilty Of illegal acts
OF violence towards citizens oil the United
States, and also towards indemniiying
those who may be shown TO be entitled 10
indemnity. A copy of protocol OF q
conference between the Secretary Of State
and the Spanish Minister, at which the
terms oil this arrangement were agreed 10,
is transmitted herewith.
Tho correspondence on this subject
with the legation Of the United States In
Madrid was conducted In cipher and by
cable, and needs the verifcation Of the
actual text Of the correspondence. II has
seemed TO me to be due TO the importance
OF the case not to submit this correspond.
ence until the actual text can be received
by mail. Its expected shortly, and will
be submitted when received. o.
In taking leave Of this subject, I wish
to renew the expression OF my convic-
tion that the existence Of African slavery
in Cuba Is q powerful cause Of the la
mentable condition Of the Island. do
not doubt that Congress shares with me
thehope that II will soon be made 70 disap-
pear In order that peace and prosperity
may follow its abolition. The embracing Of
American estates in Cuba, cruelty 10
American citizens detected in NO net Of
hostility to the Spaniah government, the
numbering OF prisoners taken with arms
In their hands, and finally the capture up:
on the high seas Of vessel sailing under
the United States flag and bearing the Uni.
ted States registry, has eliminated In an
outburst Of indignation that seemed for o
time to threaten war. Pending negotia-
tons between the United States and the
Government of Spain on the subject, I
have authorized the Secretary of The Navy
to put our Navy on Q war footing to the
extent at least Of the entire annual appro.
priation for that branch Of the service,