Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-12-02


by order of the President, submitted by Gen.
Sickles, our minister to Spain, to the cabinet
of the Spanish Government on the 10Th OF No
vember:
Fyrst-The formal delivery of the Virginius
to officers of our government IN port OF the
United States.
,Second-The release and restoration to our
protection of the surviving captives.
7hId-A money indemnity to the heirs OF
all taken from On board the Virginius and put
to death.
Gen. Sickles was instructed to inform the
Spanish official that if the above demands were
not complied with within week from the time
they were submitted on the 10th ult., that he
would call for his passports and leave Madrid
with the United States legation. On the 10th,
the last day of the week given, 10 answer to the
demands had been received by Gen. Sickles, and
he had everything packed for immediate depar-
ture to Paris. having no hope that the demands
would be complied with. He is reported as
having expressed the opinion on that day that
war could not be avoided as CASTELAR, could give
no assurance that his orders would be obeyed
in Cuba, and that public feeling was such as to
make concession on the part of the Spanish Gov
ernment well nigh impossible.
The above is the substance of a cable tele-
gram in cipher to the New York Herald from
its correspondent in Madrid under date of the
Goth ult.
A Washington city dispatch of the next day,
the 9th, stated on what is said to be good au-
thority that our Government had extended the
time for definite reply from Spain to the de-
mands of our Government, and that negotia
tons were still in progress, and that the pros
pect for an adjustment of the difficulties was not
SO favorable as few days before. That dis
patch stated that our Government, on the 10Th
and 9th, was in receipt of dispatches from
Madrid of an elaborate character, giving the re-
suit of the interview between Minister Sickles
and the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs on
the points in controversy-that they were not
concluded, and from the then present indications
it was not probable that the matter would soon
be terminated by negotiation, although it was
hoped that there would be something definite
to lay before Congress on the day the Presi-
dents message would be transmitted to that
body as the negotiation was still pending.
We suppose that the chief difficulty in the
way of peaceful adj ustment is the first de-
mand, for the Spanish Government want salts
factory evidence that the Virginius was entitled
to the protection of our Government, whereas
our Government assumes that as a fact, and is
unwilling to grant delay for investigation. The
position of our government is, that as the Vir-
ginius was not within Spanish waters she could
not be lawfully captured by Spanish vessel,
whatever her mission or purpose.
Washington dispatches of the 2Sth state that
much excitement existed there on the Spanish
question, which was heightened by the reserve
in official quarters to give information concern
ing it, Ga that day Friday-the cabinet were
in session several hours giving earnest attention
to the questions pending between the United
States and Spain.
1t was remarked by cabinet officer after the
adjournment that the business was in such a
condition that single telegram on either side
might change the whole course Of the proceed
iugs.
La the evening it was confidently stated that
the queSti had assumed more favorable as
pect than it bore in the morning, and that there
were strong reasons for expecting results en-
tirely satisfactory.
A dispatch dated at midnight says that state
that the Spanish Government had telegraphod
that night, through Admiral Polo, its agree
ment to all the terms of settlement demanded
by our Government.
As the Baltimore Sun Of Saturday says, "the
attitude of open defiance assumed in Havana,
and the strong public sentiment there against
any action on the part of the home government
which contemplates the surrender of the Vir-
ginius, or indeed anything else which would
amount to confession of wrong, have had a
weighty effect at Madrid in connection with the
Immediate influences of the opposing and clam
orous factions in Spain. 1t is too soon yet,
therefore, to expect to see the end of the mat
ter at glance
In reference to our difficulties with Spain it
is specially true that it is impossible to foretel
what day may bring forth. The prospects of
peace or war are as changeab!e as the figures
In kaleidoscope. One day the sky appears
to be clear and all seems suspicious Of peace
the next, the sky is overcast with dark clouds
threatening furious storm Of war.
We suppose that during the present week it
will be pretty definitely determined whether We
will have war or peace. In his message to Con-
gress, the President will inform that body what
the status of our relations with Spain is, and
will communicate the correspondence which has
taken place between the two Governments in
reference to pending difficulties, and it is pre-
sumed that Congress will proceed at once to
take action in reference thereto, unless the ne
gotiations between the Executive departments
otthe two countries-Republics so-called- have
been of a satisfactory character. IfSpain has,
as reported, complied with the demands made
upon her, and is able to secure their enforce
ment, peace will prevail but if, on the con-
trary, she has not, or is unable to enforce them
about which there seems to be some doubt
then it may be that Congress may feel itself
called upon either to declare war against Spain,
Or to recognize the Independence of Cuba, or,
at least, to recognize the insurgent Cubans as
belllgerents, who, five years, have been strug-
Cling to free themselves from the Spanish yoke.
AS the action of Congress will be known in
short time, it is useless to speculate as to what