Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-23


proceedings against the Yirginius aid
against any Of the persons who may appear
TO have been guilty Of illegal acts in con-
nection Herewith,
No Christmas Salute.
As Spain has proven to the satisfaction of
the United States, according TO the After
ney Generals opinion, thai The Virginius
was at the time of her capture carrying the
United States flag without right and inn
properly, the salute TO the flag on the 25th
day of December will be dispensed with,
as now not necessarily reputable; but the
United States will expect a disclaimer of
any intent of indignity to its flag in the act
which was committed.
Perjury.
From the proof submitted to Spain, it
appears that the clearance papers of the
Nirginius were obtained by perjury.
spain and Great Britain.
The Department of State has no infor-
nation concerning the complications be-
tween Great Britain and Spain.
Alabama Claims Against the United
States.
Special to the COurier-Journal.
The report telegTaphed from Madrid TO
the effect that the CASTELAR, Cabinet had de-
cided to make demand for the return of
the VirginiuS, with her passengers and crew,
is inconsistent with the important steps
just taken by Spain, and is therefore dis
credited. The protocol, however, reserves
the right to Spain to establish by proof that
the Virginius had no right to carry the
American flag. The next step will be for
the United States Government to proceed
against the vessel and her owners by the
usual mode provided by statute. The YES
sci would probably not be surrendered in
any case; but Spain, in the event Ofmaking
this proof, would have claim for damages
consequent upon the cruise of the Virgin
ius, similar in principle to that growing out
of the depredations of the Alabama. and
she would probably have heavy bill of
this nature to present, which, in case of its
being rejected by this government, she
would propose to have arbitrated by one or
more neutral powers. At the very outset
of this Virginius embroglio this issue to
the affair was predicted by veteran diplo-
matist of this city.
The Demand Made last Friday.
Special to the New York Herald.
PARIS, Dec. 21.-Cipher dispatches from
JllC IttittU correspondent AnduIlu all
nounce that Spain demands the restoration
of the Virginius. There isgreat exultation
in consequence of Secretary Fish admitting
that the Virginius was not entitled to carry
the flag Of the UnitedStates. The demand
was delivered Friday.
Minister SiclkIes Again Resigns.
Gen. Sickles has telegraphed to Wash
ington insisting upon acceptance of his res
ignatiOn.
To the Associated Press.
Documents from Admiral Scott.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-Rear Admiral
Scott has sent to the Secretary of the Navy
a large number of documents connected
with the capture Of the Nirginius and the
executions which followed. These include
the list Of 103 who were in prison at San
tiagO dc Cuba, thirteen Of whom were shot.
But four Americans are among the number
given. Those who were executed in addi-
tiOn to the thirteen above mentioned were
i'll Jail only few hours, with the eXcep-
ton OfCapt. Fry, who was OttakeIi to that
place.
The Santiago Court Martial.
According to the official report concern
ing the mode of the trial by court martial,
Ndil. IIN uCtlllltu 10 diISNti GlI lllC tlutS-
tiGns put to him, protesting that, by the
laws of nations, he and MS crew had COM
mitted no Otiense that justified his or their
imprisonment or trial as pirates; claiming
to be in command of an American merchant
vessel, furnished with all properly-certiticd
papers, which he had delivered to the board
ing officer Of the capturing vessel.
Where the Capture was Made.
j. y. Rowe. of ROckland, Me-, deposed
at Kingston, Jamaica, that from his knowl-
edge of navigation the Virginius, when
captured, could not have been less than
seventy miles from the cost Of Cuba.
Commander Braine's Protest.
Commander Braine, in his letter to the
Secretary of the Navy, dated Santiago de
Cuba, Nov. 80, communicating information
which he obtained about the Nirginius,
says: You will see by my letter to his EX-
cellency, Senior Brigadier COmmandante
Gen. du Morales, and protest, that | pro-
tested against any further punishment to
any Of the officers and crew and passengers
of the Nirginius, irrespective of their ma
tionalty; and if any more were ordered to
be executed, must be informed before it
took place, as | claimed that the American
DlObCIlCu dill Il IL Nt laAhCAl ALlCdlAo w
circulate it ashore in the city that, if any of
the persons taken from the NirginiuS are
executed l will sink every Spanish gIlnbOat
and other Spanish men-Ot-waT here that |
can get at. feel assured that this rumOr
has had good effect. You viii observe
by my interview that the General asks, i'll
reply to my suggestion, that an easy, partial
solution to this already complicated affair
l,a fI, oil bn
alive belonging to the VirgimuS. 'In what
manner could that be done?n | replied,
s.by putting them in boats and putting
them on board the ship which | have the
honor to command, restoring them under
the flag from which they were taken" The
Governor replied that he could not do so
without orders from his superiors. Com
mander Braine asked if the people taken
from the American steamer NirginiuS were
executed by authority of the highest ruling
power in the Island, or by order of the gov
ernment officials here. The Governor an
swered: "By the government here" The
Commander said: 'COuld not the same
power that ordered their execution order
their release and delivery to him?' The
Governor replied in the negative. The
people taken from the ViTginius were exc
CuIeu DN al OIuCI previously ISotitu Dy tilC
Admiral commanding the naval forces Of
the island The others were executed un-
der the authority of an order issued by
Gen. Derodas.
Commander Braine-''But were there
not passengers on board the American
steamer VIginius?'
The GovernOr-''Y OIL must reCOllect that
there were many Spaniards among the pas
sengerS, and one among them a deserter
from our army on this island
Commander Braine -" Y es, but they were
taken from an American steamer on the
high seaS.'
The Governor-t.On the night of the ar
rival of the Virginius at this port, i'll look
ing over the papers, an order was found,
issued by the Captain Gene,al, and it was
under his order that the trial and eXecu-
ton took place
Commander Braine-'But have to re-
mind you that both the United States and
British Governments protested against that
order, and told the Spanish Government
that they would not allow any such inter
ference, and that the most that the United
States Government could admit would he
the contiScatiOn Of the vessel and cargo"
lou nc