The New York herald., 1873-11-15
TEE LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.
Activity in the State and Navy Departments.
The Neutrality Law and the Ameri-
can Answers to Spain


WASHINGTON, Nov. II, 1873
The Navy Department does not seem willing Co
contribute to the popular excitement against Spain
by encouraging the idea that the naval prepara-
tions now under way are significant OF war.
or are intended as o menace to Spain. or arc
even designed for the justifable purpose OF
lending a moral support to the proceedings OF
the State Department in the diplomatic settlement
OF the case OF the yirginus, and the obtaining OF
substantial guarantees against further brigandage
and butchery In Cuba under perversion or
Spanish authority in the island. In the opinion OF
the naval authorities there are many reasons for
the Department doing what 1t is now engaged
upon without calling In the suggestions
OF war; defiance or threats II nothing
was done at this juncture, the onlcials
say, there would be cry raised that the govern
ment was supne and inefficient, and. worse than
that, II the popular ferment on both sides should
eventually drive the government into a hostile
attitude, and we were not prepared to vigorously
and instantly maintain our own side by display
Of naval power, there might be
LAMENTABLE CAUSE OF CENsURE.
These are two OF the assigned reasons and there
are others following, such as the necessity or
Keeping force In Cuban waters, now that the
local authorities have shown what they are Ca
from doing 1t again through fear OF the United
States than from any respect for the orders and
power oftheir own government at Madrid. Further
more, the triple influence OF resentment against
the nSpaniards, the depression in trade, and tho
hope OF relief by the acquisition or independence
Of Cuba, is expected, together with the renewed
efforts OF the Cuban organizations and agen-
cies in this country and elsewhere, to
lead to further attempts to land mem
and warlike supplies on the coasts OF
the insurrectionary DISTRICTS and thus there will
be more lives to save from absolute butchery moro
rights to proper administration OF even Spanish
justice to be guarded, and more rights OF lawful
navigation and trade by American vessels to en-
force against Spanish search and
SEIZURE ON THE HIGH SEAS.
With these explanations the Navy Department
ofcials make secret Of their activity in putting
our own vessels In order and Overhauling Spanish
charts and navy lists to ascertain the distribution
and strength Of Spanish feets and fortifcati0ns
and the secrets and dangers OF navigation
into Cuban and Porto Rican harbors. AS minor
consideration, Secretary Robson is gratied that.
without creating q supposititious necessity, he
Is enabled to yield for the time being to the appeals
that persons or influence and position are making
ON every side OF him. to continue, II
he cannot increase, the working force
Of the navy yards in this time OF indus
trial distress. The work now progressing
is not only one Of present necessity but viii bs use
full should the pending emergency disappear ana
he thinks that Congress will not grumble at q de-
fcency bill II it be not extravagant and be due to
energetic action to maintain our national rights
and character.
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT..
there is the same confidence OF q peaceful issue to
the virginius dficulty as at the Navy Department,
lAtAr vNt,SaS Sfnn fn
much future protection against q recurrence OF
murder and robbery as our navy can afford. 1t q
moral certainty that the government at Madrid will
wholly disavow the acts OF General Burrel since to
assume the responsibility would be an outrage
against humanity that even the weakest civilized
Power would feel compelled to resent BY war, or
by appeal to the great Powers to jointly redress
%Sn But disayowal VIII not anbs By itself pe
accepted by the State Department There
a suitable expression OF regret that the color OF
Spanish authority has been used to perpetrate an
enormous offence against the sanctity OF q vessel
carrying an American register and nag; an ample
compensation to the families dependents OF
those who were taken from the vessel before,
her criminal character had been determined
by Spanish prize court; the same reparation to
owners OF the vessel, unless she can be held as
lawful prize, and the removal and punishment OF
the opinion, OF the authorities here. the
Spanish government cannot control and
punish its own oficials and subjects its
OF our government in dsregardlng the empty SOW
ereign rights Of Spain In Cuba, and intervening
to Citizens as sere ss Of
nations raises the presumption that the un-
LAWFUL acts Of distant ocss are against
and wishes OF their respective governments,
the State Department feels bound to allow the
Spanish government the opportunity OF investiga-
ton, disavOwal, reparatfOn and punishment OF the
Offenders. This Will unavoidably consume time;
but the only alternative beyond providing for the
immediate safety OF what we have left in Cuba In
the way OF citizens and property would oe to
BoMBARD THE CUBAN PORTS
in imitation OF the British treatment OF Asiatic
and African nations, and apologize afterwards to
Spain for acting 50 hastily and effectively Il is
will set up strong allegations that the virginius
had actually forfeited her American nationality
guilty then, and had been before. OF nagrant VIOLA
tions OF the American neutrality laws. TO the
pared 4 to ''f reply that the possession Of an
nnexpred American register By the Var
government sn and could only be proper subject or
controversy between our own governments and the
vessel TINS was % M sne posi,on mo sasea
Icie right OF the virginius to her American char
acter by shotting the guns OF the Kansas and
received the warm commendation Of the Navy
VIOLATED NEUTRALITY.
The question OF violation OF neutrality our gov
ernment will also maintain to be one between
itself and the vessel, though Spain will un-
doubtedly be allowed to prove both laser asser-
bility, II she desires, but for no other
purpose. Any other course the state Department.
coniesses would be an admission OF the right OF q
foreign government to construe our navigation
and neutrality laws, and apply them to our
own shipping. AS an evidence of the
impossibty OF the Spanish government do
ing otherwise than completely disavow-
ing the virginius massacre, 1t Is stated
authoritatlvely that to justify or excuse the act
would be necessary to establish chain OF facts,
providing that declared blockade Of the Cuban
coast In whole or part existed; that the Diockade
was maintained by an adequate naval orce; that
the vrginius was discovered within four marine
leagues OF the Cuban coast and apparently
attempting to run the blockade; that she was cap
tured either within the four leagues or on the nigh
seas peiore she could neutral coast or port:
that she was condemnedlas q prize by proper lu-