Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-11-24
THE SPANISH FURRY.
Facts and Runners In Washington.

Inc studtion IN CUBA presents no new local
features worthy OF note. Tho excitement has
somewhat cooled of, in view of the pacific news
from Madrid, but is ready to fame up again on
the receipt of any adverse intelligence. As will
be seen by paragraph below, the naval orders
show that that department of the public service
is still active, and the same may be said of the
War department, particularly with reference
to Notifications under charge of engineer
officers, and of the ordnance department in the
manufacture of ordnance and m unitions of war.
IL is authorltatively stated that the published
synopsis OF the alleged dem ands of our govern
n.n Mt against Spain are substantially incorrect.
There has been no formal demand, but
merely notice of demand, which state.
that, II certain facts are proved, certain repa-
ration will be demanded. fhe alleged demand
j. simply diplomatic notice. The statement
that the social relations between Minister Sic
kles and any part of the Spanish cabinet are
interrupted is in all respects untrue.
IMPORTANT NAVAL oFDERs.
The following naval orders were Issued to-
day: Commander Edward P. Lull to temporary
duty in command of the Torpedo station, New
port. X. /. Master j. Il. Hobson to the Dis
patch. Pay Director T.. j. Emory to do duty
as inspector of provisions, &c, at the navy
yard. Boston, lst December next. Paymaster
W n. watmough to the Brooklyn on 18th De-
cember. Chief Engineer f. b. Latch as mem
Der of board for the inspection of ships. Lieut..
Commander f. Smith detached from ordnance
duty at the navy yard, Boston, Mass, and
OfucTeu 10 hty west as inspector Oh ordnance.
Lieut.. III. T.. Nichols from the Idaho, Asiatic
station, and ordered to return home and report
arrival Lieut.. Jefferson f. M0ser from special
duty at Washington, ID. G., and ordered 20 the
Dispatch as executive. Lieut.. Seaton Schroeder
from the Canandaigua and ordered to the
Pinta. Pay Inspector Geo. l.. Davis from duty
as inspector Of provisions, &c, at the navy
yard, Boston, on the 1st December next, and
ordered to the flag ship of the North Pacific
station, and also as fleet paymaster of that
station. Paymaster a. j. Pritchard from duty
a nav Gtnr nt Iba. :.
and ordered to proceed home aud report arrival
Assistant Paymaster y. Il. Brown from the
navy yard, Portsmouth, n. H., and ordered to
the Pinta. First Assistant Engineer Hugh IL.
Cline from the Canandaigua and placed on
sick leave.
ToRPEDoEs.
Orders have been sent from here to Major
Abbott, at Wilett's Point, New York, to dis
patch TO Key West a torpedo outfit, including
cables and electric apparatus; also TO put under
immediate practical instruction in plantirg
and operating of torpedoes a sufficient detaeh-
ment OF the engineer battalion.
A Legal View of the Case.
Hon. Reyerdy johnson is out in a letter
printed to day in tie Baltimore 1mericaa re-
viewing the circumstances connected with the
capture of the Nirginius. In common with
civilized men everywhere he thinks the execu-
ton CT the captives at Santiago de Cuba was
barbsrous in the extreme, and an outrage on
however, that tue capture of the Virginius and
the subsequent conduct of the captors involve
questions by no means suited to the discussion
of town meetings, but which should be left now
TO the elaboration of the President and CaDi-
net, at the council board, where a just conclu-
sion is most likely to be reached as to what the
rights and the bonor of the nation demand.
For the reason that public Indignation meetings
seem to be reflection upon the President he will
decline to participate in them He considers the
question in its legal aspect, refers to the efforts
ment of the principle that American vessels
cannot be searched in time of peace, and ex-
pref yes the opinion that if the yirginius carried
the American flag and was regularly docu-
mented as an American vessel, and was on the
high seas when captured, her capture was il
legal and contrary to the public law, as under
stood, it is believed, not only by England and the
United States but by all nations fncudingSpain
He luther says it will be no Justification of the
capture that the object of the enterprise was to
render assistance to the Cuban insurgents. If
that was the case, the offence, at the time OF
the capture, was violation of the neutrality
laws Of the United States, and not of the aover
eighty of Spain, and the United States alone
possessed Jurisdiction over the subject. The
capture therefore he thinks was as gross disre-
gard of the authority of the United States as it
would have been if the Tornado had seized her
in the barbor of New York; and she was as
much under the protection OF our government
in the one case as in the other. The Virgnius
crew and passengers not having been legally
es such exempt from the jurisdiction of Spain,
as when they stood upon American soil, and
Spain is, consequently, as responsible to the
United States for their execution, as she would
have been If she had gotten possession of the
men by the invasion of our territory. Mr.. John
son pays warm tribute to CASTELAR, but saws he
must see that an unrighteous war with the
United States would Illustrate his patriotic
designs. On the other hand he believes that
president Grant, equally just and patriotic
Spain may be continued, will avoid demanding
of her any apology or indemnity, inconsistent
with her rights and honor, and not necessary to
MAINTAIN our own"