The New York herald., 1873-11-21
Senator stocktou's Views.


| Senator Stockton's Views.
/ WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, ls13
| In an interview with your correspondent Sen
ator John P. Stockton, OF New Jersey, expressed
his views fully on the question OF the virginius
massacre. He says that the country is fully CON-
mitted to the doctrine that the dag covers all
under it on the high seas. 1t was one
OF the main causes of our war with
England in 1872, and has always
been insisted upon by us and may be considered
part of the law OF nations. Whether the intentions
| OF those on board the Virginius were hostile to
Spanish rule in Cuba or not is a question which has
no place Whatever in determining the right OF the
! Spanish authorities to board her and make prls-
| oners of all on board. There is no allegation that
the vessel was even suspected or being anything
| but what she turned out to be; allegation that
the nag was supposed iraudulenty to cover any
thing but United States property regularly cleared
| from United states port. The treaty by which
the great maritime Powers agreed to keep naval
forces respectively the coast of Africa to suppress
| the slave trade was founded on the denial, even
on that coast, or the right OF cruiser or any
/ ton TO violate the nag OF another to ascertain
| whether suspicious OF the character OF vessel
might be well founded. What, therefore, may have
been found on board the yirginius calculated to
show that her purposes was Illegal should have no
place in the consideration OF the present question.
But whatever may be SAID OF the capture the sub
sequent conduct of the Spanish authorities toward
the unfortunate prisoners was violation OF the
law OF nations as well as OF every principle OF
Christianity and humanity itself. The inhu-
they had been Captured on the island
in actual hostilltes with arms in their hands, o
direct violation OF the modern rules OF war. and 1t
| must not be forgotten that the atrocities were
| committed IN cold blood by the commissioned
| officers OF Spain, acting under her authority. 1t
was not the natural result which could have been
anticipated by those venturing within the field
OF military operations. nor was it caused 10y the
! act OF insurgents over whom the spanish govern
ment had lost temporary control. 1t was legally
the act OF the Spanish government through their
| appointed officials, that the government OF
spain must not only condemn the act Of seizure,
but must disavow the act OF and punish
of by shooting prisoners, however captured,
in cold blood. II 1t be true that the Spanish gov
vent the wanton act OF cruelty they cannot refuse
4 to punish the perpetrators as murderers. But 1t
sacrifice, at Intervals OF several days. after IL
alleged tnat the wires had been cut to prevent the
reception OF the messages OF mercy, others of the
prisoners were again shot down under clrcum-
stances OF equal atrocity. II these accounts
true, II we have no reason to doubt the good faith
! is it not true that while she denies that war
exists on the Island or Cuba she shows herself to
asylum for pirates who clothed in her uni
| forms and with her appliances OF war. prey upon
prisoners home, slaughter them indlscriminatey,
| without Judicial inquiry as to their several
purposes, business or Intentions and in de-
/ spite OF the orders OF their govern.
| ment and without permitting the helpless
victims even to appeal to their own consulates
II spain Is helpless to prevent such outrages,
| long should a great country TO which her foreign
possessions are adjacent submit to their repeti-
tionf II the government of tae United states is
| content, will the other Christian nations Of
the earth submit to 1t longs our gov
prehension that we can be Charged with "p
| design TO iasten quarrel upon Spain in order TO
take advantage OF her domestic troubles at nome
| Qf of
Cuba. The history OF the last five years has shown
that the government OF the United states has
fulfilled all It's obligations to the spanish
| government, and has even been severely
censured by many ior permitting an inhuman
adjacent to coast without concedng bellieerent
| rights TO both the helligerent parties, instead
OF permitting the Spanish cruisers alone TO use our
| ports whenever the necessities OF the war made 1t
| important TO them Tor any purpose. Whether 1t
would be desirable or the United states to acquire
| possession OF Cuba, thereby losing government
revenue of $s5,000,000 annually from customs and
! adding at this tlme to our population nearly
| 100000 blacks many OF them native Africans,
and the whole FAR Inferior in intelligence to the
groes OF the South, IS much to be doubted but that
is question which 10 no way concerns the govern
ment or people OF this country at this time.
II SPAN does not mean openly to defy the
to she must disavow the violation OF our
nag. II she does not mean openly to defy not
only the law or nations but the laws OF clyiliza-
| ton, which are respected by all but sayages,
| she must denounce the continued least OF
blood with which her soldiers have gIutted
| States should preserve towards her and the Cuban
| Insurgents the present status OF neutrality she
! outrages as that OF the virgInins by immediate
punishment OF those who have done her SO
grievous an injury and forfeited their right 10 be
treated as civilized comb3tants III large feet OF
United states vessels had been cruising IN Cuban
waters at the time this capture and massacre could
not have occurred. ii @ squadron snould be sent
now, and should under similar circumstances re-
sent an attempt TO repeat the occurrence, the re-
suit would be a naval combat the coast OF Cuba.
/
| possible because the spanish authorities had
superior force on the spot at the moment and now
| unless the acts or Burriel be unequivocally con
demned the presence OF two large squadrons, act
/ ing under the views OF their respective govern
ments, may lead 20 a collision Though having no
means OF knowing the position taken by the
| Spanish government except that derived through
to believe that spain viii hesitate 70
disavow the violation OF our dag and condemn the
| muumanlty OF tue butchery II she Is unable,
however, TO prevent iurther outraqes by bringing
the perpetrators OF this last outrage 60 condign
tma ~ matters ttle as " results whether
she government oil the United States patiently
awaits urther outrages, which are sure to come,
OF @ acts now with prompttude and decision. In
reference TO suggestion that arbitration might
pc pioposed as proper means OF determining the
eStenl Stl ol tne offences committed BY the spanish
onlcers against the United States, the law or ma
tons and the laws OF humanity and civiIzation.
and also the proper means and extent OF repara,
the friends Of sn tRs " sae n9d sates ana
and crew, the Senator thought that the idea Of
such proposition would be simply shocking rbe
facts, as lar as gathered. appear TO be undlsputed
The principles Of international law and those OF
humanity when control others cannot be the ann.
Iect oI arbitration, because they are too firmly
| established; cannot be deccnty disputed ana can
! never be surrendered. IT, however, spain should
not dispute these propositions, and If toe question
should, in any part OF II, become one OF disputed
facts, or the application Of these recognized prin.
ciples to the facts OF the present case tsere would
still be ample time to consider such proposition.
But at present, with the information before Us,
| the bare suggestion Is very much out OF place
In reference TO the course the Spanish government
will take II Is supposable that that government
will do precisely what 1t has been already SAID they