Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-20
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1873.
The Cuban Question.

From the washington hepuDhcan.l
The situation remains unchanged as regards
the complications growing out Of the Virglulus
case. The government has received no adVices
of an official character which give additional 10
formation in the premises. From unofficial
sources some inkling has been obtained regard
ing the probable position of the Spanish Gov
ernment. Briefly, it may be said that the Mad
rid authorities will insist primarily that the Vir-
ginius was not an American vessel. 1t is known
that her name does not appear on the ohclal
list at the Treasury Department as the Vlrginl-
us, and that so far as her record is concerned
it is not as perfect as it might be. She original
" came into the possession OF the Government
at the close of the war as capture by the army.
She was then held by the bureau of captured
and abandoned property. She was afterwards
sold to; certain parties 10 Mobile, among whom
was Federal Official who subsequently, became
a defaulter to the Government. ln the recovery
of the amount of that defalcation the vessel was
turned over as the property of the detauter
and thus came into the possession OF the Gov
ernment She was then brought to Washing
ton and sold again to certain parties Including
a gentleman named Patterson. During this
time she was known as the Virgin. She was
Registered both at Mobile and New Orleans
under that name, and as an American vessel.
1t is believed, however, that at the subsequent
registry at New York her name was changed.
She is now on the official list as the Virginia,
of AL tons burtben, No. 25,S5l, as a paddle
wheel steamer, and having New York as her
home port. The Spaniards will argue from
these facts that she is not an American vessel,
and not having been captured and condemned
as a naval prize, or Americanized by especial
act of Congress, as required by law, the United
States cannot claim that she was entitled to car
ry the American flag. They will also claim that
she was built in England. Secondly, they will
undoubtedly claim that inasmuch as she has
not for long time been used in legitimate
mercantile traffic she cannot now be treated as
a vessel entitled to consideration under the
stipulations OF treaty privileges and obligations.
1t is known that the Madrid Government has
already agreed to yield such reclamation as
reason and honor may dictate consistently with
the preservation of the integrity OF Spanish
territory, and it is believed that in our demand
for reclamation no intention is embraced to VIC.
late that territorial integrity; but the foregoing
propositions may be submitted for the purpose
of procuring delay. 1t is therefore not im-
probable that, ia view of the questions of In
ternational law which may arise the correspon-
dence may be more prolific aud extended than
the patience of the American people will will
iDgiy submit to. 1t is believed that the Span
ish authorities have obtained complete his
tory of the Virginius since the time she left
New York, including what is said to have been
an irregular sale or transfer by the Patterson
party to Gen. Quesada or some representative
of the Cuban Insurgents. IT this belief be true
it may be accepted as certain that the negotla-
ton will be necessarily prolonged. Our govern
meDt, however, will use its utmost endeavors
to compel a speedy settlement, and will not
submit to delays over frivolous objections or
arguments regarding irrelevant points 1t will
be held that, Notwithstanding the objections
therein surmlscd, plain violation of lnterna-
tional law has been committed by Spain, and
that her representative on the island of Cuba
has been guilty Of outrage against civilization,
the barbarity of which demands immediate
punishment.
The earnestEess Of the intentions of this
Government is further confirmed by interviews
with Secretary Richardson aud Postmaster
General Creswell. Both of these high officers
Of the Administration reiterate, in the most
positive manner, that the demands of the
American people will be fully enforced by Presi-
dent Grant. The Secretary of the Treasury,
indeed, does not discourage the idea that war
with Spain and the acquisition of Cuba by the
United States are likely to result from the pre-
sent complications.
Latest dispatches from Havana do not con-
tain any Intelligence from Santiago later than
that which has already been published, and We
are accordingly still left in doubt as TO whether
the whole number of the hundred and fifty
victims marked for death have yet been execut-
ed. The Archbishop of Havana, in letter,
thanks God for the conversion of some of the
victims lately executed.
a grand bull fight is to be given at Havana
to-day in honor of the officers and crew of the
Tornado. The Spanish colors were displayed
in several of the STREETS of HaYaua on account
OF the arrival of the now so-called national
steamer Firginius at that port
"
Attorney General Williams, on a question
c,h tol 10 L. Al O. upL II IT