New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-23
SPEECH or HON. =. =. COX.

t1l Inc IUtttluS dt AAdii IL -NS ="
York. on Monday evening last. Hon. S. s.
Cox. just elected to Congress from New
York city, proEeunced the following elo-
auent address Oh Spanish outrages in Cuba:
What is tie law Of nations with regard to
| the seizure of the Tirginius! Was there a
breach Of tina: law: And if breach What
is the remedy for the outrage! Perhaps 1t
would be wiser to leave the international
question to such publicists as the honored
chairman of this meeting. But as d premise
for my conclusion. aud without chopping
legal logic or quoting TOO many authorities.
may hint at the nature of that seizure. 1t
the seizure was right it does no. follow,
however, that the brutal consequences at
Santiago can be justified "a any form ot con.
science or justice.
One thing is beyond doubt. The vesse,
was duly authenticated by our government
Oar flag, rightfully. was a, its mast. II
had our register and clearance. The selA
n1e was or the high seas; not within Span.
ish waters, not within the marine league
There was no recognition by Spain OF bel
ligerent rights to the insurgency in Cuba.
Then what was the legal status Of the YES
sci Precisely your right to walk the city
parks or streets cOeaual with that OF any
other person. No man, except by warrant
Of law, can obstruct your locOmotion. The
sea is a common. 1t is no ordinary pro-
gress Of human thought which has made
this the doctrine, not of America, but OF
the world. The letters which stronger ma
tons have imposed ON commerce, and espe-
ciaily upon neutrals. have melted away an
der the civilizing influences of time. This
country has been the chief agent in that
amelioration of maritime relations. Ia
the Trent case England, under our
doctrine, reclaimed Slitell and Mason,
and mitigated her own laws and
admiralty decisions--her own attempts to
make the sea "a British highway. Upon
what principle! Precisely that laid down
as early as 1885 by Franklin 10 his treaty
with Prussia. Washington approved of it.
Quincy Adams, following Grotius, elabo-
rated it in 1923 to Colombia. Clay did the
same to our Panama commissioners Pierce
and Marcy clinched it, Indeed, although
we ended the war of 1912 without settling
the question in favor OF sailors rights and
free sea- yet time has done what our army
aud navy failed to doc The doctrine broad
iy stated is. that the vessel IS the locating
territory OF the nation under whose tag it
sails. and no power can IightfIily question
or curtaii its privileges. Every prominent
American statesman las insisted on this
doctrine. James Monroe. when minister to
London. in 1901, held that neutral flag
on the high seas was safeguard to those
sailing under ito Madison. III his message
OF May 25. 1873 held that leach State had
exclusive jurisdiction over its own vessels
Its laws govern in them. and cttenses
against those laws are punishable by its
tribunals only" In the case of the Wire
glnius there we're no belligerent rights to
make the case exceptional. Quincy Adams
gave positive instructions in the case OF the
Good Return-n the final stage of which,
before Sir Frederick Bruce, was of coun.
sel-to this effect: 1.-The high seas are I.
general Jurisdiction. common TO all. quail.
over its own vessels" Webster laid down
the same doctrine to Ashburton in 1872 He
held the vessel to be territory, ands the
entry iato it. btin, neutral. by a
beliigerens. is an &C: vt force. t:espass and
wTonge
Every writer Of authority holds ~ she
American doctrine that tie rights Of per.
son. property and soverei gntv are violated
whenever, as in the case OF the tirginius.
a ship is overhaufed, searched and seized. !
Gentlemen. am told. high in authority. !
are waiting for the facts. We are advised !
by them not 20 60 into Mysteries over the |
flag until the facts are known ''lIow Tong.
Oh Lord how long" are we 20 wait upon |.
our diplomatic iuggiery The facts are pa !
,en'e Newspaper enterprise has advertised !
and confirmed themo l propose to 90 into !
4 few mysteries On the tai:a O: tie uuGses. |
.!Ona be TRUTHS !;
This question il one wilci, concerns our |
government and tiag. Il does not 20 10 She
chisement Of Cuba. That is inciden-
al and conseeuent;aio 1t has ia it none Of
he elements ct sympathy. What. then. ia
he Tsraration. 4. the loss OF the vessel |,
My to be made good Are the lives OF the
butcher BurTiel and his mob Of volunteers
o he demandeds WIli that restore the life
II Fry or Ryan. or the men who were sa.
red Under our tiage Is no, the remedy one
vhicfi reaches further: Is our flag nothing!
Nothing to commerce. Is il only a aish
az. OF a n emblem OF power! Til. inquiry
3 one that turns Hs back TO :he peculiar
ule of Spain in Cuba Nor Is that Spanish
ule peculiar to Caoa. The power of Spain
as been for d century dying 81 cur cont.
enee but as she has Tetreated from the'heH.- !
sphere her skSris have been ueGraggeI and !
lothe! with gore. The las. H.as sacre il
ut the horrible and damrab's iteration %;
OF other Gutcheries. Since Oc:o-
err. lstS--when the Instruction ipyan--
pain has waged relentless way. IL 1863 we
"A! .he record OF 10. 900 Spanish troop.
Ell, out TO conquer l.500.I pao IL. :he.e
'ere infantry, cavalry. artillery. eng Heers.
FARMERS and volunteers: nu: to speak of
ftv vessels of war with over 900 guns. and
NEE then probably as many troops more.
u such {. warfare 50 extensive and pro.
,n.ed. one might have supposed that tho
AVS OF moderation and humanity, as iail
own by Nattel tor such eases. would OBJ
an but 1t has been q war without pity. !
'itfcus :s.Dorse. Rapac..v aud .!c-.aii.n.,
ontiscation and hatchery. have aided daily
gniiicanc.' 10 the II g o: Spain " h;cl-
ed and sell"w--ls q river o: blood between
largins ct gold. There are. n. Bison
rs in this war. WLeihas taken or |
IA Or land. death. sudden .nI nor
Die: death with mutiI.,ion death
ithont even the consolation .I .icf. TO
re condemned. These volunteer fends
oufd not even allow The Sshu.. sent from !
pain to land at Havana. because he be-
eyed in giving TO the dying patriot she
oily sacrament. LOOK at This book of
lood which hold in ms hand-o'Martyr.
Liberty in Cubat' See the numbers of "
lose executed from lS6S to 1871 There I
e 1873, whose names and Residences are
ven, and from the Spanish official record. !
ere are 265o names whose Fate il unrs. .
'rded. Sixtv-one dedicated i'll death 30
e garrott' The rest Of the lise are of Gle .
'ndenined and transported. Bloods an
tis. How muc;s of terrible suffering do
ese victims represent! God knows!
early 5000 persone Uos killed an the
sttle-tielde Others condemned who
% absen's among shrm os both
Xeso many Hs them upon Che chain !
tng. Do son wonder. shefis ~ such =
roclties as those the other day az San.iacne
'onder no more when you read the san :
linarv orders of the varlons Captains Gen. I
al. st1 March "A. 1860, Dulce 0SLerets all
s-els 0lh Spanish wateos os upon the hirs, =
as near the island" 20 De scizedo .gss ehse .
n on board 20 be treated a. pirates. aroS =
thou. regard TO eheis aumhe.. 10 t,s, in
ediateiv executed IN tr,T17 oDl.N,sifreo eIse