The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-01-03
An UGLY COMPLICATION.
What Hay Become o! the yirginlus
Loci. AMIR.
trrom the Cincinnati Commercial }


WASHINGTON, December 26.-Appear-
aness indicate that Senators Sumner and
Schurx will unite with the Democratic
Senators in criticising unsparingiy the
conduct OF the Administration in tho VIr-
ginius affair, Mr.. Schurz is said to be OF
the opinion that tho Administration will
ind Il difficult to justify the somewhat
prscipitsts measures which 1t adopted, es-
not satisfied that ~e .sS uvs even .
prima facis case, IL our authorities were
not really satisfied that they had no case
st al. He 10 inclined TO characterize rs
IN element Of weakness the yielding
TO popular clamor on the part of the
President and his adviser. The investi-
cation into the character Of the Virginius
should have preceded any demand on the
part Of our Government, that such de-
msnds might b made in good faith, and
with an appreciation Of oil they involved
Secretary Fish, he thinks, Is entitled to
great credit in resisting the pressure
brought 10 bear upon him by tho Presi-
dent and the other members Of the Cabi-
net Who all showed An inclination TO rush
into combat without fret ascertaining
whether such . course would DO advisable
or justinabls.
The grounds upon which Senator Sum
nsr win question the wisdom Of the Ad-
ADMINISTRATION In This affair are said to be,
in the main, similar 70 those given above.
The recklessness with which the public
funds have been expended to prepare for
Q WAf which would have the effect TO very
much weaken, II not overthrow, . sister
republic struggling for existence, without
having good reason to believe that . war
would b necessary TO settle the dispute,
will also, IL 10 believed, receive Mr..
Summers attention at the first opportu-
nifty.
(St Louis Republican,
The most eminent legal
counsel In the United States will present
this plea: That the Virginius, whose
name WAS changed from that of the Viz.
gin, In violation Of the act Of May 8,
1854, and which by congressional enact
msnS worked forfeiture and prevented her
from receiving register, was unlawfully
registered BY the United States in 1869,
when cold by the bureau OF refugees,
freedmen and abandoned lands Al the port
Of Mobile. Upon this record, which the
goverAmsat Of the United States cannot
deny - . positive violation Of its own
laws, the Virginius has no legal status in
any United States court, and it is held by
the Law officers Of the Treasury Depart
msnt that the Virginius SO called has no
legal status ~ an American registered ves-
eel. In short, all hor pretentions from tho
time she Wa sold At Mobile until her cap
turs BY the Tornado were in direct viola
tioA Of the laws Of the United States, and
fraudulent - against the same.
In the future consideration OF the terms
Of the protocol, Spain will allege that shs
has, just claim against tho United States
for damages inflicted upon colony of her
govsrnmsnt This unexpected phase of
the question and the resignation of Min
istss Sicklss, induced the president at .
cabinet meeting yesterday TO propose ~
the ablsst representative our government
could send 10 Madrid, Caleb Gushing,
whose srudition and qualifications for
meeting delicate diplomatic situation
commanded him for the Arduous service
Of the Spanish mission.