New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-09
THE VIRGINIUS.

MORE LIGHT ON THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH
SPAIN
T1IR PROTEST OF OUR GOVERNMENT Against TIE
SEIZURE OF THE VESSEL AND THE EXECUTIONS At
| sANrnGo-vIoIENT LANGUAGE OF TIE SPANISH
FOREIGN MINISTER IN REPLY.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON. Jan. s.-The correspondence in the
Virginius case. having been printed and land upon
the tables of Senators and Representatives an oppor
tumty is given for careful examination OF It,
Some very interesting passages occur in the dis
patches and letters of Gen. sckles that have not yet
| appeared in the newspaper summaries. On the 18th
| Of November Gen. Sickles in describing an inter
view with President CASTELAR, two days before. says
His Excellency had scarcely welcomed me when ne
exclaimed, How deeply deplore the execution OF the
four prisoners at Santiago do Cuba What misfortune
that order not received IN time to prevent such
acti IL was against the hw. and the only excuse
offered 10 that OF death had already been pro-
nounced against these men, Interrupted for mo
ment, the President resumed: "such scandals must
cease Conservative deputstion here this morn
ing and told them frankly tn must put al end to
Slavery In Cuba. 1t brntaliEes Ill 1t touches"
The first misunderstanding between Gen. Slckles
and the Spanish Foreign Minister seems to have
arisen from the letter of the former dated Nov. 10,
demanding reparaton. Afte, reviewing the case up
to that time, Gen. Sckles says In that letter:
More than fifteen days have Iassed since the Virgin
ius was captured The undersigned has waited more
than eight days for communication from his Excel
lency tho Minister Of State, Simplifying that his
| Government prepared h make due atone
ment for the wrong and injury done. and
| OF which complaint was AIDE aforesaid
Meanw hile the officials purportinR md claiming to exer
else authority in Cuba not restrai ed BY the supreme
Government have inflicted SUNNI ~ cruel and bloody
punishment the captain. office = and crew Of the
vrgnus and a number Of her passengers, and this
pending the amicable representation of the undersigned
his EXceency the Minister Of to having for their
object the considerable and honorab adjustment OF any
questions involved in the capture. The undersigned
has now in the OF the Preside :, TO demand the
restoration OF the Virginus, and the release and
delivery to the United States Of the captured in
her who may yet survive and that th sgo the United
| States be at the time salute' in the port Of
Santiago de Cuba, and also that the Spanish Govern
ment manifest. by signal punshments 70 be inflicted on
them of the misconduct of those Of s servants
who were the capture Of the said vessel
and execution Of tho passengers and thereof
The following translation Of the reply to this
protest, sent TO Gen. Sckles by Mr. Jose de Car
| vaial:
MINISTRY OF STATE, MADRID, Nov Il, 1873.
SIR have just received your note dated to-day pro-
testing in the exercise OF your Office the name OF the
| Government of the United States, and assuming on
your account the OF humanity the represen
| taton Of. which does not belong 10 You eSecu-
! lively, by reason OF the executions which took
| place in Santiago de Cuba on the seventh
| and eighth days OF this month. The protest
having been presented in general terms and without
relation to wrong (aorGpio) inflicted on the American
Union, the Government Of the Spanish Republic cannot
recognize your competency to make 1t, Spain
would have had such right with respect 10 the
culinary acts which have happened In our own day,
as well in the United States Ia other
nations OF the old and new continents. The pro
| test being thus rejected with serene energy,
| have 10 fix my attention upon the harshness
style and upon the heated and improper words
used TO qualify the conduct Of the Spanish authorities
II the document subscribed by lacks the solemniy
which might be lent to it by the right address to
me- the temperance OF form ought at least 70 have
demonstrated that it not dictated ny passion.
| would touch lightly upon this matter " had
| only IN occupy myself with the sting. OF
| tho insult ofensa). But, comprehendiDg its
| intent, the Government cannot consent that
in anticipation OF its judgment the representative
Of foreign, though friendly, power, should shar
acterize the Spanish authorities in other terms ian
| those which the Government itself deems lust
interference always inadmssable but still strung
when neither the Cabinet OF Washington nor this OF
Madrid. yourself has at the present hour sufficient
| data upon which to ground complaint whether con
cerning the seizure Of the yirglnins in relation
TO the subsequent occurrences Your quacatOry terms
cannot repeated here for they would impair the
measured OF this communication. But you viii
note that without knowledge Of the facts it would
have all times act OF temerity to pass judg
ment upon the authorities and that until such know
edge is acquired II BELTS the elevation OF character yo
| have attained to consider these guardians aud
representatives OF the law while the persons shot
rebels seeking trample the law under footenemss
OF the country and durbers OF the peace aud OF the
rule of sister republic Disregardng mere impre,-
sions you should have suspended your opinions ts
Government Of the Republic has suspended its FIR
does not wsh to expose itself to the stigma Of behs
hasty and light In such delicate and complex matte
| In this attitude II will continue remain until t
acquires full gertrude, and you may rest assured tb
its spirit will be altered by any kind OF prcssr
whatever neither will IL be e1asperated by your note
the extremity Of forgetting what IL alike due to the
dignity Of country and to that respect for the laws
which 10 above all expediences and national
| capabilities.
You conclude by declaring aso by order Of your CIV.
eminent that 1t will demand ample reparation for aay
orense committed upon American citizens upon Is
flag 1t to be regretted that you have not maintained
under this point of view of pr0Dlematical reality the
attitude adopted In the verbal conferences TO which you
make direct reference. In them You cOnided to the
| spontaneity and the cordial sentiments Of the
Spanish Government the solution to be given this In
cident which you now prematurey and with querulous
anticipation bring the official wherein shall
not fail to maintain steadfatly that the Government
the Republic 10 resolved that the law shall be complied
with as well in Spanish territory in international
relations and that disparagement of any right win
| be tolerated. avail myself, &c. j. DE CARvAJAL
To the above note Gen. sickles at replied az
follows:
LEGATION OF THs UNITED STATES OF AxERIcA,(
MADRID. Nov. 10, 1873. )
The undersigned had the honor At o'clock this morn
inc TO receive the reply OF Exceency the Minister
of State 70 the written protest made by the under