The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1874-01-04

second NE ehsfaolefyl lhe egldeho
ab6n whloh 10 II necessarily based
With all dino daiefehce n the tfosi
Dental nominee fof Chief Jasllto ",
geniafa 10 qaosiion ihe abiI'iy %
gen. Williams w decide me fp'6il aI
l5sae. Nothing We hls dYne. aall ol
written Zine. bo iecImc Tie ltgal od
visor " iho Government bas cobvino.
ed a. That he possesses sufficient
knowledge and experience 70 adjudii
cate properly even those eases which
ordinarily como within tIe province
of his department. lis opinion on
international law Is, VIC believe, prac-
tically WORT less, and entitled TO no
consideration whatever, unless enJors.
cd by much higher authority. Now
what is the character Of the evidence
offered 2 1t is entirely ca parte, and,
therefore, ought to be received with
the greatest caution II not rejected
altogether. Spanish witnesses and
spanish testimony are called in TO
prove that the Virgiuips was what it
is maniftstly to tho interest Of Spain
to show her to have been. Where are
the witnesses on the other side? Spain
has shot them. Every man who
would be likely to know the status OF
The vessel when seized Is buried in a
bloody grave, and the men who sent
them there are placed on the stand to
clear their own skirts by establishing
the guilt Of their victims. If this is
not a diabolcal burlesque upon justice
and common sense, then we confess
ourselves unable TO comprehend what
Justice and common sense mean. How
many murderers could be convicted
in criminal courts il the only witnes-
ses forthcoming were the murderers
themselves ana their accompices and
friend? Yet tins is the convenient
arrangement which lsssi. S.sSi.., has into,
duced in the present case, and waicrIa'
Attorney General Williams is reported |
to have sanctioned.
The testimony Of a dyingman,
when realizing lis situation and in
full possession of his mental faculties,
is entitled to some weight. Capt.
Fry in his published letter to Presi'
dent Grant, written few hours
before he was led to execution, ex-
pressly declares that the Virginius
was sailing under regular United
States clearance papers, and was,
authorized to fly the Ame- |
rican flag, and enjoy American pro-
ection. In the official rerort d
transmitted to the Secretary
,f the Navy by Rear Admiral 7
scott, commanding the North Atlantic a
quadron, it is stated that Capt. Fry, q
IN his trial, declined TO answer all I
Iuestions put to him, protesting that,
" the laws Of nations, he and his 0
rev had committed no offence that "
rstifed their Imprisonment or trial Il
S pirates-claiming to be in COM IL
land of an American merchant YES II
ell, furnished with all properly GER n
if. d papers which he had delivered Fl
0 the boarding officer of the cap "
uring vessel Are the declarations Ii
f a brave and honest man at such f
time to be set down as deliberate )
ilsehood unworthy Of the slightest b
redit? If.so what is to prevent, g
pain. or any other nation, seizing l'
american ships on the high seas a
hooting all tue officers and then Il
rowing them pirates? 1t is asserted b
hat the papers carried by the Vir- L
inius aud delivered by Capt. Fry
D the boarding officer of the Tor HI
ado were forged. How do we b
now that the papers presented by il
he Spanish Minister are the same a
apera that Captain Fry surrendercd2 fc
'urriel and and his associates had a tc
ireet and personal interest in max Il
lg out the Virginius pirate; they b;
ad ample time to manipulate these vi
apers to suit their purpose they IL
ave shown themselve capable Of do hi
ig the most desperate and unlaw- Ell
i deeds. what is to prevent them 81
ON being forgers, and destroying al
le genuine papers in order to use W
sudp.ent ensd? Shall wee -ondemn 70
cad men en- the testimony Of those d.
ho butchered tirm !? Must we U
,lieye that Fry went into the pres q
ice of his God with lie in his h,
outh, because Burriel seys he did !? k,