Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-01-06


the several heads about as usual in the army
bills.
The Virginius Question.
The President yesterday sent the following
message to the Senate and House ut Represent
tatives
In NV annual mess .ge If D 3cemb r last gave
reason TO expect that when the full and accur &c
text Of the correspondence r"la.nS IL the steam
or Virginius which had been tel, g~aphed III Ct
pher, should be rec wed, the papers concerning
the capture of the vessel. the execution of part
Of its passengers and crew, and tho restoration
of the ship and survivors would be transmitted
to Congress.
In compliance with tho exp ctAtions then hid
out now transmit the papers and correspond
ence on that subject.
On the 18th day of September, 1870 the Vir-
ginius was registered in the custom house at
New York rs the property of citizen of the
United States, he having fr.t made oath, Ms Re-
quired by law, that he WAS the true and only
owner of the said vessel, and that there WAS no
subject or citizen of any foreign prince OF State,
directly or indirectly, by way OF trust, conf
dence or otherwise interested therein."
Having complied with the requisites of the
statute in that behalf, she cleared III the usual
Wy fol the 1T of Curacao, and on or about
the 4th dap Of October 1870 sailed for that port.
II is not disputed That she made the voyage
according 10 her clearance, nor that from that
day to this she hrs not returned within the ter
ritcrial Jurisdiction Of the United States. 1t !:
also understood that she preserved her Amrrl
can papers, and that when wi hin ports size made
the practice of putting forth CLAIM TO ArnerI-
can nationality, which Was recogIi zod by the
authorities ut such ports.
When, therefore, she eft the port Of King.
stou in October last, I'LL der the nag OF the nlt"d
States, she would appear to have hail. MS against
all powers except tho United States, the r!s hi to
fy that flag and t. claim It's protection Il: enjoy
ed by all regularly doclinented vessels register
| ed SIS part of our commercial marine.
| No state of war existed comforting upon "
| maritime Power the ri ght to modest or detaiI
| upon the high seas II documenlcI vessel. aud 1t
| cannot be pretended that the Firgn.ui had
| placed herself without the pale Of ii! law by ACTS
of piracy against the human race. If her paper:
were irregular or fraudulent, the offence WAS oi!c
against the laws Of the United Stats i'll t!t"hl!
| only to their tribunals. When. therefore, II be-
came known that the Virginils had been cap
| tured on the high seas bya Spanish nnl-oI. war;
| that the American flag had been hauled down
by tho captors; that the vessel had been carried
| to Spanish port, AID thai: Spanish tribunals
were taking Jurisdiction over thepersnns of thost
| foul on her, and exercising that jurisdiction
| upon American citizens, not only in violation oil
| international law, but in cUntravcnton OF the
provisions Of TIE treaty of iI93, | directed Il
| demand to be made upon Spain for the restora-
tion of the vessel, and for the return of the sur
vivors to the protection of the United St&tes, Tor
salute to the flag, and for the punishment Of
the offending parties.
The principles upon which these demands
rested could not b. seriously questioned, but II
WAS suggested by the Spanish Government that
there were grave doubts whether the Firg;nluS
| WAS entitled to the character given her By her
papers, and therefore it might be proper for the
United States after the surrender of the vessel
and the survivors, to dispense with the ga ut" to
the flag should such facts be established to their
| satisfaction
| This seemed to be reasonable and just !
| therefore assented to it, on the assurance thai
Spain would then clare that no insult % the
flag of the United States had been intended.
| l also authorized an agreement to be ma! e
that should it be shown to the satisfaction ol
this Government that the Virginius was i'm
properly bearing the flag, proceedings should be
instituted in our courts for the punishment OF
the off ,nce committed against the United States
On her part, Spain ur dertook to proceed
against those who had otlnndcd the Sovereignty
of the United States, or who had violated their
treaty rights.
The surrender OF the vessel and the survivors
to the Jurisdiction Of the tribunals Of the United
States was an admission of the principles upon
which the demand had been toundc /. | there
fore had no hesitation in agreelng to the arrange
ments finally made between the two Govern.
ments: an arrangement which was moderate
lstions which have so long existed between
Spain and the United States
Under this agreement the Virginius with the
American flag flying, WAS delivered to the navy
of the u nited States at Bahia Honda in the
Island of Cuba. on the 10th ultlmo. She was in
an unseaworthy condition. In the passage to
Now York she encountered one OF the most
tempestuous of our winter storms. AT the risk
of their lives the officers and crew placed in
charge of her attempted TO keep her aloat Thc r
efforts were unavaling, and shc sunk oil Cape
Fear The prisoners who survived the TnasSa-
ores were surrendered at Santiago do Cuna on
the 18th ultimo, and reached the port of Now
York in safety.
The evidence submtte on the part Of Spain,
to establish the fact that the Virginius ut the
time of her capture was improperly bearing the
flag of the United States, is transmitted here
with; together with the opinion of the Attorney
General thereon, and copy of the note of the
Spanish Minister, expressing, on behalf of his
Government, disclaimer of any intent Of indig-
nifty to the flag of the United States.