The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-01-15
PRESIDENTIAL MEsgAeE
The VIrzfnius-Fuu Correspondence
Laid BefOre Congress.

Laid Before Congress.
The President has sent the following
message to the Senate and House of
Representatives flso.-
In my inaugural message of Deem
Der last I gave reason to expect that
when the full and acurate text Of the
correspondence relating to the steamer
Virginius, which had been autographed
/ IN cypher should bereceived, the papers
concerning the capture of the vessel,
the execution of part of its passengers
and crew.. and the restoration of the
ship and survivors, would be transmit
ted to Congress. In compliance with
the expectations then held out, I now
transmit the papers and correspondence
on the subject.
On the 26th of September, 1870, the
Virginius was registered in the custom
house at New York as the property OF
citizen of the United States, he hay
ing first made the oath required by law
that he was the true and only owner of
said vessel, and that there was no sub
ject or citizen of any foreign Prince or
State, directly or Indirectly by way OF
trust, confidence or otherwise, interest
ed therein. Having complied with the
requisites of the statute in that behalf
she cleared in the usual way for the
port of Curocoa, and on or about the
4th of October, 1870, sailed for that
port. It is not disputed that she made
the voyage according to her clearance,
nor that from that day to this she has
not returned within the territorial ju
risdiction of the United States. 1t is
also understood that The preserved her
American papers and that when within
foreign ports she made practice of
putting forth a claim TO American ma
tionaIity, which was recognized by the
authorities at such ports.
When therefore she left the port of
Kingston in October last under the flag
of the United States she would appear
to have had as against all powers ex-
cept the United States, the right to fly
that flag and to claim its protection as
enjoyed by all regular documented YES
sells registered as part of our CONNER
cial marine. No state of war existed
comforting upon maratine powers the
right to modest and retain npon the seas
a documented vessel, and it cannot be
pretended that the Virginius had placed
herself without the pale of law by acts
of piracy against the human race. If
her papers were irregular or fraudulent,
the offence was against the laws of the
United States, justiiable only in their
tribunals.
When, therefore, it became known
that the Virginius had been captured on
the high seas by Spanish man-of-war,
that the American flag had been hauled
down by the captors, that the vessel
had been hurried into a Spanish port
and that Spanish tribunals were taking
| Jurisdiction over the persons of those
found in her and exercising that juris-
diction upon American citizens, not only
in violation of international law but in
contrayention of the provisions of the
treaty of 1875, I directed demand to
be made upon Spain for the restoration
of the vessel and for the return OF the
survivors to the protection of the
United States, for a salute to the flag,
and for the punishment of the offend
ing parties.
The principles upon which these de-
mands rested could not be seriously
questioned, but it was suggested by the
Spanish government that there were
grave doubts whether the Virginius was
entitled to the character given her by
her papers and that therefore it might
be proper for the United States after
the surrender of the vessel and her sur
vivors to dispense with the salute to
the flag, should such facts be estab-
lished to their satisfaction. This seemed
to be reasonable and just. then as
scented to it on the assurance that Spain
would then declare that no insult to the
flag of the United States had been IN
tended. I also authorized an agree
ment to be made that, should it be
shown to the satisfaction of this govern
ment that the VirgiDius was improperly
bearing the flag, proceedings should be
instituted in our courts for the Offense
committed ngaints the United States.
On her part, Spain undertook to pro-
coed against those who had offended
the sovereignty of the Uuited States,
or who had violated their treaty rights.
The surrender of vessel and survivors
to the Jurisdiction and tribunal of the
United States was an admission of the
principles on which our demand has
been founded. therefore had no hes
itation in agreeing to the arrangement
finally made between the two govern
ments, an arrangement which was mod
crate and Just and calculated to cement
the good relations which have so long
existed between Spain and the United
States.
Under this agreement the Virginius
with the American flag flying was de
livered to the navy of the United
States at Bahia Honda on the island Of
Cuba, on the 10th ult. She was in al
unseaworthy condition. On the pas
sage 70 New LOEh bub eLC0uuttAtQ Ok
of the most tempestuous of our winter
storms. The officers and crew placed
in charge of her attempted to keep hel
! ahoat. Their efforts were unavailing
and she sunk off cape Fear The pris
Oners who survived the massacre wers
surrendered at Santiago de Cuba on tie
18th uIt., and reached the port of New
York in safety.
The evidence submitted on the par
of Spain to establish the fact that tn,
Virginius, ut the time of her captur,
l was improperly bearing the flag of tn
United States, is transmitted herewith
together with the opinion of the attor
ney general thereon, and copy of thu
Spanish minister, expressing, on behai
of his government, disclaimer of an.
intent of indignity to the flag Of tn