Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-01-15
President Grants Message Relative to
the yirginius Affair.

the y1rglnfus AUalr.
The President, on the 5th, sent the follow
ing message to the Senate and House OF Rep
resentatives:
In nv annual message Of December last /
gave reason to expect that when the full and
accurate text OF the correspondence relating
to the steamer Virginius, which had been tel
ecraphed In cipher, should be received, the
papers concerning the capture of the vessel,
execution of part Of its passengers and crew,
and restoration Of ship and survivors, would
be transmitted TO Congress. In compliance
with expectations then held out, now trans
nit the papers and correspondence on that
subject. 80
pipius was registered In the Custom-House at
New York, as the property Of a citizen OF the
United States, he having first made the oath
required by law that he was the true and only
owner of said property, and that there was no
subject or citizen of any foreign Prince or
State directly or indirectly, by way OF trust,
confidence, or otherwise interested therein.
Having complied with the requisites in the
statute in that behalf, she cleared in the usual
way for the port of Cofacoa, and on or about.
the 4th of October, 1870 sailed for that port
1t Is now disputed that she made the yoy--
age according To her clearance, and that
from that day TO this she has not returned
States 1t is also understood that she pre-
served her American papers, and that when
within foreign ports she made the practice OF
putting forth claim to American nationality,
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 except the United
States, the right to fly that flag, and to claim
its protection, as enjoyed by all regularly
documented vessels registered as part Of our
commercial marine. No state OF war existed
comforting upon the maritime powers the right
to modest and detain upon the high seas
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 II her papers were irregular or
fraudulent the offense was one against the
laws of the United States, justifable only In
their tribunals. When, therefore, 1t 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 car
ried TO Spanish port, and that the Spanish
tribunals were taking jurisdiction over the
persons of those found on her, and ex-
| ercising that jurisdiction upon Ameri-
can citizens, not only in violation of
| international law, but in contravention
OF the provisions Of the treaty of 1895, i di-
rected q 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 salute to the flag and for the pun
ishment of the offending parties. The princi-
pies upon which these demands rested could
not be seriously questioned, but it was sug-
gested by the Spanish Government that there
were grave doubts whether the Virginius was
| entitled TO the character given her by her pa
pers, and that, therefore, it might be proper
for the United States, after the surrender of
the vessel and survivors, to dispense with the
salute to the flag should such facts be estab-
lished to their satisfaction. This
| seemed to be reasonable and just.
therefore assented to ii on the
assurance that Spain would then declare that
no insult to the flag Of the United States had
been intended. / also authorized an agree
ment TO be made that, should it be shown to
the satisfaction of this Government that the
Virgnius was improperly bearing the flag,
proceedings should be instituted in our courts
for the punishment of the offense committed
against the United States. On her part, Spain
undertook TO proceed against those who had
offended the sovereignty of the United States,
or who had violated their treaty rights.
Their surrender OF the vessel and survivors
10 the jurisdiction of the tribunals of the
United States was an admission of the
principles ON which our demand had been
founded. / therefore had no hesitation in
agreeing to the arrangement finally made be-
tween the TWO Governments, an arrangement
which was moderate 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 delivered
to the navy of the United States at Bahai
Honda, in the Island of Cuba, on the 10th ult.
She was in an unseaworthy condition. In the
passage to New 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
afloat. Their efforts were unavailing, and she
sunk off Cape Fear.
The prisoners who survived the massacres
were surrendered at Santiago de Cuba on the
18th ult., and reached the port Of New York
in safety.
The evidence submitted on the part of Spain
to establish the fact that the Virginius, at the
time of her capture, was improperly bearing
the flag of the United States, is transmitted
herewith, together with the opinion of the
Attorney General thereon, and copy of the
note of the Spanish Minister, expressing, on
behalf of his Government, a disclaimer of any
intent of indignity to the flag of the United
States.
(Signed) U. 5. GRANT.