The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-01-24
Presidents Message in Reference to
the Eirginius.

4Ahs54
WASHINGTON, Jan. :5.-The President
to-day. sent the, following message to the
Senate and House of Representatives
In my inaugural message OF December last,
gave reason to expect that when the flIit ana ac &
steamer Yirginius (which had been telegraphed
in cipher should be received, the papers con-
corning the capture OF the vessel and execution
storation OF the ship and survivors,, would pc
transmitted to Congress. In compliance with
expectations then held out now transmit the
papers and correspondence on the subject.
OFFICIAL HISTORY OF Thu VESSEL.
On the 26th of September, lS70 the Nirginlus
was registered in the Custom-house at New York
as the property of citizen of the United States,
he having first made the oath required by law thas
he was the true and only owner of the said yes
sci, and that there was no subject on cltlzsn
of any foreign province state directly or ndl-
rectly, by way of trust confidence or otherwise,
interested therein. Having complied with the
requisites of the statutes In that behalf, sne
cleared in the usual way for the port OF Curacao,
and ON or about the fourth of October, ls70 sailed
for that port. 1t 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 jurisdiction OF the United States.
1t is also und, rstood that she preserved her
American papers, and that when within lorelgn
ports she made practice of putting forth claim
TO American nationality, which was recognized
by the authorities at such ports. When, there
fore she left the port of Kingston IN october
list, under the flag of the United States, she
would appear to have had, as against all powers
| except the United States, the right TO ny that
| joyed by all regularly documented vessels,
registered as part of our commercial
| marine. No state of war existed conierrlng
upon maritime powers the right to molest ana re-
| tain rpon the high seas documented vessel, and
it cannot be pretended that the Virglnlus had
placed herself beyond thSpale of law by acts OF
piracy against the human race II her papers
| were irrs gular or fraudulent, the offense was
one against the laws OF the United States, justin
| able only in their tribunals.
/ THE RECLAMATION.
| When therefore, it became known that the
yirginirls had been captured on the high seas by
| a Spanieh man-of-War; that the American nag
had been hauled down by the captoIs; that the
/ vessel had been carried TO q Spanish port, and
| that Spanish tribunals were taking jurisdiction
/ over the persons of those found on her, and ex-
| ercising that jurisdiction upon American citi-
| zens not only in violation of International law,
/ but in contrayention of the provisions of the
| treaty of 1895, directed demand to be made
upon Spain for the restoration OF the vessel and
the return of the SURVIVORS TO the protection OF
the United States for salute to the nag and for
the punishment of the offending parties.
| THE PROTOCOL.
/ The nrineipIes on 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 Vlrginlus was entitled
to the character gwen her by her papers, and that
therefore might be proper for the United States
| after the surrender of the vessel and survivors,
| to dispense with q salute to the flag, should suef
seemed to be reasonable and just. therefore as.
1 sented to it on the assurance that Spain would
then declare that no insult to the nag of the Uni
/ ted States had been intended. | also authorized
an agreement to be made that, should 1t be showT
10 the satisfaction of this Government that thu
Virginius was improperly bearing the flag. pro
i ceedings should be instituted in courts fol
the punishmente of an offanse committed agains
the United States. On her part, Spain undertook
to proceed against those who had offended TN
sovereignty Of the United States or who had VIC
lated her treaty rights. The surrender of tn
vessel and survivors to the jurisdiction of tn
tribunal of the United States was an admission
of the principles which our demand had beel
founded.
THE SURRENDER.
therefore had no hesitation in agreeing to tn
! | arrangements finally made between the two "
erHments-an arrangement which was moderat
and just and calculated to cement the good rela
. tions which have SO long existed between Spar
and the United States Under this arrangement
the Virginius with the American flag fly 'ng, wa
, delivered to the Navy of the United States s
| X AHA Honda, in the Island Of Cuba, on the let
j ult She was in an unseaworthy condition. y
, the passage to New York she encountf red one {
the most tempestuous of our winter storms. A
the risk of their lives, the officers and crew place
in charge of her attempted to keep her afioai
Their efforts were unavailing and she sank o
: Cape Fear The prisoners who survived the mas
: sacre were surrendered at Santiago de Cuba o
! the 18th ult,, and reached the port of New Yor
in safety.
The evidence submitted on the part of Spain I
establish the fact that the Virglnus at the time
her capture was improperly bearing the nag
the United States is transmitted herewith togetht
| with the opinion of the Attorney General there
on and copy of the note of the Spanish Minis
ter, expressing, on behalf of his Government,
disc ainer of any intent of indignity to the ia
, I>4 - Is Tsignedl ' U. s. GRANT.