Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-01-09

Washington. Jan. The President to
day sent the following message to the Senate
and House In my annual message in
/ December last, | gave reason - expect that
when full and accurate list Of
rnE CORRESPONDENTS RELATING To the
STEAMER yGRCNIUs,
which had been telegraphed in cipher,
should be received, the papers concerning
the capture OF the vessel, the execution Of n
part of its passengers and crew, and the
restoration Of the ship anu survivors, would
be transmitted to Congress. In pursuance
1l the promises then held out. | now trans
mix the papers and correspondence on that
subject
On the twenty. sixth day Of September,
I773,
THE viEGlNIUs WAS RECISTERED
in tie custom house at New York a. the
property OF 4 citizen Of the United States,
be having first made out as required by law
that he was the true and only owner of said
vessel, and there was not 4 subject or
citizen Of any foreign power or state,
directly or Indirectly. interested therein.
Having complied with requirements of the
I statute in that manner. she started on her
way to the port OF Curacao. and or about
tile fourth day of October, lo73, she sailed
z
made voyage az variance TO her clearance,
I nor that from that day 10 this
SHE HAS NOT RETURNED
within the territorial Jurisdiction of the
nited States. 1t l. also understood that
-he preserved her American papers, and
that within foreign ports she made 4 prac
tice Of putting forth claims to the AmerI-
can colors, which were recognized by the
authorities At such ports. When, there
fore. she left the port Of Kingston, in Octo-
her last,
UNDER THE flag OF UNITED STATES,
she would appear TO have had as against all
powers except the United States the right to
1y that flag, to claim Its protection as enjoy
cd BY all regularly d0cumented vessels re-
si-tered as part OF our commercial marine.
No state of war existed to confer upon
maritime power the right to modest and de-
tainuPon the high seas documented vessel
and it cannot be pretended that the Nir-
ginlus had placed herself without the pale
ID all law by acts OF piracy. Ii her papers
were irregular or fraudulent, the offence
was one against the laws Of the United
state.
When, therefore. it became known that
the NirsiniuS had been captured on the
high sca- 10y a Spanish man -of-wat, that
TnE AMERICAN FLAG HAD BEEN HAULED
DOWN
by the captain. that the vessel had been
conveyed to a Spanish port and that Spanish
tribunals were taking jurisdiction over the
persons of those found on her, and that
Jurisdiction upon American citizens was
not only IN violation of international law.
but in contrayention Of the provisions Of
the treaty of l795, | directed
DEMAND To Be MADE rPoy SPAIN
for the restoration Of the vessel and for the
return of the survivors to the protection of
the nited States, FOR salute 70 the flag.
Tor the punishment Of the offending parties.
The principles upon which these demands
rested could not be questioned. bat it was
SuggeS ted by the Spanish government that
there were grave doubts whether the Nir-
ginIus 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 the survi-
vorS. 10
DISPENSE WITH TIE SALUTE
t. the iag, should such facts he SatiStac-
torilY shawn. This seemed to be reason
able and therefore as,ented to it.
It Spain wuald declare that no insult to the
nited States had been intended | also
authorized an agreement 10 be made BY
which. should it be shown to the satiSfac-
lion Of this government that the Nirginius
WAS improperly bearing the flag,
PROCEEDINGS SHOULD BE INSTITUTED
in our courts ior the punishment of offence
committed against the United States. On
her part Spain undertook To proceed against
those who had offended the sovereignty of
the nited States, or who had violated the
treaty. The surrender of the vessel and
survivors to the jurisdiction of the tribunal
ut the United States was an admission of
the principles upon which our demand
had been founded. | therefore hadho hesita-
fancy in agreeing to the arrangement made
between the two governments, an arrange
ment which was
EQUITABLE AND JUST,
and calculated to cement the good rela tions |
which have 50 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 Bahia Honda, in the |
Island Of Cuba. on the 10th ult. She was |
in an unSeaworthy condition. Daring the |
passage to New York she encountered one |
of the most tempeStuOus of our winter |
storms.
AT The hi-k pt AHhlH Lil Is
the officers and crew placed in charge of her |
attempted TO keep her afioat. but their |
efforts were unayailing, and she sank of |
Cape Fear. The persons who
SURVIVED THE MASSACRE
were surrendered at Santiago de Cuba, and |
reached the port of New York in safety |
The evidence submitted on the part of |
Spain to establish the fact that the |
NIrgnias at the time of her can |
ture was unlawfully flying the aap |
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 disclaimer ofanv |
intent of indignity to the flag of the United
States. (Signed) IS. GRANT
NEW ENGLAND NEWS.
NEW HAMPSHIRE POLITICS