, 1874-01-06
neocral Sickles as a Dip}omat---
Not Very Flattering
E: Exhibit,
MIN Steamer Not Entitled to
Rear the American
Flag.
4 Naval Inquiry 70 Be Instituted by the
Government.

~ Ia expect tint when the fuA ma accurate t1t OF
soa relating to the steamer Vi1gluius,
;sh usI been telegraphed In cipher ahou1d to re-
~. tte rarers concerning the capture Of the
II execution cf part u It's passengers and crew" ano
A-e.xfion - d. sllp xud survivors would be trans-
;,e 10 Congress-. In ccnlliiahse with expectations
san had out, transuls tle papers and corres-
~-5rnce on that subject.
-, tne n6th Of September, 1876
Y" THE s1RG1S1Cs WAS REGISTERED
IN The custon-Houke 1t NV YORK. ~ tue property Of
=. rizku Of the United States, he having f1bs made
~ ceh required BY Law that be ss the aud only
al sid property, and that there ND subject
~ citizen Of any foreign Prince or State directly or H.
d;-qctly ty way OF tr4t, confidence, Or otherwise In
trrss1tsl tlesen H-siug .onped with the requisites
N lie kt,,u,e in that behAH,
~ sus CLEARED, IN THE CsuAL wA1,
n, The port of Caracoa, and about the 4th Of
O.,oter 1870 slled for that port. 1t IL no disputed
faat sic made tne voycge according! to her clearance
and that ION that day to this she ras not returned
Iii aIto understood that she
PKEsEnvED ura As1En1cAx PAPERS,
1nd that wien within foreign ports le nide the proc-
Fir. Of putting forth Claim Am.ricau nationality,
x}ch was recognized by the author! ties ut such pors.
Nhcu therefore, she lett the rort Of IN octo
tr l.st under tAg OF the United States, she would
.nresr to la7e had Eg2inst all p.wers except the
lnitc States, the right to fly tnat Lag and 10 claim
its pro.eetion Is enjulned ny VI reta:ly aocunen:
Ne s1te Of existed comforting upon tc maritime
noy:rs the night to moest aid detail upon Tie hgh
leu docuuleued yeese aud it Can,lot be pretended
th,, The vi,gpus had placed herself without tho pale
Of w by acts Ct lirusy against the auluan race
Ter PAPERS irregular Or fraudulent the odeuse
AGASsr THE LAWS OF TIE UNITED STATES,
1ubudshle only in ,ne1r tribunals Wien, therefore,
/. became known that the 'rgnius h'd been eaptred
m The hrh seas By Spanish o.-wur; tuat the
American fsg had been hauled down by the cltcrs
4 tia vessel lad been carried to sl'anish port, and
that The Eranish tribunals were taking Jurisdiction
over The pe7sous Of those found her, and exercis-
in4 sat Jurisdiction upon American ci.izens, not ony
IN violation OF international Lw, but III contrayeiton
of The provisions Ct the tre4ty Of 1875, directed
f Tie restoration Of the tsse and f,r the return Of
the sn1Tiyors to the protection Of the Unied States
fu salute 10 the fig and for tue pun isl1nent OF the
o6eniing parties. TIE principles upea which these
dsna-ds rested could be seriously questioned but
Il xas suggested by the Spanish Government that there
were gr.9e doubts whether the Virgnus Was entitled
to tho character given her BY her papers and mat
therefore, 1t might be proper for the United States
at.r the surrender Of tho vessel and to dis
uense with the salute to the fig should such facs be
established 10 heir satisfaction Thi seemed to be
reasonable and just therefore asseu led to 1t on the
Assrs1nce that Spain would tien declare that
70 INSULT To THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES
had been intended. also authorized an agreement
70 made that should Il 10 shown to the sat1sfacon
of This Government that the Virginins 1aa improperly
bearing the fag proceedings should bo instituted in
tur courts for the punishment of the odense CON-
,ntt,ed against the United States. On her part Spaia
1ndsrtook to proceed against those ho.h4d offended
the sovereignty Of the United States, or who had
ytol2sed their treaty rights.
Jurisdiction Of the tribunals Of the United st.es was
lu admission Of the principles On which our demand
lid been founded. therefore E1Q 10 ile6lI2t1C0
AGREEING TO THE ARRANGEMENT
finally nnde between the two Governments. an ar
rangemen. which modcrate and juhFt, and calcr-
LIED 70 cement the good relations which ha7s So long
ttis;ed between Spain and the United States Uader
this agreement, the Vrginius. ~71 the American flag
fyne delivered to the navy Ct the United states
a Bahia Honda, IN the Island Of Cuba, on the 16h
III She vas In an unseaworthy condition In the
plsa.ge to New York she encountered Of the most
ten;s<tuous Of our winter storms. At the risk OF
te: lives, the officers and crew placed IN charge Of
ter attempted TO keep her afozt Their efforts were
E1ava1inC, and
Tbs prisoners Eho survived the m:asBac1es were
surrendered ut Santiago de Cuba the 1ath ult, and
reached the port Of New York in eafety-
The evidence submitted ou the part uf 6pap to e.
tsblish the zact that the V1gnius at tbs tins Of her
capture: VIA
r7RorxnIr HEAR1So THE FLAG OF TIE UNITED
STATES,
IL transmitted herewith, together with the opinion Of
The attorney General thereon, and copy OF the note
the Spanish Minister, expressing, behalf Ct his
Government, disclaimer Of nny intent of tnguity to
ths 1sg OF the United 6htes.
tslgned} d. S. GIANT.
THE CORRESPONDENCE
is very Voluninoua, and contains the following
On tie 9Th of November, Gen. Sickles tele-
graphed Secretary Fish thai the EIrglnius had
tesa captured miles from Jamaica, Gen: Ryan,
Capt Fry. and two othors executed, and that the
suggestion, to counter1nand their orders. The
Secretary telegraphed Sickles in reply
thst the summary proceedings demanded
Investigation that 1eparation will he required
il 4melican citizens have been wrou gully exc
cu:ea. Sickles the next day reported his inter
views With Carvojoe and with Preside Mt CASTELAR,:
Tns latter, he said, had ordered tnat no person
BE- executed without authority Of the Cortes,
kud ,he1eupon Sickles expressed satisfaction
He subsequently te]egraphed Mr.. FIJI II that the
Spanish Government would sponta oeously d
e't17tning required by public law and treaty
Obligation thAt the spanish GoEeTnment re.
erttted the execution Of the four prisoners, and
oslers were Eent to
STAY FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.
On the 8th OF November Slck1es gave de-
tailed account OF his interview with th9 Minister
ot State, who said that formal dem and woule
be necessary On the part OF the United States
Is the Spanish Government would at once take
Up the Question and decide it. The case Of thu
Doe1hourd WIS cited, and the sarne pr1nclplet
x9uld be applied to the Virglnius. Afte1
further correspondence Mr.. Fish autographed
sl:2les as follows:
Accounts hare been received from HAVANA OF th
nsuton Of the Captain and thirty-six OF the crew
vi Eighteen Others. true, Gen. sickles will pro;es
iz1nst the act as brutal and barbarous, aud amp
aza:z.ion will be demanded.
he Secretary confdentinlly informed sickle4
uat doubt existed IS to the right Of the tlr
elnins to carry The American aag: Mr. fist
nleg1aphed TO Minister Slckles that the course
otthe Spanish Government WAS sconpted AZ {
Sllinsness to administer justice. The con
diaananon of the act should be followed Dy pun
Nhment. Slckles Has instructed to say SO to tht
Spanish Government and that this GoEernnen
feared that Spain could not control tho 1nsutFec
Ton Of the Casion Espanol In Cuba Slcklea
Nov. u, states that he mad had an
INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT CASTELAR,
sGo said such scandals must cease; that inter
tgato7es had been addressed to the Captain
seaeial, and that, as soon as replied TO- Gea
,ssaea sseaea would receive communication. 1hf
%}7A AvEL