Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-02-05
The YIrglnlus Correspondence.

The correspondence accompanying
the Presidents Message on the Vir.
ginius question is very volumlnous. On
the 9th of November Gen. Sickles tele.
graphet. to Secretary Fish that the Yir.
ginius had been captured six milesfrom
Jamaica, and that the Captain General
had been ordered, on Mr.. Sickles' sug,
gestion, to await orders. The Secretary
telegraphed Mr.. Sickles in reply that
the summary proceedings demanded in,
vestigation as inhuman that repara-
ton will be required if American
citizens have been wrongfully executed.
Mr.. Sickles the next day reported his
interviews with Mr.. Cavajal and with
President CASTELAR,. The latter, he said,
had ordered that no person be executed
without the authority of the Cortes,
and thereupon Mr.. Sickles expressed
satisfaction. He subsequently tele-
graphed Mr.. Fish that the Spanish
Government would spontaneously do
everything required by public law and
treaty obligations; that the Spanish
Government regretted the execution of
the four prisoners, and orders were
sent to stay further proceedings.
On the 9Th dayof November, Minister
Sickles gave detailed account of the
interview with the Spanish Minister of
State, who said that no formal demand
would be necessary on the part of the
United States, as the Spanish Govern
ment would at once take up the ques-
tion and decide it. The case of the
Deerhound was cited, and the same
principles would be applied to the Vir-
ginius. After further correspondence,
Mr.. Fish telegraphed to Minister
Sickles as follows
Accounts have been received from
Havana of the execution of the captain
and So of the crew and Is others. If
true, Gen. Sickles will protest against
the act as brutal and barbarous, and
ample reparation will be demanded"
Protests were made to the Spanish
Government against the summary exc
cutions in Cuba, and orders were issued
that they be stopped.
Mr.. Fish telegraphed to Minister
Sickles, Nov. 15, reporting 81 more
executions, and saying eff Spain can
not redress these outrages, the United
States will"
Gen. Sickles, Nov. 18, transmitted
copy Of the reply of the Minister of
State to his note of Nov. 16 respecting
reports from Havana. Sickles regarded
it as refusal and proposed to close the
legation unless otherwise ordered, and
on the 18th asked Secretary Fish that
vessel might be ordered to Valencia to
take him to France. The next day
Sickles transmitted a copy of Carvajal's
reply rejectidg the protest. On the
10Th he informed Secretary Fish he was
waiting instructions, and said 1.-THE
popular feeling runs high here against
the United States and this legation.
The press is violent, advising Govern
ment to order me out of Spain. Last
night mob was collected to attack and
sack the legation. The authorities in
terfered and preserved the peace"
Mr.. Sickles also telegraphed: "Spain
has asked the good offices of England.
Lord Granville declined, unless on the
basis of ample reparation made to the
United States. "
Mr.. Fish telegraphed, Nov. 25, to
Mr.. Sickles: "If no accommodation
is reached by the close of tomorrow,
leave. If proposition is submitted
you will refer it to Washington and
defer action"
The following will give an idea OF the
correspondence and negotiations with
the Spanish Legation at Washington:
Mr.. Fish stated to Admiral Polo, Nov.
II, that he had received intelligence of
the shooting of 50 persons from the
Virginius; that the story was too shock
ing and cruel to be credited. The Sec
retary asked if Admiral Polo had more
authentic intelligence. Admiral Polo
said to Mr.. Fish, Nov. 12, that he had
received no information. Copies of
kilograms to Admiral Polo were handed
by Admiral Polo to Mr.. Fish, Nov. Is.
1t was there said that the papers of the
Virginius were irregular that the order
from Madrid did not reach Santiago in
time to stay the executions owing to the
destruction of telegraph wires, and that
the Virginius was regarded as pirate.
kilograms handed by Admiral Polo to
Mr.. Fish, Nov. II, said that Spain was
disposed to make amends for any viola
tion of international law, but required
time to make examination.
Mr.. Fish acknowledged the receipt of
this evidence on Dec. %, saying that
the inclosure made it appear to the
satisfaction of the United States that
the Virginius was not entitled to carry
the flag at the time of her capture !; that
the salute would therefore be dispensed
With, and, in accordance with the terms
Of the protocol, inquiries would be in
stituted and proceedings begun against
the vessel and the persons appearing
to be guilty of illegal acts connected
Herewith. -
The documents conclude with with
large mass of consular and miscel-
laneous correspondence.