Connecticut western news., 1874-01-16
The Steamer virglnius.
Message of President Granite the United
 States &0ngrese.

States Congress.
 WASHINGTON, January .5.-The Presi- dent to-day sent the following message to the Senate and House of Representa- tives: s EE
 In my annual message of December last I gave reason to expect that when the full and accurate text of the cores pondence relative to the steamer Vir- ginius, which had been telegraphed in cipher, should be received, the papers concerning the capture of the vessel, the execution of part of it's passengers and crew, and the restoration of the ship and the survivors would be trans mitted to Congress in compliance with the expectations then held out. now transmit the papers and correspondence on that subject.
 On the twenty-sixth day of Septem- Der, 1870, the Virginius was registered in the Custom-house at New York as the property of citizen of the United States, he having first made oath as re- quired by law that he was the true and only owner of the said vessel, and that there was no subject or citizen of any foreign prince or state directly or indi- rectly, by way of trust, confidence. or otherwise, interested therein. Having complied with the requisites of the statute in that behalf she cleared In the usual way for the port of Curacoa, and on or about the fourth day of October, 1870, sailed for that port. It is not disputed that she made the voyage ac- cording to her clearance, nor that from that day to this she has not returned within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. It is also understood that she preserved her American pa- pers, 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 ex- cept the United States, the right to fly that flag, and to claim it's protection as enjoyed by all regularly documented vessels, registered as partof our com mercial marine. No state of war ex- isted comforting upon maritime power the right to molest and detain upon the high seas doeumented vessel, and it cannot be pretended that the Virginius
 
 all law by acts of piracy against the human race. If her papers were irreg- ular or fraudulent, the offence was one against >tha laws of the United States, lustifable only in their tribunals. When, therefore, 1t became known that the Virginius had been captured on the high seas by 8 Spanish man-of-war, that the American flag had been hauled down by the captors, that the vessel had been carried to Spanish port, and that Spanish tribunals were taking. jurisdiction over the persons of those found on her and exercising that juris- dietion upon American citizens, not only. in violation of international law but in contravention of the provisions of the treaty of 1795, I directed de- mand to be made upon Spain for the restoration of the vessel and for the re- turn of. the survivors to the protection of the United States, for salute to the flag, and for the punishment of the offending parties.
 The principles upon which these de- mands rested could not be seriously questioned; but it was suggested by the Spanish Government that there were grave doubts whether the Virginius 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 sur 'vivors to dispense with the salute to the. flag, shonld' such facts be established, to their satisfaction. This seemed to be reasonable and just. I therefore assented to 1t, on the assurance that Spain would then declare that no in- suit to the flag of the, United States had been intended. I also authorized an agreement to be made that should it be shown to the satisfaction of this Gov ernment that the Virginius was im- properly bearing. the flag proceedings should be instituted in our courts for the punishment of the offence commit ted 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. The surrendering of the vessel and the sur- vivors to the jurisdiction of the tribu- nals of the United States was an adnis- sion of the principles upon which our demand has been founded. therefore had no hesitation in agreeing to the arrangements finally made between the two governments, an arrangement which was moderate and just, and cal culated to cement the good relations which have so long existed between Spain and the United States.
 f Uhder this agreement the Virginlus, with the American flag flying, was de- livered to the Navy of the United States at Bahia Honda, in the Island of Cuba. on the 18th ult.
 She was in an unseaworthy condition in the passage to New York. She en- countered one of the most tempestuous of our winter storms. At the risk of their lives the officers and crew placed ln, charge of her attempted to keep her ahoat. Their efforts were unavailing, and she sunk off Cape Fear. The pris- oners 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 sub- mitted 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 trans mitted herewith, together with the opinion of the Attorney General thereon and copy of the note of, the Spanish Minister, expressing on bealf of his Government 8 disclaimer of any intent of indignity to the flag of the United States.
 (signeO U. s. GRANT. sg sIhe Feet and Health.