The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-16
Correspondence In the Virginius
Controversy.


WASHINGTON, March l5.-The Secre-
tary Of State to-day communicated to the
Senate in accordance with resolution Of
that body the correspondence between the
United States and the Spanish govern
ment in relation to the claim for indem-
nifty from Spain for the execution at San
tiago de Cuba Of the Americans who
we're on board tho Virgiuius, The Sec
retary reports that the claim has been
disposed Of by an agreement entered into
by Minister Cushing and the Spanish Min
lister Of Foreign Affairs, The cores
pondence dates a. far back ~ November
20, 1873, giving the origin Of the Virgin
ius difficulty, and includes the Fish-Polo
protocol and also the report OF the Naval
Courtof Inquiry convened by Secretary
Robson, January 90, 1873. The British
Government, in making It's demand for
indemnity for British subjects taken from
the Virginius and,murdered, fixed the sum
at G600 for each white man, aud
$500 for each eOlored man, tho sum
total amounting to G7,7O0, there being
ten white men and nine negroes killed,
After much negotiation Spain agreed to
pay six thousand seven hundred pounds,
One thousand less than had been dGmand-
ed with the stipulation that II any Of the
families or heirs OF the persons slain did
not make claim TO the money the amount
they would be entitled to should be re-
turned to the Spanish Government, Tho
proposition was accepted by Great Brit
ain, and on November 25th informed the
Secretary Of State that the Spanish Gov
ornnlent would do the same for tho United
States as 1t would for Great Britain,
Secretary Fish informed Minister CuSh- |
ing that the United States would not
take less, Secretary Fishs instructions
to Minister Gushing are as follows, they
are dated November 18th, 1874;
In settlement Of all the crew not
claimed by Great Britain, and for whom
she did not receive indemnity, and who
must bc treated as American Seamen, no
less sum can DO received for white per.
sons, namely, not lGSs than $4,000, The
captain, mates, engineers, pursers and
doctor should DO allowed more, Three
Of tho passengers slain are understood to
have been American citizens, and must
be allowed for the same as tho others.
You will ask indemnity for detention
and imprisoning, md for losses sustained
by those Of the crew and passengers who
are American citizens, and who were not
executed We understand tho number to
DO fifteen Of the crew, including two en-
gineers and one assistant and four Of tho
passengers, nineteen In all.
On December 80, 1874, Secretary Fish
writes to Cushing expressing regret that
Minister Ulloa should have deemed II
necessary even In Difference TO public
feeling III Spain, to refer to the executions
ut Santiago as the ful6llmGnt Of the laws
In special circumstances, or rs called for
by the lmperious voice Of duty, or to take
from the moral effect the indemnity pro-
posed by characterizing the reparation rs
sentiments Of pity, consequent on duty
fulfilled and caused by desire TO al.
lieviate the misfOrtunes OF those who
suffer through punishment imposed on
Othes by the law. IcOuld have hoped that
record Of all the facts attending
these executions, and consideration al
this late day Of those barbarons
and cruel acts, happily without u paral.
lei, would have deferred the accomplished
Minister Of state from the use Of any OK.
preSsiOns, and from allowing himself to
10 committed to any views tending to
Justify those executions. While such ex.
pressions accompanying an offer Of settle.
mcnt may not prevent an acceptance Of
the offer this Government would fail In
its duty did It not signify its dissent from
expressions tending to justify or apollo.
gile for the actS; and this may be done as
suggested by you and approved in my tele.
gram Of December II, by u counter pro.
test or joint memorandum precluding
inforenCes adverse to tho position Of this
Government IN regard TO tho hcts COM.
planned Of. Without considering what
supposed necessity may demand such ait
apparent justification, / cannot but be.
lieye that had spuin Joined the civilized
world In a dcnunclation Of these cxecu.
tions, and had she long since visited
prompt and effective punishment on the
guilty parties, the moral support she
would have gained thereby wonld have
largely exceeded any corresponding detri.
ment.
Here follows a draft OF the agreement
between the United States aud Spain, in
substance ns below:
In the case Of the United States, Sec.
retary Fish made the action on the
basis Of $500 for each Of the crew
slain, without regard to color, and
larger sum for each officer slain without
specifying any particular sum. This do.
niand was pressed and adhered 10 stfenn-
ously until tho Spanish government yield.
ed, and consented to pay $4,000 IN gold
Internationally, the money to be diSttib.
utcd by the United States Government
without any accountability for sums not
claimed al In the case Of Great Britain.
Minister Cushing telcgraphed March l2:
Credentials presented at 10 o'clock, rati.
ication signed at II and sent the same
I 4