The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-16
WASHINGTON.

accordance WIN "a RESOLUTION Vi lldl DDd
the correspondence between the United Stat
and the Spanish Government in relation
the claim for indemnity from Spain for Il
execution at Santiago dc Cuba of American
who were on board the Virginius. The Sc
rotary reports that the claim has been di
posed OF by an agreement entered INTO b
Minister Gushing and the Spanish Minist'
of Foreign Affairs.
The correspondence dates as far bac
as November 20, 1873, giving the origin {
the Virgihius difficulty and includes the fir,
protocol; also, the report Of the naval court
of inquiry, commenced by Secretary Robe
son, January 3, 1874, which shows the remot
causes of the less Of the Virgnius were tn
weakness of the hull, resulting from age an
neglect, and the deterioration Of the boiler
from the same causes, which deterioration VI
not fully appreciab!e when the examination
was made of them at the Tortugas
The board say the conduct of the officer
in charge was praiseworhy and becoming
throughout. In July, 1874, Minister Cush
ing wrote to Secretary Fish among othG
things: F" / entertain a confident belef tina
with steady but patient persistence Of re
clamaiion, we shall in good time reach salts
facto.y ISOLATION of most, if not all. of the un
settled questions growing out of the capture
of the Virginius
In November, 1874, Secretary Fish commu-
nicated to the President the information which
came to his presence confidentlally. showing
what Spain proposed to do for Great Britain.
From this it appears that the number Of
British uniorunates was nineteen, ten white
aud nine cOlored, five hundred pounds ster-
ling for each colored person.
Minister Cushing informed the Secretary Of
State that the Spanish Government would do
the same for the United States as it would for
n 1, T.
lister Gushing that the United States would not
take less Secretary Flshs instructions to
Minister Cushing follows. They arc
dated November %. 1874
In settlement all the crew not claimed bv
Great Britain, and for whom she did not re-
Ceive indemnity, must be treated as American
seamen. No less a sum can be received for
any than that paid England for white persons,
namely not less than twenty-five hundred
dollars. The captain, mate, engineers, purser
and doctor should be allowed more. Three
OF the passengers claim, it is understood, to
have been American citizens, and must be
allowed for the same as others iou will ask
indemnity for detention and imprisonment
and for losses sustained by those OF the crew
and passengers who American citizens
who were nos executed We understand the
number to be fifteen Of the crew, including
two eng incerS and assistants, and four OF the
passengers, nineteen in all.
During the correspondence between Minis |
ter Gushing and Minister OF State Ulloa, No
yember II, the latter says: II b lieve that in |
those few lines | have fully demonstrated 10
how high q point the Spanish government
carries It's cOnciliatory sentiments and its de- |
sire to maintain with that Of President Grant, |
on reciprocal esteem"
On the Both of December, 1874, Secretary
Fish wrote to Minister Gushing as follows:
Nr-lour dispatch No. Ia, with which /
was enclosed copy Of the elaborate note of
MIR. Ulloa on the question of the Nirginius,
in reply to your communications and Of his
private note forwarded ut the same time has
been received.
l have read the note of Mr. tilloa with in
tereSt and careful attention. While cannot
agree with many of his assumptions and ar
guments, | must express satisfaction with the
general tone and tendency and with It's tenn
per and conciliatory expressions In this
view, it is in marked contrast with some of the
papers which have in the past emanated from
he officials of Spain.
so far rs the questions i'll difference are
the general correspondence of this
department with Admiral Polo and Of your
self with the Minister of State. fully present
,he views of this government. Further argu-
ment would amount to repetition. In fact,
MIR. Ulloas note is to be taken rs an answer
TO Your communications SO as to complete
he record.
must, however, express my regret that
Mr.. loa should have deemed it necessary,
wen if in Difference TO a public feeling in !
spain to refer to the executions at Santiago
" 1.-the strict tuliillment Of the laws in
special circumstances or IA called for bv
: the impeiious voice Of duty or 10 take a
rom the moral effect of the indemnity pro- n
'osed by characterizing the reparation as ac- !,
uated by sentiments of pity consequent on I
duty fulfilled and as caused by a desire
D alleviate the mistortunes of those who sut- |
or through punishment imposed on others II
" the law.
l could have hoped that a review of the $
acts attending the executions, and n consd- Il
ration, Mt this late day of those Earbarous h
cd cruel acts, happily without parallel, could
ave deferred the accomplished Minister Of
tate from the Use Of any expression, and
ON allowing himself to be committed to |
ny view tending to Justify those executions
'hile such expressions. accompanying an 81
Her Of settlement, may not prevent the ac- is
'ptance of the offer, tins government would d
il in its duty did it not signify its dissent ii
ON expressions tending to Justify or apollo "
ze for these acts. il
may NC lOlt itS suggested ny you ana u
,proved in my telegram Of Dec 1, by a N
,unter protest or Joint memorandum. pre- tc
uding any differences adverse to the posi- t.
on OF this government in regard to the acts IL
OF, without considering what sup Q
)sed necessity may demand such an appa-
nj justification. | cannot but believe that ii
id Spain joined the civilized world in de- N
unciation of these executions, and had she IL
ng since visited prompt and effective pun W
hment on the guilty parties the moral sup OF
ort She would have gained thereby would to
ave largely exceeded any corresponding
striment. al
On the 18th of February, 1875, Mr., Gushing r
letter TO Senior Castro, the Spanish Min fl,
Ter of State, expressing his views as 10 the y
'ecise sum of indemnity proper to be allowed
the United States in the matter of the Nlr- e1
MUS, and in the course OF his communica- +.
)n said Your ENcellency viii observe. in q
o note Of Mr.. Ulloa to Mr. Mcdonnell. of
lgust 9th. that the amount paid to Great ne
ritain in this behalf purports TO be an ad- ar