Year: 1873




In an interview with Senator windem, OF Mime
sofa, Chairman OF the transportation Committee.
he said that his time had been lately so taken up
with other matters that he had not given that at
tention to the Cuban troubles suficient TO justify
MIN In expressing any decided opinion on the SUBJ
ject As the war-making power was alone invested
In Congress the subject would, OF course, be pre-
sented to that body at the commencement OF the
session. BY tnat time all the facts in relation 10
the capture OF the virginius and the execution
of the passengers and ofiicers and crew would be
known. The administration would collect the
fullest information possible be obtained and sub
init all the papers and evidence to the considera-
tion OF Congress. He did not believe there would
be any war. For his part he was opposed to it un-
less 1t was absolutely required to sustain the ma
tional honor. He thought all the concessions we
should deem proper to demand of Spain would
be granted by that Power. In his opinion
Congress would not act hastily in the
matter. Whatever 1t might Judge was best
to be done would be decided upon only after the
most serious deliberation. 1t would have to be
found out whether we had q justifiable excuse TO
proceed to the last extremity OF hostilitles. In
case OF war we could easily take Cuba, but would
the acquisition OF that island be OF any advantage
to the United States He was not in favor OF an
nexing it. He did not believe it would be OF any
advantage to u.s. He should be glad to see
it tree and independent but the people were
different in language and habits and would not
assimlate to our population. The island, he
thought, would be an element OF weakness in
stead OF strength to us. The execution OF nearly
the entire number captured with the Virgnus was
q shocking barbarity, revolving to the civilized
world. Spain had never acknowledged war as
existing In Cuba, so any vessel had a right to
enter any OF the ports OF the island
II the vessel was detected in illegal
traffic she liable to be coniiscated
and the persons on board OF her engaged in 1t
could be punished after fair trial before the
courts instead OF being made the victims OF the
summary vengeance OF Q drumhead court martial
1t was this hasty and illegal action the part OF
the Spanish commander at Santiago de Cuba which
had caused so much excitement and such public
camor for the punishment OF the perpetrator and
his associates in the crime. Among the first
questions TO be answered are whether the vir-
ginlus was an American vessel and entitled
to the protection OF the naga Had sne
not forfeited legally all claim to be SO
consideredf Had she returned to an American
port would not the Custom House Officers have
compelled her to surrender her register as an
American vessel and refused to give her clearance
papers as such. Ii IL be the TACT that she had
changed her nationality and become the property
of foreigner, and was not0riously engaged in
hlbustering expedition, then the other question
arises to what extent should the United states
protect those claiming to be American citizens,
who formed portion OF such expeditionsS All
these points VIII have to oe well weighed and con-
sidered.