The Relations of the United States and Spain by French Ensor Chadwick

Author:French Ensor Chadwick [Chadwick, French Ensor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781411459922
Publisher: Barnes & Noble

On November 13 General Sickles wrote Mr. Fish that the minister of state had said at their interview that a partial report of the incidents attending the capture of the Virginius had been received, but it appeared therefrom "that the vessel was seen on the coast of Cuba, attempting to land her passengers and cargo;609 that the pursuit began in Spanish waters,610 and, somewhere about twenty-three miles from Jamaica, she was overtaken and captured. It was also alleged that the Virginius exhibited no papers; but this was subsequently qualified by the statement that her documents were not authenticated by the visa, or certificate, of any consul, and were, besides, irregular in other particulars; and although the report was incomplete, yet enough was known to indicate that the case would be less difficult of adjustment than was apprehended at the outset, and this was a matter for sincere congratulation." General Sickles remarked to the minister of state that he had received a further communication from Washington containing additional particulars of the capture and its consequences, of which he would speak in the afternoon, when he would meet Señor Carvajal at the ministry. "It was, however," he said, "quite certain that no demand would be made by the President until trustworthy information was received of the whole case. Meanwhile, it would be satisfactory to know that this government had spontaneously taken such action in the matter as would facilitate a prompt solution of any question that might arise."611

Meeting at the ministry in the afternoon, as arranged, Señor Carvajal announced, "with deep regret," the reception of the news of the shooting of forty-nine of the prisoners on the 7th and 8th. He said that he had asked by cable, sent at 2 A. M., how many were American citizens. General Sickles, in pursuance of instructions, asked "whether the executive authority of Spain exercised any jurisdiction over the island, and if so, what powers belonged to it." He was answered that the minister had, heretofore, "merely expressed an opinion in saying the ordinary laws were inapplicable. There could be no doubt, however, that the executive jurisdiction was ample; and now that the revocation of the royal order of 1825612 had deprived the captain-general of the faculty of suspending the dispositions of the supreme government, there was no reason to apprehend a repetition of the irregularities that had hitherto occurred in the administration of Cuban affairs." General Sickles said to the minister of state "that in June last, I had invited the attention of Mr. Castelar, then minister of state, to the ground taken by the authorities in Cuba, in asserting that war existed in the island, and that no other than martial law was recognized. His excellency, having replied that this government rejected any such assertion, authorizing me to convey to you that Spain did not so regard the conflict in Cuba, I begged that instructions be sent to the captain-general not to withhold from any citizen of the United States, within his jurisdiction,

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