The New York Herald Newspaper, December 17, 1873, Page 4

4, CUBA. Jovellar’s Determination to Obey Castelar’s Orders, The Dons’ Bombast in its Rise and Fall. CASTELAR’S THREAT. How the Bravados Winced When Honor Touched Their Pockets. SLAVES 700 PRECIOUS FOR RISK. Amorica the Fostering Cause of Slavery on the Island. Graphic Description of a Bull and Tiger Fight on the Plaza de Toros. $1,000,000 FOR CONGRESSMEN. Havana, Deo. 11, 1873. If the hazard of some demonstration by Span- fards against Americans has been avoided the credit is entirely due to Captain General Jouvellar, He, at least, was cool and collected while every- boay else was uneasy and bewildered. One word from him in the direction of insubordination to the orders of the home government would have pre- olpitated an explosion which could be the result of nothing but extreme rashness and unthinking passion, If the Madrid government failed to coerce the unruly authorities of tne island it would naturally devolve upon the government at Washington to step in and force a com- pliance with its demands. Throughout all tne excitement, running at times to the verge of outbreak , the Captain General preserved his equanimity. He heard such men as Zueletta, President of the Casino Espaiiol, colonel of a volun- teer regiment and ricnesi slaveowner on the island of Cuba, besides being a man whose com- mercial and social relations give him an extensive influence, CLAMORING FOR WAR, fora vindication of ‘the honor of Spain” and re- sistance to the death against the demands of America. He heard the voice of the Casino Espafiol of Havana and of all the casinos throughout the island protesting against the surrender of the Vir- ginius. He represented the perilous condition of public feeling here to the government at Madrid, and besought it to solicit sucn &@ modification of the terms with America 98 Would avoid a disturbance in Cuba. He asked the government of Castelar to induce President Grant to agree to tne giving up of the vessel to some neutral Power, or to sending her to Spain to be from thence consigned to the United States. Castelar, however, was as determined as the Casino Espaflol was obstinate. Still the latter gave no sign that it was disposed to acquiesce in the surrender, nor did the Captain Genera! evince a disposition to force his orders toan issue. He placed his faith in the quieting influence of time, and every day he put forth his strength in calm appealand persuasive argument in behalf of obe- dience to the orders of the home government. Up to the time of this writing it would be fair to say he has been successiul. The temporizing policy he first tried with the volunteers secured him the delay he wanted, and, now that the strong, popu- lar feeling of a week ago has given place to the exercise of a calmer reflection, he returns to his original intention of EXECUTING THE ORDERS FROM MADRID. fie suys this must be done at all risks, whether it provokes a distarbance or not. The other day he telegraphed to the Commander of the Bazan, who had taken away the prisoners from Santiago in the fear that the populace there might massacre them before there was time to give them up, to return with them to that port, which is an lndication that His Excellency means to hand them over at once to the United States war vessels Wyoming and Juniata, It is reported this morning that the Tornado has been ordered to coal up and be in readiness to take the Virginius out of the harbor. With the Vir- ginius and the prisoners delivered over to the United States, the Captain General's duty and re- sponsibility in this matter will cease, The other questions wili no doubt be disposed of, between the government proper of Spain and that of the United States. Left to themselves, to the gratifica- tion of their sirong resentment and seli-sufficiency, the volunteers would have actually dared the power of the two countries—dared the authority of the one and the might of the other, despite the desperate character of the prospect. We have yet to see the Virginius delivered up before con- gratulating ourselves that all trouble has been avoided; but so far there is no denying the fact that the Captain General has acted with consum- mate tact and prudence throughout. Should he be entirely successful and see the Virginius and her prisoners handed over safely and without a breach of the peace he may flatter himself on being the only Captain General who, in the management of the affairs of Cuba for some years past, has shown ahappy blending of the suaviter in modo with the fortiter in re, With however much ridi- cule the Americans may receive the HIGH, SOUNDING BOASTS and threats that filled the papers here during the excitement of last week, there is no gainsaying the fact that at the bottom of all the fanfaronade there ‘was much earnest feeling that overbore considera- tions even of self-interest and that was ready to face the last extremity of war and ruin. The weakest of peoples have occasionally experienced moments of high and daring resolve, and the iso- lated Spaniards of Cuba pledging their lives and fortunes to resist what they called the aggression Of America and the indefensible authority of Spain might furnish a heroic picture for the age had the resistance been given reality. THAT THREAT OP CASTELAR’S to treat the Spaniards hereon a footing with the Cartagena intransigentes was what knocked the starch out of the warlike Iberians on the island, They might fight America, for they had already footed up her resources and pronounced them in- adequate to conquer Cuba; but with the mother country opposed to them, her sympathies wirth- drawn and her attitude one of harsh coercion in place of generous help, they lost heart or grace, and the most plucky among them saw neither fan Nor glory in the remaining prospect. Then, when they came down from their lofty height of senti. | ment to a practical calculation of their resources, they found themselves very poorly provided for war, There is NO COAL IN CUBA, and the supply stored up here and elsewhere for the needs of the nine vessels of war and thirty gunboats employed in the defence of the island Would be exhausted in two weeks in case of war. Every port in the rest of the West Indies would be closed against thep—Kingston, St, Thomas, Porto Rico, Bermuda, 4c, As intransigentes they would be shut out from recognition, and, with their sup- piles Of Coal exhausted, they snould either deliver Up or destroy their navy. In two weeks the navy ‘Would cease to exist. In four weeks their supplies of army stores would begin to fail In the hands of the volunteers, ranking as effective modern weapons equal to any in the lauds of American troops, there are not more than 50,000 erm. The remainder of the small arms belony 49 NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET. all patterns, old and new, @ vast number being ab- aolutely worthless, The supplies of war matériel are defective, and with an American fleet around the coast, the navy of the island destroyed, trade paralyzed and the slaves, coolics and Cubans in re- bellion, {t ts eaay to see the struggle must be @ brief one. Considerations of this kind must have forced their way in on the heated minds of the members of the Casino Espaiol, and satisfied thom it was rank tunacy to try conclusions with Spain and America combined. SLAVERY THE SORR POINT. It was that stipulation mentioned in a despatch of the HERALD’s (rom Washington concerning the abolition of slavery in Ouba that made the moat commotion, Abolish slavery, and half the rich Spaniards on the island would be compelled to emi- grate somewhere else. It would take away from under their feet the foundation of their wealth and leave them paupers. Slave labor in Cuba was never So valuable as it is to-day, becanse the de- mand was never 80 great for the three staple pro- ductions of the soil—coffee, sugar and tobacco, ‘The Southern planters, tn the war of the rebellion, fought substantially for the preservation of slavery, and the same material considerations that infu. enced them in their long and tremendous resist- ance to the Union would control the Spanish plantera of Ouba if they were able to venture on a strugglo with the States, They should deem an attack from America what the Southerna deemed the abolition crusade as an assault-upon 8 certain class of their property which the law of the land acknowledged and pro- tected as well aa any other. The Southern planter said he fought for independence; the Spanish planter wishes tt to be understood that, if he fights, it will be for the honor of Spain. The dght- ing purpose of both is the same—the preservation of their property in slaves. The Southern people were never placed under any such commercial obligations to the North as the Spantards of Cuba to the American nation. Americais the great market for the productions of the country, and it isan indisputable fact that three-fourths of the sweat of the slave on this island ‘to-day is given that America may have her sugar and tobacco. AMERICA FOSTERING SLAVERY IN CUBA. According to statistics the consumption of sugar, which is all the time increasing, was about 40 pounds per capita in the United States for the year 1s71 while the importation of augar into the country that year was three times the quantity imported 20 years previously, in the year 1861. The United States imported {rom Cuba 78 per cent of the sugar and molasses crop in 1871, Great Britain 12 per cent, South of Europe 5 per cent, France 2 per cent, North of Europe 1 per cent ana all other ports 2percent. For years past the balance of trade between the United States and Cuba has been in favor of the latter to the extent of $50,000,000 in gold paid annualiy, and all the while increasing. America 1s more or less responsible for the flourishing state of slavery in Cuba to-day, and Spaniards who own slaves, and are rich through that ownership, should be a trifle less bitter in their abuse of a nation that makes their slaves so valuable and puts vast sums of money in their own pockets from year to year. Cuba cannot bea member of the Union until she is purged of slavery. Spanish slaveown- ers know this, and they are not the people to pro- voke America by standing on any ceremony con- nected with the prompt satisfaction of the Ameri- can demends in the matter of the Virginius; but when it comes to requiring of them the surrender of their slave property without compensation they see no equivalent in annexation to reimburse them for the sacrifice, and they storm and talk of fight- ing. The position THE EDITORIAL FRATERNITY OF HAVANA have taken during the crisis makes a curious study of the fluctuations to which the Spanish* journalistic mind is apt to be subject in periods of extraordinary excitement. At the first blush of the American demands, so formidable and severe, the editors said nothing. They were bewildered, and knew not which way to turn, They were unaware that Madrid had agreed to certain con- ditions which were satisfactory to Washington. To their minds it seemed as if America, in all the panoply of war, red paint, feathers and tomahawk, was waiting outside Havapa and ready ata moment's notice to walk straight in and take the scalp of every Spaniard, and more particularly of every Spanish editor on the island, They were mute and awe-struck at the apparition, but soon came word that Spain had agreed todo what America asked, ana presently occurred a burst of patriotic indignation that in fervor of expression was never excelled. But there Was method in this outpouring of journalistic wrath. Beyond all that seeming recklessness of the hour the journalistic vision reached to the safe con- clusion, without giving it expression, that if Spain could afford to accept the conditions of America | Cuba might do likewise—that, in short, Cuba could save her honor by throwing the onus of surrender on Madrid, and that, as America was pacified, and all prospect of @ bloody war banished, it would be perfectly harmless to indulge in a little theatri- cal thunder to gratify the populace. You have already learned of THE OUTBURST AMONG PRESS AND. PEOPLE that followed the news of Spain's submission. Among the editors of Havana the thought was never fof a moment cherished that they should be brought face to face with red handed war, The rhetoric they fred of was never meant for that. it was simply that artificial thunder which editors from time immemorial employ to divert their read- ers and relieve themselves, But it did not suit that this should go too far, and when the peremp- | tory order from Castelar came to give up the ves- seland the prisoners the valiant editors were forced to have recourse to a different style of writ- ing. Where they had been offering flery hot brandy spiced with cayenne pepper to their readers, they now found it needful to substitute a gentle sooth- ing sirup, cool and mild as lemonade. When the Captain General put bis foot down and said he should do as he was ordered they CRAWLED DOWN, LIKE CAPTAIN SCOTT'S COON, and ever since they have been occupied in prepar- | ing to eat humble pie. By the day appointed for | the delivery of the Virginius the gallant editors of Havana wil be prepared to tell their readers that | Spanish honor is satisfied and that America has been vanquished in diplomacy, The Havana edi torial mind has certainly ranged alithe gamut of feeling from joy to despair within the past few weeks, and what wonder now if we find that the disgust and weariness caused by such an exhausting experience should induce two distinguished editors, Gil Gelpl, of the Constancia, and Don Juan de Ariza, of the Diario, to sever their connection with journalism forever? Gil Gelpt_ has already resigned, and is about leay- ing for Spain, and the otner, who is a worthy and accomplished man, a poet, scholar and journalist, intends relinquishing his post as chief editor of the | Diario, THE SCARE AMONG AMRRICANS, In a former letter Ireferred to the scare which ‘was produced among Americans some few nights ago, and how several incontinently fled to Key West and New York. A few of them would insist on believmg that the receipt of the President’s Message here would be the sig- nal for a riotous demonstration against resident Americans. It was conceived that the Message breathed a waritke spirit, and that its contents could not be otherwise than offensive to the Span- jards, who would forthwith resent its tone by an attack on the consulate and on the persons of the Americans, The Message has since then been re- ceived, and its contents by this time must be known to the Teading portion of the popniation, but the gloomy predictions that anticipated its ar- Tival have not been fulfilled; yet it cannot be de- nied that there is a bitter feeling remaining in the Spanish mind, though not expressed as openly as heretofore. ‘The fact, however, of an attempt bet made the other night to burn the ship is in- ry show the state of feeling that prevails. EFFORTS OF THE LABORANTES, The Cuban laborantes, of whom you have already heard, are not idle at this periious crisis in their fortunes. If they fail to see war with America now they may be compelled to wait a long time before the fortuitous evont Will transpire, Tho bresent they deem the opportune time, no they are busy as beavers on ali aides, They circulate 60 roundiess rumors in the day to excite and alarm the Spanish mind. Of course, the Spantards have @ certain sense of dread of these all pervading laborantes, who are right in their midst and appar- ently of their hearts and households. They trust and distrast them by turns, Fancy a swarm of Union people living abroad among the revel population of Richmona during the war, entering their houses, sitting at their tables, pretending loyalty to the rebel cause, but known in their hearts to hate it with the hate of Hades. The laborantes still cherish the hope of an embroilment, and during the few days that elapse prior to the yielding up of the Virginius their faculties are on the alert, They are encouraged, too, by the news of late successes on the part of the insurgents in the eastern end of the island, “Now, or never!’ is their motto. FIGHT BETWEEN A BULL AND A TIGER. There could hardly have been a more suitable time selected for the peculiar performance fur- pished us last Sunday at the Plaza de Toros, where the bull fights commonly take place, In this in- stance it was a fight between a bull and a tiger, the latter ‘“iresh from the wilds of Central America."" In the aroused condition of the Span- ish mind at the moment there was a certain piquant appropriateness in providing this sort of entertainment, and the huge concourse that at- tended justified the shrewd calculations of the showman. I was glad to see there were but few ladies there, but the gathering of men was the largest I ever saw under one roof, The amphitheatre is vast, and I should think its seating capacity is at least 10,000, On this occasion every inch of space, from the floor to the roof, was occupied, not by the common people, who are slow to pay from $3 to $5—the price of admission—but by a respectaple looking crowd, largely permeated by the volunteer element, whose different bright uniforms, inter- spacing at short intervals the vast circles of seats, gave to the summer dressed assemblago a most picturesque appearance. In the centre of the arena, where the bulls and matadors usually con- tend, a great wooden octagon shaped cage, some 30 feet wide and high, was placed, and inside of this reposed tne untamable tiger. Soon after four o'clock, when the fight was announced to. come off, a young bull was trotted outinto the space surrounding the big cage, and for three or four minutes sev- eral matadors and small boys, with red and yellow cloaks and handkerchiefs, goaded him around the arena until he howled, grew confused and showed an evident desire to plunge his horns into some- body or something. In this pleasant frame o! mind the door of the cage was opened and ne bounded vigorously inside. The door, of course, was instantiy closed, though there was no occa- sion for the frantic hurry shown in performing the act, as the tiger never stirred, bat lay crouching m the dust like a sneaking coward, as he proved himself to be. The bull wheeled about and turned about in the middle of the cage, and seemed to be utterly ignorant of the presence of the beast. His attention was altogether concerned in THE WAVING CLOAKS OUTSIDE, and in the tremendous yell, like the savage roar of storm driven breakers on a lee coast, that burst from the crowd, and was kept up for minutes to- gether. It was this terrific human yell that ap- palled and tamed to cowardice and abject fear the wretchea tiger. Soon a wiae waving streamer of red cloth was dropped over the prostrate animal and then the brutal fun began.* The bull bent his horns low, stirred up the dust with his fore feet, and, making the cloth his target, rushed with rage and awkward might upon the low lying tiger. The cloth was instantly withdrawn as the bull came forward, for this was his first acquaintance with his antagonist. Every eye was riveted on the tiger at the moment. Would he fight?,was the question. The emotional Spanish mind immedi- ately framed an illustration to suit two of a higher order of combatants that might have been. The tiger failed to respond to the ASSAULT OF THE BULL. He slipped quickly of his horns and sneaked away and crouched down in another corner more abjectly than ever, “Tiger is a Yankee,” said a Spaniard in my neighborhood. “That’s the way the Yankee fights,” observed another later in the evening, when it had been demonstrated beyond doubt that the beast was either a specimen tamed to worthlessness for fighting, or else a cowardly imposture. In vain the bull, through the delusive medium of the bright cloaks shaken in the bars of the cage, was brought repeatedly on the prostrate tiger; the latter persisted in evading a struggle to the end, Once did the attendants of the ring bring hot iron bars to goad the animal to fury and provoke him to attack the bull, but though they made him howl with anguish they tailed to arouse anything like an aggressive spirit in his gentle nature, The fight was thus a failure, much to the disappointment of the great assemblage which flowed out into the streets im a never ending stream and soon filled all the casinos in the neigh- borbood and far away. SPANISH SIMPLICITY. It could only be in a maze of utter bewilderment concerning the means of saving Spanish pride from the shock o1 giving up the Virginius straightaway on the demand of America thata secret meeting was held by members of the Casino at the resi- dence of Sefior Zulneta to talk of sending $1,000,000 to Washington to be spent on members of Congress towards eifecting an easy solution of the question, The simple Spantards can find heaps of men in Washington to take their money, but the results they look for can hardly be purchased even there in the present stern and virtuous tem- per of the public mind. Calmer Councils in Havana—The Threat of Castelar to Remove Cuban Officials Very Effective—Sickles and Fish Com- pel a Repeal of the Arbitrary Laws of the Indies=The Captain General Stripped of Old Prerogatives—Ru- mored Important Successes of the Insurgents—500 Killed or Wounded and 410 Prisoners of the Spaniards. HAVANA, Dec. 10, 1873. The excitement of the past week over the still all prevatling question of the Virginius and the demand for her return made by the United States, the feelings of the Spanish element in Cuba up to @ nervous fever heat, is ap- parently calming down. The feeling, however, is still inwardly as intense as ever, but the opposition to the orders from Spain is not ag strongly expressed. The time that has been al- lowed to pass and the graduai letting on of the disagreeable information regarding the peremp- tory orders from Spain to the ‘ain General has, it seems, been the means of allaying the uni- | versal burst of indignation which breathed itself out in RIDICULOUS THREATS OF WAR when the news first came of the action of the United States; excitement so violent, indeed, as to require an appeal from the Captain General—ad- dressed, in tact, to the volunteers, whose inten- tions were mutinous, to say the least—calling on them for calmness, prudence and union, The scenes and incidents of a week ago, as well | ag the many rumors started by the prevailing ex- citement, which were duly reported to the HERALD by special boats to Key West, have now greatly diminished. Time has tended to pring about a | More submissive spirit to those who at first were in such opposition to orders from the home gov- ernment, The firm attitude of the republican gov- ernment of Spain to preserve its authority in its principal province has had its effect, and the gen- erally spreading knowledge among the higher off- cial circles of Cuba that the island was reaily under a different form of government since Sep- | tember last than that she had enjoyed or been al- lowed for the past 60 years, has also bad its cor- responding effect, The tureat from Spain of removing the superior authorities, and of considering the isiay4, a case of opposition to the orders sent them, to be in the samo conditioh as Cartagena and the cantonal insurgents, has changed the tone of thought and of speech of many of those who were loudest in their outeries, It is not generally known that since the royal order of 1825, which gave to the Captain General of Cuba all the discretionary power of a viceroy— even allowing him the right of censure over the orders received from Spain, which he might sup- press, if deemed convenient; in short, conferring Upon Lim the most absolute power ever delewated 4 in daily which seemed to have been the cause of working | When captured by the Tornado the Virginius was | absurdity of Supposiny h by any government to one man—that the island of Cuba has until quite recently been ‘ UNDER MARTIAL LAW, This law, or royal order of 1825, which has kept the island throughout in an anomalous condition, and been a great stumbling block to the success of the labors of the State Department at Washington, in having the ordera from Spain reiative to the raising of embargoes on the property of American citizens carried into effect, was finally repealed about last September, and this fact 18 due to the diplomatic exertions of Secretary Fish and Minister Sickles, At the same time the home government communicated the fact to the supertor government of Cuba in a telegram of September 15. This telegram, it appears, was never disclosed. The order probably was not judged ‘‘conventente’’ by the Capta!n General and his advisers, the mag- naves of the Casino Espaiiol. At least one of the first acts of tho Minister of the Colonies after nis arrival here and examination of the state of affairs was to issue a decree, ordering the immediate compliance with the orders from the home gov- ernment in relation to THE RETURN O¥ EMBARGOED PROPERTY. In this decree the Minister refers to the order communicated by telegram, of September 15. This order Changes the status of the Captain General completely. He has now only to obey im- plictty what commands he receives, and exe- cute whatever laws are made for him, To this may be attributed the frm stand taken by the Madrid government, or else otherwise we would have been regaled with the usual trick of the Spanish government of shifting round the respon- sivility for acts committed, so that finally it rests on no one’s shoulders, The tone of the press is, while keeping up the show of resistance and the indignant clamor of their right in the case, gradually becoming more reasonaole, and it seems as if an effort was being made to bring the excited Spanish mind to an ability to put up with the disappointment of see ing the Virginius leave the harbor. ‘The feeling in Santiago de Cuba against the sur- viving prisoners 1s very strong, and it would take @ decided Governor to prevent any hostile demon- strations, A recent episode which occurred in that port shows the excited state o! feeling. On the 1st inst, several of the boats from the United States war steamers Juniata and Wyoming were engaged in practising boat service, fliled with men and everything necessary on such occasions, aud mancuvred in front of tue city, IN THE WATERS OF THE BAY, The alarm was immediately given, and nearly the whole volunteer force turned out, ready to repel the invader, shed their last drop of biood, save Spanish honor, and so on, practically, as it was bruited about thi an attempt ‘was to be made to rescue the prisoners, Brigadier Morales de los Rios, the acting Governor in place of Burriel—who, by the way, after ils great feat of illegally murdering 63 men, hastened to Havana, fully expecting an evation, but was grievously dis- appointed—hurried the prisoners on board the Spanish man-oi-war Bazan, which then put to sea. The vessel, with the prisoners on board, touched at Cienfuegos, the Captain General was communi- cated with and nis orders were to put the pris- oners back from whence they were taken. Mo- rales de los Rios was removed, and on last Sunday morning Burriel returned to Santiago de Cuba to resume command. ‘his occurred on the Ist, aud at two o’clock on the morning of the 2d THE BAZAN PUT TO SEA. . The same day the British corvette Niobe, learn- ing that the prisoners had been sent away, it was supposed to Havana, sailed and arrived here yes- terday morning. The Wyoming was to sail on the same alternoon, I learn from une of the officers of the Niobe that the Jeeling is strong in Santiago de Cuba against giving up either the prisoners or the vessel, and extensive preparations in the way of jortications, earthworks, &¢., are being made there. The Voz de Cuba during the past few days has devoted its columns almost entirely to the ques- tion of the Virginius. It purports to be receipt of letters on the subject, and, taking up one in which the writer states that he cannot understand what pre- text the United States can allege to condemn Spatn’s action and to demand satisfaction therefor, the Voz de Cuba ventiiates the subject in a five cola article, reviewing and referring to the time o! NAPOLEON'S FAMOUS MILAN DECREF, which closed almost all the (igiche of tne world against England; the universal blockade declared by England in retaliation; the great flow and im- pulse given to the maritime commerce of the young American Republic by the state of affuirs, which enabled it to carry its manufactures to every sea and port, and increased its merchant marine in numbers and importance, to the detriment of that of England; the famous right of detention, Visitation and search declared by Eng- yand, in opposition to all principles of international | law; the consequent injuries to American vessels, upon which the war ships of England principaily exercised this declared right; the numerous cases of reclamations arising out of these circumstances, as between 1803 and 1811 British crutsers had seized over 900 American vessels and 6,000 seamen ; the war then deciared by the United States, and wherefore, and aS a@ consequence, the resist- ance to the right of visitation and search, which has since been one of THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN POL- 10Y; eetepilaning as a point of doctrine in maritime in- ternational law, and generally accepted by all na- tions, that in time of peace no nation has any jurisdiction over neutral waters, and any act of hostility can only be exercised by the vessels of those nations actually engaged in war for those of neutrals; or at peace, the right of visitation and search does not exist. Wherefore, says the Voz, the claims and demands of the United States in the present case of the Virginius are based upon this doctrine, it being alleged by the Wash- ington government that she was an Amer- ican vessel, owned by Americans, with American register and flag, and, consequently, no Spanish cruiser had apy right to visit and search her on the high seas, nor to capture her, nor to condemn to death and execute her captqin and crew. Had the Tornado captured the Virginius in some overt illegal act within Spanish maritime jurisdiction the capture would have been legal, and the execution of those caught in violation of the Spanish laws justifiable. But the capture on the high seas constitutes the insult to the Ameri- can flag, for which reparation is demanded trom Spain, and we are threatened, continues the Voz de Cuba, by the assertion that the United States, which went to war with England, TO RKSISI THR PRETENSIONS OF VISITATION and search on the high seas, wou'd not hesitate at war with Spain in defence of the same principle, This, then, according to the Voz, is the pretext of the United States to claim the return of the Vir- ginius. This is the pretext admitted by Castelar causing him to order decisively the return of that ship. The Voz, the most turious exponent of the oligarchy of the island, has toned down consider- ably within the past few days; while at first it was advocating resistance to orders from Spain, it is at present in favor of doing the “right thing.”? As 4 mere pretext, the Voz de Cuba does not deny that at first sight it appears that the claim of the United States is well founded, and doubts not but that Castelar, upon admitting such, supposed that sailing iu neutral waters and UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG. Considerable stress is then laid by the Voz de Cuba upon the weakness of this pretext and the that the mere fact of flying any flag upon the high seas is sufficient to change the character ofa vessel and her business, and to bens with impunity the misdeeds to which she , 80 to Bpeak, Po remonay, dedicated, “There should be,” says the Voz, ‘‘some rule to combine the princtpie which is opposed to the de- tention and visitation of vessels at sea, as a gen- eral prescription of international law, and the absolute necessity of preventing the most condign and atrocious criminals from abusing this right 0. Perpetrate the blackest and most horrible crimes. The opinion of William H. Seward is quoted at. » and lengthy comments are devoted to it, all tending, according to the Voz, to zure the legality of the capture and the absurdity of the pretensions of the United States. The allegation of some of the American arguments, that at most the Virginias could only be claased as a blockade runner is scoffed at, because there is no blockade | declared, and even #0, the case of the capture of tae Blanche by the Cnited States steamer Mont- gomery, 4s cited in justification. Ail of this articie rom which I am quoting bas been written with the idea of bringing As Mippe on THB PEOPLE to bear on the delivery up of the vessel to the United States, and, after @ few animadversions upon Castelar’s conduct in the case, which was too precipitate, and confidence that when the question is fully ventilated bejore the proper tribunals, Spain’s rights in the matter will come out triumphantly, the Vor—which, for its extreme retrograde views and as the advocate of the law of suspects and generat annihiiation of everybody not Spanish, has won for itself the popularity of tho rg Masses of “anconditional Spaniards—cioses itg present labored efforts with @ few fulsome Aare of praise that ite of wifairs which mig! oc. casioned great dangers and perils could have been roidea by the ee es sense iY) of this pl parable only heir elevated patriot- lam (in double leads) the hay py icemteoasence of having at their head, in these o1 momenta, a chier Saphorey worthy under all considerations of the most inplicit confidence, and who has united around him all the loyal ana good (!) Spaniards, resolved like one mad to receive and obey his commands, The Voz of this morning’s issue pablishes another of its articles, “Still harping on my (5. Ua which, while endeavoring to show the right which Spain has in the whole matter, is preparing the ee a minda of ite people to assent gracefully to orders from the home Pata setting forth the terrible alternative to which they would be ex. jee by resistance, quoting the irtion of the organ in New York Oronteva) that the United States were preparing for an invasion of Cuba, Without Weclariug war with Spain, by wring- ing the confession from Castelar that the Madrid government is not obeyed in this Antille, This ts said to be the favorite plan of the American gov- ernment, which in that case would be represented paon ay to Spam. In such a case the Spaniar: WOULD BE DECLARSD REBBLS by the Spanish government, just as the cantonal insurgents of Car na, for Castelar has already oMiciaily declared tC any act tending to impede the execution of his orders would be considered as an act of rebellion, To out short the long argu- ment which the Voz indoiges in over this point, it advises the quietest calmuess and coolness, and a rfect and docile submission tg the acts and or- ers of the chief authority, Throughout the entire management of this ques- tion the ability of the Captain General in calming the excitement of a certain class of Spaniards an: leading the obstinate Journals to counsel submis- sion to his orders—in short, ‘pulling wool’ over the eyes of all—must be conceded, ‘The change in tone of the Voz de Cuba, which, like most turn- coats, overdoes the business, is strongly apparent, on a comparison between tts: first article on the question and the last. Under the title “The Virginius May Awake Cuba,"' the Diario of the Tth is sponsor to an artt- cle contributed by a person whom the Diario con- siders of sound judgment and patriotism, and wno has made a careful study of the struggle tho Span- jards are sustaining, Says the - ‘nome nerre eae nets coun ainted w as regar the Cuban question, sil -_ Textract the prominent points of the article re- ferred to, which will suffice to show what Spanish judgment and patriotism would dictate in an emer- cy — eee writer of this article ts of the opinion that the Virginius question may act powertully towards wakening the people of Cuba (the Spanish people it underston from the lethargy and weariness into which they have fallen of late, especially dur- ing the past year, regarding the insurrection, and mainly in the blind confidence of approsobing suc- cess, Which has prevented more active and prompt action, He complains of the adiniuis:ration of the resources, which, although abundant, are so un- wisely distributed as to cause the war to languish and protract itself inst the general interest, The foregoing is not very complimentary to the patriotiam, intelligence or honesty of the Spanish administration in Cuba.” ‘The article continues :— Tf gold continues to rise in premium the government before long will not have one-half of the amount noces- sary to mect expenses. lay it only has one-third of {tall of waloh yoos to show that but for the Virginius question, which ob! usto think over our means sources for defence, in a few months we might ve Fun into such a financial crisis as would have given our enemies, through our ruin, the success they cannot achieve by arms. Here the attention is called to the necessity of immediately providing a remedy ior all the evils that prolong the war BY RAISING THR NECESSARY AMOUNT to facilitate prompt and decisive action; and also to prepare ior any foreign trouble arising from com) tions brought about by the insurrection, which are to be feared proportionately to the not taking the required measures of defence; as other nations willbe more careful in their exactions when they find we are fully prepared. These re- marks conclude with proposing the following prompt measures TO GUARD AGAINST COMING EVENTS. : First—To convoke & meeting of all the casinos and other Spanish patriotic societies of the island and raise a loan or the continuation of the loan already initiated by the Treasury of the island, Second—To resolve that from January 1 all taxes and duties to be paid at gold rates. Third—To call to arms, according to the law of Spain, all those of proper age. The article closes by advising to fili up the ranks of the Spanish army in Cuba with the young free negroes, who, it states, make better soldiers than the raw recruits irom Spal, The Diario has the following ‘‘soft sawder"’ ex- planation:— Good sense and patriotism of the Spanish people in this Antille” merit that the truth should be told them, without sabterfuges. This people know that the govern: ments of Madrid and. Washington have signed and rati- fled an agreement, the principal aud, most peremptory condition of which consists in the delivery of the Vir- ginius and the surviving prisoners, ‘The result of this agreement was communicated to the Captain General of this island and to the General of Marine on the afternoon of the 29th ult, with the ex- press orders to execule or have executed these terms at once. ‘The public also knows that frequent meetings of authorities have been convoked through these motives, and that numerous telegrams have been exchanged be- tween the authorities here, the government ot Madrid and the Spanish Minister at gion. His Excellency, the Colcnial Minister, could not remain ‘ndiferent in treating such a grave affair, and the public know that he has presided over an arscinbly of authorities and other persons, and doesnot ignore that HK HAS BEEN IN ACTIV TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION with the government at bome and its representative at Washington, employing his official and personal influence to seek a favorable solution to a question of such gigautic proportion. It is not in our power to give the contents of these telegrains; but we can mention the result of the whole; which is, that the government has repeated its positive orders to execute what has the character of an Interna- tional treaiy. Washin, Havana, Dec, 11, 1873, The Voz de Cuba, in an Aarticie of this morning, considers the question of the Virginius to be laid at rest by the agreement between the Washington and Madrid governments, and deduces theretrom the important lesson of THE GREAT NEO}SSITY OF MAKING A SUPREME EFFORT to finisa with the insurrection, which is called the cantonal blood letting of all its strength, the Whirlpool which swallows up all its resources, and the open door to traitors, to the enemies’ in- trigues and to complications abroad. Therefore the grand necessity of stopping this leak, choking this whirlpool and,ciosing this door, once and tor- ever. ‘And if we do not,” says the Voz, ‘‘we are lost without remedy.”” While the present state of civil war devastates the mother country Cuba cannot expect any more reiniorcements in men from Spain to carry on this never ending struggle, and a8 to pecuplary re- sources it is useless to expect to obtain them by new operations with the Spanish bank, “In one word,” the Voz says, “QUBA MUST DEPEND UPON HER OWN RESOURCES to stifle the rebellion, and either must save herself or perish.” ‘ne chief means of salvation, according to the Voz, is strict economy in all public affairs, exact compliance with orders and payment of taxes. and the raising of money and means whereby to finish the rebeliion, and by no other means can Cuba be saved to Spain. je rest of this article is an appeal to Spaniards totoe the mark 20 all these aera The President’s Message has not yet been pub- lished here, although extracts irom copies, re- ceived by way of New Orleans, have been made ublic. The comments as yet are few, save that he President considers the question of the Vir- cus settled by an agreement recently signed at ‘ashington. Rehable news from the insurgent districts is very meagre. This city is full of rumors reforring to late signal victories of the insurgents in the Bast- ern and Central Departments. It is reported that Bayama, Veguita and Bueycito heve fallen into the nands of the rebel torees, and that after fur- nishing them with the usual plunder hud been abandoned, ‘our correspondent nas every reason to believe that the following information given him yesterday evening is authentic and reliable :—Near Cascorro, dnring the first days of this month, a large force of chasseurs of Valmaseda and other Spanish corps were ambuseaded by the insurgents and cut to pieces, The Spaniards are said to have lost SEVENTERN OFFICERS KILLED OUTRIGHT, among them Lieutenant Oolonel Vilches, and an immense number of men. some repor give the figures of the Spaniards put hors de as 500, and 410 taken prisoners. After the action was over the prisoners were told they in td join the insurgents or leave for Nuevitas, ag t ased. Many chi to cast their lots with the bis.’? It is true that the insurgents have adopted a new tactic, notably so since O'Kelly’s visit, who coun- selled them to carry on wartare in accordance with clvilization, and since then they are no longer the executioners of their prisoners, CUBAN MATTERS IN THE CITY. The Cuban View of the Result—An Im- portant Point in Their Favor—The Humiliation of the Volunteers=The Cuban Execative—Anticipated Change in the Representative Here. While it is undoubted that the Cubans resident here are very much annoyed at the termination of the Virginius affair they still retain a bold front, and ague that, whatever may be the ultimate re- sult, the capture of the vessel and the execution of the passengers and crew Must red¢tind to the benefit of their cause, Said a prominent one among them:—“Mr, Fish has at least been consistent in claiming that, 80 long as no state of war is admitted by Spain to exist 1n the island of Cuba, American vessels have the right to carry merchandise, of whatever char- acter, to the coast of the island, subject only to the municipal laws established there, when within their jurisdiction, and that they are not liable to search when outside of Cuban waters. In his con- versations with Cubans he hai ‘ays maintained this, and had it been property insisted on in the cases of the Mary Lowell and Florida the peopie on board of the Virginius wouid not have been sacri- iced." THE POSITION OF THR VOLUNTEERS. The Cubans, moreover, find Intense satisfaction in the numiliation of their deadly enemies, ‘the volunteers” of the island. Though it has been well understood that no inducement has been sam- cient to take them to the field, it was generatly be- lieved that their bigotry, vanity and antmosity to both Cubans and Americans would prompt them to Suuiesth their loud boastings and oppose the sur- r T of the Virginius at ali bazards. ‘‘And now, to see the Diario de la Marina and the Vos de Cuba advocating the PUNISHMENT OF THE RIOTERS who desired to prevent such surrender, after their flerce denunciations of the Oastelar governuien ym is amusing,” sal for its action in the bre et enet oy ataer Ge . 1b prontige ofthese volunveers, WhO Lave rulod the » istand ever sinoe the ure of Lereandi, tn! January, 1869, are gone, and that the administra: tion at Madrid will once again exercise some con- trol there; and while it is not to be expected thas’ either the present or wy, facure administration will ever recognize the independence of the island: until compelled to do 60 by force, itis believed that Castelar 1s sincerely desirous of mitigating the barbarities of the war, and will exercise hia power to do 80. THE CUBAN BXECUTIVE. The oficial announcement of the resignation ot President Cespedes and the assumption of the ex- ecutive power by Cisneros, the Marquess of Santa Lucia, is anxiously expected, the more so as his advent to power Will involve 4 change in the rep- resentation im this country. It is known that the Cubans here, while earnestly and effectively work- Ing for the same cause, are divided into twe cliques or parties. Of one of these Quesada is at the head. It is known that Cisneros is unfriendly to him and that his recall will follow the change im the administration. Who is to be bis successor? ts the intereatin, question, and there is no doub¢ the position will be given to some man of the op- posite party. Meanwhile all parties are quietly working for the support of the {nsurreption, main- taining that reticence which past expertence has taught them ts absolutely essential to success. AFFAIRS AT THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD. a The Dictator—Record of the Frigate Minnesota—Inconvenionce Occasioned by tne Blockade of the Dry Qock, A drait of 50 sailors arrived {rom Chicago, It., as this station on Monday, and 150 men reached the receiving ship Vermont, from New Orleans, last evening, The monitor Dictator will be towed over to Red Hook Point, South Brooklyn, this morning, when she will be taken on the Erle Basin dry dook, where she will undergo some alight repairs and cleaning of herbottom. She will be at the yard om Monday next to receive her oficers and crew, Hor men are now on board the “‘guardo,”’ Captain James E, Jowett, one of the most gallant officers in the service, who was attached to Farragat'a fleet during the war, will command the monitor im question. There are about 800 recruits now on board the Vermont, 80 that there is no scarcity of men to meet the existing emergency, occasioned by tbe demand for men attendant upon commis- sioning the Vessels now at the yard. The Minnesota is nearly completed and will go into commission on Tuesday next, December 23. She will be commanded by Uaptain Luce, ponent Commander Robeson (executive ofl an Lieutenant Commander Wilde, the navigator, re- orted for duty to Vice Admiral Rowan yesterday, Tne Minnesota 1a a screw frigate of 45 guns. and was built in Washington im 1855, ter tonnage is 3,000, and displacement 4,700, In 1858 she made her first cruise, going to the Kast Indi under command of Captain Dupont. She returae home in 1859, and was laid up at Boston until the early part of 1861, when she was fitted out and at- tached to the North Atlantio squadron, She was nearly destroyed by the ram Merrimack at Hamp- ton Roads, Va., the same year, while under com- mand of Captain Van Brunt. ‘The Monitor saved the noble frigate from sharing the fate of the’Oon- and Cumberland. The Minnesota was the fagsnip of Rear Admiral J. P. Lee until 1864 in the Atlantic squadron. In 1867, under command of Captain James Alden, she took out the second clags of midshipmen on a cruise, and returned in 1868 9 wow Fock where she has been ever since lying in ordinary. wae, ‘Gaymoud, of Murray street, the coal con- tractor to whom the sunken barge Upland belongs, hag done nothing as yet towards raising the miser- able vessel from its muddy fastness in front of the Navy Yard dry dock. The coal vontractor wilt be required by the government to pay the coat of eeuniary damage done to “Uncle Sam’s’’ pockets by reason of the carelessness of the Vaptain and crew of the Upland, which compels the Navy De- partment to mg the Dictator to the dry dock ofa rivate corporation. bi The Florida and Roanoke will not be ready for commission before the New Year dawns. ST. DOMINGO. Porto Plata Pronounces for the Revola~ tion—Gonzales at the Head of the Movement—Merchants Forced to Sup- ply the Revolutionists—The Consuls Calling for Men-of-War. By mail from St. Domingo, by way of St ‘Thomas the 7th inst., we have the following detatts of the inceptjofi and progress of the revolutionary movement which was reported in brief just lately under 01 legraph news head. ‘The HERALD Cor- respondent says :— Porto Plata pronounced on the 25th of November against Baez. A manifesto has been published setting forth the reasons for rising against Baez, among others his intention of imposing his re- election, and his tyrannical acts in office. ‘Troops have left for Santiago to gain that place for the revolution. Ignatio Gonzales, the Governor of Porto Plata, is at the nead of this new revolutionary movement. Communication with the interior is stopped. Montecristi, Guayubin, Sabaneta, Altamira,- oouae and Punal have aiso declared against acd. ‘The afternoon of the 25th the leading merchants of Porto Plata were summoned before the Prest- dent of the Revolutionary Junta, and a levy was made for provisions to supply the revolutionary troops. This was in order to prevent pilfering and robbery, and prompt payment was mised as soon aa the new government was proclaimed, The foreign consuls have become alarmed, and are demanding tat vessels of war be sent to Porto Plata to protect foreign interests. VENEZUELA. a ge Revolt in Maracaibe—The Perijaneros in Arms—Pulgar Defeated. Dates from Venezuela to the 2ist of November state that the Province of Perija has risen against Pulgar. One Oquendo, 19 years of age, has been ap- pointed Governor of Perija with the object of raise ing @ loan of $30,000 in that Province. This was objected to by the people, and, the young man in+ Reet the Province rebelled and the Governor lost 18 lile, Pulgar immediately marched against Perija to punish the people, but his advance guard of about 300 men, under General Echeto, was allowed to enter a defile where the Perija forces were in ambush and was attacked in front and rear and completely routed. Volunteers from Coro have joined the Perijaneros against Pulger. It was expected that a second encounter tween the troops of Pulgar and Perija would shortly take place. The commander of the Perija troops, Esteban Munes, belongs to the blue party, which has always been in opposition to President Guzman, COURT OF APPEALS. Decisions. c ALBANY, Dec. 16, 1873, The following decisions were made to-day in the Court of Appeals:— Judgments Affirmed, with Costs.—Schepeler vs. Preuss, Broistedt vs. The Southside Railroad Com- pany of Long Island, McMaster vs. The President of the Insurance Company’ of North America, Price vs. Price, Clafin vs. Fishier, Merrill vs. Green, Van ‘Tryl va, The Westchester Fire Insurance Company, Sliver vs. Bowne, Roberts vs. Roberts, Johnson vs. elt Mordoff vs. James, Ackerman vs. Til- Jndgment AMrmed, with Costs of Both Parttes to be Paid Out of the Estate.—Norton vs. Norton, Judgment Reversed and New Trial Granted, Costs to Abide Event.—Maxan vs. Scott. Order of General Term Reversed and Order of Speciai Term Denying the Application Modified by Denying the Motion, without prejudice and without one to either party.—The People ex rel. Dolan vs. Lane, Order Granting New Trial Reversed and Jadg- ment on Report of Referee AMirmed, with costa.— Crane vs. Bundvine. Orders of General Term Referred and Judgment on Report of Referee Afrmed, with costs,—Tho Atlantic National Bank vs, Franklin; Thornton vs. Untenreith, Court of Appeals Calendar. ‘The following 1s the Court of Appeals day calen. dar for December 17:—Nos. 100, 162, 153, 148, 163, 166, 167, 169, 99, 160, EMPLOYMENT OF LABOR, Action was taken yesterday in reference to the employment of unemployed laborers by a deiega- tion from the Common Council, who waited upon thg Commissioners of Docks, of Public Works and o rks, to inquire whether the resolutions passed by the Common Council by which day labor could be given to the unemployed had been put into effect, and they were told that Mayor Have- meyer had not yet signed these resolutions, A BROOKLYN POLICE CAPTAIN ARRAIGNED, Captain Bourne, of the Second precinct police, Brooklyn, appeared before Justice Walsh yester- day, to answer a charge of felontous assault preferred against him by Mr, William Deming, a citizen, whois now undergoing surgical ald, the he complainant. Mr. Demin; rovocation house, on Henry street, on last poy! night. lefonce, and charges that Mr. Deming struck him on the necessity for which was created pb Ain! severe ap- lication of the Captain's baton about the head of ges that the Captain assaulted him without any when in company with his wife, near his own The Captain claims to have acted in self head with the butt of a pistol, The examination of the case was set down for the 2th inst., aad Coptqla Bourne was balled im the wus Of $1,000,