The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-27
Our CLAIMS upon Portugal.

We publish, in another column, u succint his
tory, from the gallant commander Of the private
armed brig General Armstrong, Of that heroic
action in the port Of Fa,al, out of which have
grown the claims OF our government upon Por-
tuesl. Captain Reds letter is a complete rsfu-
talion Of the English statements Of that difficulty.
However. little need be said en- that point at
present. A vague rumor from Washington states
Dist Portugal has consented to pay the claim.
This may or may not he true. The eleventh
Of July ~ss fixed by Mr. Clay the ultimate
point Of time to which he should wait for an
answer for his government. Not obtaining salts
factory reply, he was 10 demand his passports. No
auth. mic account has been received of the sequel
Of the affair, though We have doubt that the
cabinet at Washington will Strengthen a matter
that bas slumber,d ia neglect for thirysix years.
The Erglish papers sHd the French press, psrti-
eularly Le Sieis ofth. tenth of July, have referred
~ this matter IN various ways. One speaks Of the
appearance, OF our squadron in the Tayus, ss an
limitation uf the British feet in the Prris, to co.
force III, Enplish claims un Greece. Another dis
putcs all the well uuthe ncstcd fscts in the case,
and sull another newspaper AYERS that the claim
ought to be- made on England. which is not a weak
power, aud would not be frightened Into paying q
claim falsely set up. The English merchants seem
Co ind comfortable cause for anxiety in the dipo-
matte blockade Of Lisbon. They fear their inte-
rssts will he affected by this system Of "bloekades
on paper" in which, ne they might punniugy ex-
press n, block heads paper conttve to Interfere
with commercial affairs. The French do notfslcy
diplomnnc blcckadrs, while the English govern
pieDi, contrary To the wishes OF English merchants
isdulgr in them. as specimen, in the bay OF
lsmis, has recently demonstrated. We contrnd,
however. that there has been no blockad OF Las
bon. Had We really initiated Lord PalnsrstOn's
policy, the whole of the coast Of Portugal would
have been vnuslly sHd rally blo, k.ded, go that
eomme rcisl intercourse between Portug Al and Eng
hand would have been cut of Thds the spp-ar-
.ncr Of an Americ squadron in the Tagus, mas
much ~ IL hes not interfsrsd with commerce, is
rot initiative Of the Paim-rston policy in Gresce
W. have 80 W no such tnoustrosiy.
The theory - ~ English jnurn tiists AZ 10 the
inability Of FaJai. rrJer the circumstances, TO
r-rcrve her neutr,l position aud to do her duty,
has no found ,iion. Il is no defence tn say tn the
pm was too weak TO in,~rpose protecting arm.
That has nothing to do with the question. A single
dichsfee 81 cannon would have indicated the
sebs> Of the Portuguese government upon the qu-s-
tiop and the matter would thus h,v. b-ru settled
m conformity with the common a1iom- aad laws
Of nations. A failure to DO ths duty renders Por-
asKnl anienshle TO our gosernmrui--nd thu claim,
sherefore, has been made with strict regard to
public night ard justice. twas not necessary for
Portugal to prererve the brig GENERAL Armstrong
tn. question not one Of power, but of prin-
siple, broadly defined, pain, and subject TO EN-
barrsssmeni from any difficulty presented by cir
crmstsnces.
Great Britain, should the claim OF our govern
ment on Portugal he paid. may b. very properly
applied 10 by Donna Maria. 10 mike up the def.
ei, ncies in her puise II through the officers
end men subject To the British crown, that the
sprhkirg attempt to board, IN the night tune, the
brig " General Armstrong was made aud we
hsv, Yet TO learn that four hundred mn aud four
q. EN- boats are necessary to frcOnaoiire," and
D. Ike observations upoa small vessei, which
e,p, siu, d .nIy ninety men. The history ofthe
cAcfn ent - brilliant one and the destruction Of
LIE 10 ne Enghsh was great. While ouly oae man
Wa tiiie. IN board the brig one hundred lnd SIXTY
Englishmet we're killed, and more than hun
bred rnd iif'y were wounded-a fnghitu disytu
though nat an uncommon QUE IN the naval tctiOns
81 'he " lsst waF'-s thu English suffered great
Lssss, both of msa sd ves-rl-. C,,tain n IDS
c,souct ~ bfigh, page &C. our history; and when
Portugal pays the claim. oar'yoyernm.ut will have
accomplished . great duty