The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-08-07
From the London Times, 10th inst.
United States and PORTUGAL.


quencc of the mode of proceeding recently
employed by Lord Palmerston to enforce
certain claims against the Greek govern
mcnt; that innumerabc other claims, not
more doubtful in principle or exaggerated
in amount than those of Don Paciiico, have
started into life, and that other States have
been encouraged to resort TO proceedings
which the late example of England iorbids
the British government to condemn. The
ease of tho American claims OH Portugal
which has already been made the subject Of
a percinptory ultlnatum, backed by the pre-
senco OF naval squadron, is n startling in
stance OF the facility with Which such pre-
cedcnts are followed; for not many wears
ago late American Secretary OF State had
himself declared to the claimants, that ar.
gumcnts and importantly having been cx-
haustcd, the American Government could
see hothing in the circumstances to Justify
or warrant it in having recourse to any 9th
er weapons. Subsequently to the intclli-
gcnce OF Mr.. .Wysc's demands on tho Greek
government having reached Washington, il
would seem that General Taylor and his
Cabinet have renounced this forbearance,
and L'sbon5is accordingly mcnaccd after
the example of the Piru.us
II is curious coincidence that the por-
tuguese government should have played an
indirect part in the principal question at
Athens as the original debtor Of Paciico,
and that it should now be held liable to the
American Government for damages occas-
oncd by the forces Of another power over
which it bad no control. Blu, the latter
case is, ifpossiblc, more mons,rous and cx-
travagant than that with which we have re-
Gently had occasion to deal On the 2G,h
of September, 1914, during the las, war be-
tween Great Britain and the United States,
an American armed privatccr, the "Gcncral
Armstrong" Captain Reid Commanding,
entered the neutral Por,ugucsc harbor oi
Fayal to water. She was followed, though
not actually chased, by the British vessels
OF war Plantagene,, "A; Ro,a, ;}9, aud the
Carnation brig, and Captain Reid ordered
his vessel to be warped in shore under the
guns Of the castle for safety. In the course
OF the evening violation Of the neutrality
OF the port OF Faya undoubtedly occurred.
The American captain sworc that four
armed boats from the British vessels were
approaching his ship, and admits that he,
snspcctinT their intentions, warned them
off and then fired upon them. killing and
wounGing some OF their men. The boats
were said to have returned the fire with
effect, (though that assertion was contra
d'cted, as in fact they were no, armed at all,)
but subsequently wore Off to the ships.
whence they returned at mid.uigh, with Il
powerful reinforcement, and severe ac
ton cnsucd, in which the General Arm
strong" was at length captured aud de-
siroycd by the British. So that even hv
this American version of tho story. it wa,
Captain Reid who first violated the neutral
ity of the port. The affidavit OF the British
officer shows, however, tha, the boat fired
upon by the Americans was unarmcd, and
was sent in merely to make inquiries, in
spite OF which it was brutalIv attacked by
Captain Reds orders. However this NAV
be, like many similar occurrences in the
heat and chances Of war, the ensuing treaty
Aofpeacc put an end to all discussion as be-
tween7the belligerent powers, but it is not
a little unjust that thirty-six years after.
wards snch d case as this should be made a
ground of complaint and hostility against
the neutral The Americans alepc that
the Portuguese Governor ought to have as.
serted and enforced the neutrality OF the
harbor Of Fayal, although he had but one
hundred infantry and eight artillery mcn in
castle with ruined dcicnccs; and that, as
the Governor Of Fayal failed to give to the
American privatccr the protection of a ncu.
tral harhor, Portugal must pay for the de-
structIon Of that vessel sum which, ac-
cordmg to the Pacific scale of calculation,
is nodestly laid at 2O0,SOO dollars.
There undoubtedly was in this case a
violation Of neutrality, though II is disputed
whether that violation was first committed
by The British boats under Lieut., Fawccl,,
or by The American prlvatccr ia the harbor.
Bat 1t is principle of the law Of nations, as
laid down by Sir William Scott, (the EYi.un
Oodson, 2i4.) that .'whcrc a violation o,
neutral territory takes place, that country
alone whose tranquility has been disturbed
possesses the right of demanding rcparation
Tor The injury which she has sustained, and
shc enemy whose property has been cap
turcd cannot himself give the claim, but
must resort TO The neutral for his remedy"
But II an illegal capture or attack has been
made III neutral waters, giving the aggricv-
cd party thus last-mcntlOncd species OF re-
mcdy against tho neutral, il follows that the
neutral has, forfiOri, claim for rcparat ion
against the State which has abused It's pro
lection orvlola,ed its rights The Govern
or OF Fayal did not acuuicscc in The attack
on the American vessel though he was dis
tinctly informed by the commander Of the
British forces that the neutrality o! the port
could no longer be respected. since the un
provoked attack o! the American schooner
on the British bols; but ii Tie British oil.
Ger who undertook under these circun,-
stances to avcngc that attack, even a, the
risk OF a breach Of neutrality, was justified
III such procccdIng-ns wc lhnlk anon
evidence that he vast wouid seem TO be
wholly Inconsistent with the law o! nations
and with our peculiar amity with Portugal,
that she should now be held responsible bv
the United States for an act OF a British
squadron which she had not the power 10
prevent; and as this occurrence was entire
~ caused either by the rashncss or hos.
uIity OF the Americans themselves. as an
pears by their own statement, or by The ne
ccssarY measures taken by Cant. Iiova.
vino commanded the British ship Plantap.
cnet, justice require. either lhat the Gov.
ernlncnt Of the United States should dc,iS,
from such a claim, as Mr.. Secretary l'p.
shur had actually done in 1911, or thai
Gfea! Britain should bear Portugal harm.
less for damages committed, and righiiully