American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-02
WARRINGTON,

TUESDAY kAFTEnNVoNs OErAEMDLh a
THr IssULr TO THE FALCON. --The Republic
Of this morning states that the Falcon 10 .
steamship owned by M. o. Roberts and others,
and that although her commander is an officer
of the Navy, and although she carries the Uni
ted States Mail, she is strictly a merchant YES
sci, and no report has been made to the Navy
Department of the firing by which she was
brought to and spoken by . Spanish ship OF
war; the report Of this officer, which has been
published heretofore, is properly addressed to
her owner. The Republic is also informed that,
upon the American consul's calling on the Cap
tain General of Cuba, and complaining to him
of the occurrence, the latter expressed his re-
gret, and said it should not occur again; that
it had now probably taken place in consequence
of the Spanish vessels having new COM
mander, who had recently come to Havana,
and did not know the Falcon.
Had the commander Of that vessel all the eyes
that were aboardf Was the Falcon known to no
one? 1t is not probable. But, admitting it to be
30, were the cheers of his men, after he had boarded
The Falcon, end their jeers and taunts, made in
ignorance Of the fact that she was a United
States mail steamer? If the Captain General
made such an apology he must have fbbed
most amazingly, and the American Consul must
have been as green as cucumber to believe
him!
But the Republic proceeds /" The firing shots
ahead of the Falcon was not necessarily either
an insult or an aggression 1t is o mode fire.
quently resorted to by cruisers for the purpose
ofinquiring into the character and objects Of
suspicious vessel. If it turns out that she is
lawful vessel, bound on lawful voyage, an
explanation is made, and the vessel is suffered
to proceed on her voyage, otherwise she is de-
tanned"
The fact Of the Falcons having displayed
her national colors," it is further said, "does
not alter the case, as the showing of false coors
is q stratagem generally resorted to for the pur
pose Of avoiding capture"
The Republic concludes by saying, "We can
not doubt that the Spanish authorities will give
the most satisfactory explanations of this trans
action" We trust so. It will be better that
such causes of misunderstanding as may pos
sibly arise shall not be complicated. We prefer
plain, straightforward issues; and if our people
cannot sustain themselves upon these, let them
suffer as wrong-doers. a
We assume the ground that the people of
Cuba are oppressed; that upon their making
the effort to be free they are entitled to the
sympathy and aid of their fellow men Of every
nation; that upon the Spanish Governments
capturing either the people of the Island or their
aiders, in arms, it has the right, under the laws
and usages of nations, to punish the revolution
lists; but if such punishment should conflict in
nature or degree with the prevailing sentiments
Of the civilized world, then the offended laws of
humanity should justly call down upon that
government the wrath Of an outraged world.
That the people of Cuba had made o clear
unequivocal effort to revolt, as decided as their
watchful and tyrannic rulers would give them
opportunity to manifest, we think is clear to
every one who has been willing to learn the his
tory of the times; and that the armed men who
hurried to their shores were convinced of this,
and went to their relief and not for purposes
of plumber and piracy, but in the spirit in
which Lafayette, Kosciusko, Steuben, &C. came
to this country, is surely well known Overcome
by vastly superior numbers, portion at least
Of these men have fallen into the hands of the
Spanish authorities and been most summarily
and inhumanly slaughtered
The original right of individual men to aid
the people of Cuba to arise and put down the
minions Of a foreign government still exists.
The blood of the slaughtered appeals to human
ity in language most imperative for the over
throw of the tyrants. While we desire most
heartily that this foul wrong may not excite the
friends of Cuban liberty to deeds Of like cruel
ty, we trust in heaven that remembrance of it
may energize every arm that strikes for liberty,
until Spanish rule and Spanish cruelty may
forever pass from the beautiful isle Of the An
TILES; until the banner of republican freedom
shall float triumphantly over the home Of every
one who aspires to be what God has made him,
free and independent man.