The New York herald., 1851-12-04
United states 'Consal M. 0isassn--Th
Late Chagres Emeute.

Late Chagres Emeute.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
In the HERALD Of the 9Th ult., one Of your GER
respondents, writing from Chsgres, and giving an
account of the recent ret which occurred there be
tween the American and Jamaica boatmen, has
committed some errors of rather grave character,
which beg leave to correct through the medium
ofyour columns In the first place, he represents
that the difficulty existed between the native and
American bostmen,'' when 1t is we'll known that
there was not single native citizen of the country
engaged in it. The trouble was wholly confined to
q gang of Jamaica negroes and Americans, the ma
tives taking no part whatever in the matter.
make this correction in justice to the native citizens
OF the Isthmus, who are exceedingly sensitive on
this point, and who pride themselves on their
peaoeable character, which they invariably sus-
tam m All rner intercourse aud 6eahsgs with
Americans.
There is, however, another error or misrerepre-
sentstion Of greater magnitude and importance,
which sense Of common justice requires correcting.
is the charge made against Harvey Gleason, Esq,
the following paragraphs, which l quote from the
remarks 0fyour correspondent
"Shots were fred, however, at the office of tho
American Consul, Mr. Gleason, against whom
they were greatly exasperated, as he is the oUney
Of several boats hinse, and It vas understood that he
took part sh and si.ssaraa the foregn boatmex il,
their unjust assumptions"
"But if their conduct was reprshensible, how
much to be condemned is that of the United States
Consul at Chagres, who, SO far from doing aught
to prevent the outrage perpetrated that morning,
rather to haze given his c0unte,sance and sup
port? He undoubtedly knew of the meeting held
the night before as it was publicly kno wn on that
side, and it certainly was his duty, as it was with
out doubt In his po yer, by the influence of his po
HtAno thA AI,rks40 al III
that night. knowing, as he did, that there was
80 large an amount Of American treasure on the
other side, and, above all, that there Ameri-
can lives there to be hszarded, in consequence of
such violent measures, it is impossible to blame too
much the conduct of q man, who, in such posi-
toB, would first let bis ~n petty interests
nected with the boating trade, and afterwards his
resentments, in consequence of the attack the day
before, him far to forget his manifest duty
Had he believed his fellow boatmen to be wronged,
Gan absurdity, by the way,) there were other ways
in which he should have sought redress for them;
and the writer believes that he expresses the opin
ion of most of his fellow passengers, when he says
that the fatal occurrence might easily have been
prevented by the Consul, had he sought to do so."
So far from these paragraphs being true they are
own q single boat of any description, except the
steamer which bears his own name, and which runs
between Chagres and GOrgona on the Chagres
river. He has not . single boatman in as employ;
nor has he any interest in any boat employed for
embarking and disembarking the steamers passen-
gers
When the disturbance occurred, Mr.. Gleason en-
deavored by all honorable means to suppress it.
He did not shrink from exposing himself to danger,
and in doing far more than his duty as an Ameri-
can Consul, or as an American, required him to do
He was in the midst of an excited gang of men,
who, with their passions reused to Q high pits
would not have hesitated to wreak their vengean,
upon him, at any moment. Yet, he stood his
ground firmly and fearlessly, he is always cspa-
bic Of doing; and, in his manly efforts to quell the
disturbance, and bring about a peaceful state Of
things, he at the same time, defended and sustained
the honor of his country's aag. His position was
an exceedingly awkard and painful one. His own
countrymen had been the cause of the riot, and,
although the community and your correspondent
had no claim whatever upon him, or his services in
settling the difficulty, still, like true and good
man, he stepped forth and hazardei his life in the
attempt
Your correspondent has either been misinformed
10 relation to the matter, or else he labors under
the very prevailing, but not less erroneous idea,
that United States Consuls are quite as potent as
ministers plenipotentiary, and that they have the
care and custody, not only of the honor Of flag
and the interests Of nation in their hands, but
that their duties require them to read riot acts,
quell on, breaks suppress mobs, and make especial
provisions for the comfort aud convenience of all
American travellers in the foreign countries in
which they may e,ide. He has certainly shot very
wide CT his mark If his statements we're designed TO
injure the American Consul at Chagres in the
estimation Of those who know him, for q moro
faithful efficient, and estimable public officer s sell
dom, If ever, to be found in the service of the
United States. PANAMA