The New York herald., 1851-12-04
United states fCoMsal NJ. 0Isassn-
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 Chagres, and giving an
account of the recent riet 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
of your columns. In the first place, he represents
that the difficulty existed between tho " native and
American boatmen,'' wnen 1t is we'll known that
there was not single native citizen Of the country
engaged in it, The trouble was wholly confined to
gang of Jamaica negroes and Americans, the na.
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
peaceable character. which they invariably sus-
tain in all their intercourse and dealings with
Americans.
There is, however, another error or misrerepre-
sentation Of greater magnitude and Importance,
which sense of common justice requires correcting.
lis the charge made against Harvey Gleason, Esq,
the u >. Consul at Chssres. and Is contained IN
remarks ofyour correspondent
"shots were fred, however, at the office of the
American Consul, Mr. Gleason, against whom
they were greatly exasperated as he is the o,cper
Of several boats himself dnd .cas understood that he
took part 1ith and SUSTAINED the foreign boatmes in
their unjust assumptions
sBut if their conduct was reprehensible how
much to be condemned is that of the United States
Consul ct Chsgres, who, so far from doing aught
to prevent the outrage perpetrated that morning,
seems rdthr to haze gtss~ his countenance and sup
| port! He undoubtedly knew of the meeting held
the night before, as it was publicly known that
side, and it certainly his duty as it was, with
out doubt in his po yer, by the influence Of his po
that night. knowing, as he did, that there was
so large an amount of American treasure on the
other side, and, above ALL that there were Ameri-
can lives there to be hszarded, in consequence of
such violent measures, it is impossible to blame too
much the conduct of . man, who in such posi-
ton, would first let bis vn petty interests con-
nected with the boating trade, and afterwards his
resentments, In nee of the attack the day
before him far to forget his manifest duty
Had he believed his fellow boatmen to be wronged,
Gan absurdty, 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 ais 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 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 . high pit,h,
would not have hestated to wreak their vengean 20
uron him, at any moment. Yet, he stood his
ground firmly and fearlessly as he is always cspa-
bic Of doing; and, in his manly efforts to quel the
disturbance, and bring about a peaceful state of
things he, at the same time defended and sustained
the honor of his country's flag His position was
an exceedingly awkard and painful one. His own
ceuntrymen 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 misnformed
in relation to the matter, else he labors under
the very prevailing, but not less erroneous idea,
that United States Consuls are quite as potent
ministers plenpotentiary, and that they have the
and custody, not only of the honor Of our flag
and the interests Of our nation in their hands, but
that their duties require them to read riot acts,
quell outbreaks, suppress mobs, and make especial
provisions for the comfort aud convenience Of all
American travellers in the foreign countries in
which they may ,ide. He has certainly shot very
wide Of his mark, If his statements were designed TO
iDjure the American Consul at Chagres in the
estimation Of those who know him, for q moro
faithful, efficient, and estmable public officer is sell
dom, If ever, to be found in the service of the
United States. PANAMA.