The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-21

Inc tohoWing account OF the reception and
treatment of the steamer Crescent City during her
brief stay in the harbor OF Havana, on her last
voyage, via that port, from New Orleans to New
York, has been communicated to the New York
Commercial advertiser by one of the officers of the
| ship. statement Of similar tenor appears in
| each Of the principal journals of New York:
The Crescent City entered the harbor of Havana
| at break Of day, and it supposed by those on
board that it was owing to not being seen I'M
til We were well inside that We not molested
At sunrise the captain Of the port came alon gside
| and asked for MIR. Smith, who, he was told was
| still on board. He then informed Captain Porter
| that, as the ship was in port, steps would be
| taken to expel him. but that no communication
| would be allowed with the shore, nor could any
person from the shore be allowed to come on board
Captain Porter replied that he desired to prese
his protest to the American Consul on which the
captain OF the port politely offered to get further
| orders from the Captain General. In the mean.
| time he informed Captain Porter that the ship
might lie in port rs long it suited his purpose,
! or he might go to sea when he pleased, as they
acknowledged no control over her, but she should
not communicate with the shore in any manner.
| Such was the Captain Generals order, and
guard boats were placed around the ship, filled
with the usual police for boarding foreign vessels
| they could not relish the duty, as the boats had
| no awnings and the SUMS rays were very power
| iui When the gong was sounded for breakfast
the Spanish officers were politely invited on board
After breakfast Captain Porter ordered the paint
|
work to paint the ship outside From this it
seemed to be inferred that Captain Porter intended
to make protracted stay, for the police boats were
| relieved, and two boats with similar crews were
detailed from O frigate to keep guard.
At o'clock the captain Of the port returned
| and informed Captain Porter that he would not be
permitted to lay his protest before the American
Consul Captain Porter asked of what use a con-
| sui was, II American vessels in difficulty were not
permitted to communicate with him, and urged
that by all civilized nations a consul was recoe-
missed as the representative of his country and the
law OF nations entitled citizens to have access To
him. The captain OF the port declined entering
into discussion Of the matter said that he was
exercising no authority Of his own, but was acting
entirely under Crders. The interview terminated
and the engineer was ordered put on the steam
Captain Porter intending to drop copy of his
protest on board an American barque and a brig
lying in the lower harbor. As the Crescent City
was about moving, however, word came that NJ.
Morales (of the house of Drake & Co and the
agent OF the company had permission to come
alongside, which he did in q few minutes, in O
shore boat, acc oInpanied by a government boat,
In which were three utilcers
Mr.. Morales suggested that the difficulty could
De got over by Mr.. Purser Smith sending to the
Governor General written denial of his author
ship Of the publications complained OF. Captain
Porter refused to permit MIR. Smith to do this, as
he had himself twice disavowed it, which disavow.
ais had not been received; nor would he permit
any correspondence with the authorities by any
officer on board the Crescent City. He said that
he considered it beneath the dignity of the compa-
ny to make further explanations.
Captain Porter aso refused, on his part to hold
correspondence with any one on this subject ex.
cept through the United States Consul. Inquiries
were then made of Captain Porter respecting the
nature of the communication he wished to send To
the consul, especially whether it contained disa
vowal Of the charges against MIR. Smith Captain
Porter replied that 1t was protest, and that it did
refer to the two former disavowals OF those charges
made by him.; adding that the protest itself was
written in plain terms, The object seemed to be
to draw out an apology on the part of Mr.. Smith,
which would lead to a settlement of the difficulty
In this, however, they failed; and the Spanish
officers, after some discussion among themselves,
offered to 60 on shore and if it not possible
to get the protest delivered to the consul This
they thought could be done, if it was first ascer-
tanned that the document contained nothing often
sive to the Spanish government Captain Porter
denied them information on this point; but they
went on shore, accompanied by Mr.. Morales, and
after short time Mr.. Moreland, acting consul,
came alongside in government boat, accompa-
MED by the captain of the port, Don Guillermo
Chacon. The consul was not, however, permitted
to come on board to send letters by the Crescent
City. Captain Porter personally delivered his
protest to him; and being informed by Mr.. More
land that nothing more could be done, the Crescent
City put to sea. AS she passed the custom house
great crowd was assembled to see her departure,
but there was no expression of feeling. The Ame-
head as she passed them. In passing the Moro
Castle the Crescent City fired single gun.
The following ia the protest delivered to the
American Consul by Captain Porter:
"Whereas the first article of the treaty of amity
between Spain and the United States declares
there shall be firm and invioable peace and sin.
cere friendship between his Catholic majesty, his
and subjects. and the United States and
or places and whereas
"Article 9th of the same treaty promises smu
tual assistance and kindly acts towar the ships of
either power when in the ports of the other which
N ora upa thx..r 60 .
of jurisdiction by land sea- and article 9th Sc
cures the citizens subjects of each free access
to the courts Of justice OF the other in all cases. and
provides that all cases be prosecuted by order and
authority OF law only, and that the parties shall
have liberty OF counsel and defence.
Glow far the Spanish authorities in Cuba have
conformed to this treaty is apparent from the fact
that they have arbitrarily and without any form
or process OF law caused a United States steam
ship, engaged in the pursuit of a legitimate aud
peaceful business, to be turned from their port on
one occasion, and refused communication on an
other, merely for an imputed offence committed |
in the territory of the United States (or which of.
fence, If actually committed within their own ter
ritory, the Spanish authorities had no right to |
punish an American citizen,) for on two occa-
sions the undersigned has, in plain terms de- |
MED that Purser Smith wrote any thing against
the Spanish government in the newspapers Of the |
United States But the word of an officer who has
heretofore enjoyed the confidence of his Govern.
ment and the company, 1t seems has been entirely
disregarded by the Cuban authorities, as If they
were ignorant of the polity which governs civilized
nations. On the contrary, they have pursued a |
vindictive and unfricndly course, which must, If |
persevered in, inlct great and serious injuries on
the commerce Of the United States, and against |
which course as applied to this ship. or any of the
company's, the undersigned once moro strongly
protests.
1.-THE undersigned begs leave to draw the atten.
ton OF the Spanish government in Cuba to the fact
that the Crescent City sailed from New York with
a large number of Cuban and American passen. |
gers on board, erery one Of tphom had Nth him
passport from the Spanish consul at Ne,p York. grant
ing permission TO sail in the Crescent City for the
port Of Havana, with a guarantee of safe landing
on the shores of Cuba. Moreover, that the Spanish
consul Mt that place did not inform the
or give any notice to the United States Mail Steam
ship Company, that there any likelihood of the
Crescent City being prevented from entering the
port of Havana.
"lt is true that manifesto was issued to the I'M
dersigned, but the company were in no wise bound
by such manifesto, having perfect right to consider
1t the hasty and ILL advised act Of subordinate
officer, Martin Gallano, (by whom 1t was signed
which act, If persevered in, would Interrupt the
friendly intercourse Of the two countries and which
they would likely not respect after the disavowal
OF the imputed offence by the undersigned
"The Spanish authorities in Cuba have, in a mos
arbitrary course pursued by them, violated the
Il If hak,, Al.