The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-22
The New York Press ON the Recent Course
OF the Cuban AuthOrities.

articles on the Cuba troubles and Purser Smiths
case High authorities, such as the Judges Of the
Supreme Court of the United States, including
Justice Nelson of New York, are quoted to show
Spain has right on a matter Of police to exclude
Purser Smith, and it shows that such rights are
exercised by ali nations, including our own. 1t is
q right OF sell. defence. Judge Woodbury. says:
"The police of the ocean belong to Congress and
the admiralty powers of the General Government,
but not the police Of the land or of harbors."
Justice Nelson is quoted to like effect. The
Journal, therefore, concludes that
"Ihe act of attempting to force an offensive
person into foreign limits in defiance OF the foreign
authority partakes Of the nature OF private war
and intereres with the sprit Of those acts OF Con-
gress that were passed to prevent any disturbance
on the part of private persons with the peace OF
friendly country; and we respectfully submit that
il is the duty Of Cabinet at Washington to In
innate to the Of the weasel that they should
desist from a course likely To ethbro the peace OF
the two countries. This is the more proper, since
If Spain is not acting she has perfect right to
do, the two cases already existing furnish aoun,
dant matter for inquiry and explanation; and II
che ia right a repetition OF the offence will expose
our country to greater censure. In any view OF
the case the reception of the vessel at Havana with
Mr. Smith board should not be persisted in until
the Cabinet have decided what course they will
take and even then not until after the remon-
strances have been presented by our Government
TO Spain or her ambassador. Time will insure US
every right 1t cannot be material to any interest
to send Purser Smith a third time to Cuba on the
same errand
or the New York flibuster movement the Jour
nal says:
1.-THE treatment Captain Porter received at Ha
vana elected yesterday noisy demonstration from
Captain Rynders and eight or ten large boys In
red shirts, who accompanied him. They first pro-
Club, and proceeded to the foot OF Warren street
about nine O'Clock, where they extended to the
captain of the Crescent City reception. They
afterwards fired of their gun several times in the
Park and paraded through the streets with
standard inscribed as follows. "The American flag
shall not be insuted!'' The clone Star" flag, sur
rounded by several American hags, was carried
by the Same company-the whole preceded by
Rynders was asked what he was about, he replied,
"lm going to protect the honor Of the national
flag"
The Courier takes per contra another view of the
international law. The editor, admitting the le-
gitmacy of the police regulation, denies that the
Purser Smith case comes within it. Police here,
il saws s but pretence, and If such pretence be
admitted, any American vessel may be excluded
from Cuba under such pretence, i'll spite OF the
treaty between us. The editor publishes his opin-
ion by authority, but deems the act OF exclusion
an insolence to which we should not submit
The Courier DIES Etats Unis (French) thinks the
Crescent City was treated with more kindness at
Havana than was generally expected. The Gu
bans, the editor contends, while maintaining their
rights, gave proof of prudence and moderation
which it recognises with pleasure. All their recent
conduct the Courier thinks, will contribute to the
restoration Of good feeling, and it gives them de-
cidedly the advantage in the controversy that is
going on.
The National Democrat would make the most OF
the Cuba fever for party benefit. Hence We have
such paragraphs as the following:
.InELANp AND CUBA.-A portion of the Wing
press still keep up the old sneer against Ireland,
and will have il that che ia naturally unit for free
her and Cuba, and would have US believe that all
sympathy and hope Of redemption for either Is
wholly gratuitous charity, and one that is thrown
away on worthless objects. This idea the Amer-
the Eng lish newspapers, and they continue to re-
iterate every time there is new blow Tor freedom
anywhere, to the everlasting shame OF the Amerl'
can press"
The Sun is very much excited over the Cuba
news. It blames the previous moderation OF our
Government-thinks Canedo ia mad:
"We ought not and should not accept the hum.
blest apologies which could be made to US, with
out first taking forcible possession OF the city
where these outrages have been committed. A
few well directed broadsides, and one or two such
charges as Yankee seamen and Yankee soldiers
know best how to make, would place US in the po-
stion and the only position we ought now to as
sume.''
Lieutenant Porter lie highly extolled, and he ia
pronounced to be the most popular man in the Uni
ted States, &C.
The Times says:
cat present the officers Of the ship and those Of
the Cuban government sta nd very much in the po-
sition of pouting children, neither of whom ia
sorey grieved at heart, while neither is willing to
make that concession to the other which might al
once clear away the sources of misunderstanding.
The narrative of the last interview between the
parties shows this, we think, conclusiveiy."
"In the course OF the business, Lieutenant Porter
might possibly have displayed little less brus-
queris, without loss of dignity. The flourish at
leaving the harbor had perhaps come merit, in
the way Of theatrical efIect but 1t does not strike
us as likely TO produce that kind of an Impression
upon the beholders that great nation would, un-
der the circumstances, care to communicate.
Pctulance is never sound policy; and display OF
boyisb bravado s inconsistent with the real manl-
ness of character we know Lieutenant Porter to
possess. But in every other point the conduct
of that officer is irreproachable. No other line Of
action than the one he has pursued could have
been prescribed for him. 1t only remains for the
Steamship Company to make such explanations
through their gents or the consul as shall satisfy
The cowardly government"
The Mirror has severe article upon such poll
ticians it says are seeking to manufacture
party capital out OF the Crescent City affair. 1t
OOes wow ue SouioSoo VI SoPtoiu VI VOL cAsuS'
with very great favor. The general Impression OF
rejecting persons, who have at all Investigated the
matter, the editor says, is that the captain has
overshot the mark in his controversy with the
Cuban authorities
"We will not say that the captain desired 10
giorfy himself after the manner OF Alvarado
Hunter, or that he presumed at all upon an under
current of home sympathy in bis course at Havana;
bat we will say that fair history OF the whole
matter does not justify either bis belligerent ati
tude, the clanorous indignation of certain dema
gogues, and portion Of tho American press"
Again:
"When the facts are all before our Government,
any wrong that has been done in this Crescent
City business will be redressed, and Spain will be
found ready to correct errors as the United
States can be to prove them. But 1t 10 high time
that our Park demagogues were taught that they
are not the sole keepers of national honor, nor
the sole interpreters of national interest and senti
ment.'
In conclusion, the Mirror suggests the best thing
our Government could do, did national treaties
allow it, would be to send thcso "Guardians oil
the United States Flag" to Cuba by the next