Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-30
THE 4cREscENT CITY," CUBA, 6.

70 give our readers right understanding Of the
obstacle interposed by the Spanish authorities in
Havana to the entry Of the Mailship Crescent
i City" into that harbor to land her mails, &C., 50
! shamelGssly misrepresented by part of the Demo
cratic press, we have selected for publication the
of the city of New York, whose hostility to the
Wing Administration is not SO great as to sfe all
respect for international rights and all sense Of JUS
tice. The remarks of the e Evening Post are the
more be regarded since its editor has from visit
of some length formerly paid by him to the Island
of Cuba, more knowledge of the matter Of which
he speaks than has fallen to the lot of most Editors
YORK EVENING POST OF OCTOBER 30.
Yesterday published the protest of Captain PORTER
against the treatment which, commander of the steam
Crescent Gig, he received in the port Of Havana, not
being allowed to land hold any with the
city, account of having board person. Mr. Smith,
the purser of the steamer who had made himself obnox
ious to the Government of the Island and who
peced by it of being agent accomplish Of the dsa
fected Creoles. The intelligence of Captain Porters
cepton the narrative of which, with the attendant cir
cumsances have in the words Of those who consider
themselves aggrieved by it, has excited considerable
feeling both here and in several Of the Southern ports and
there who talk of going to with Spain, to
teach the Government Of Cuba better manners.
1t will be found think reflection, that the
sion for resentment is not quite manifest many sup
pose that the authorities Of Cuba have simply done what
any other Government would do in revolutionary times
and that in fact have not by any endured
Insult frequently offered 10 certain States
Of the Union without the Federal Government holding it
self bound to interfere
The offence Of Mr. Smith was that, at the time of the
last attempt revouonze Cuba he conveyed from that
Island to the United States accounts Of the disposition of
1ort
which the Cuban Government complain exaggerated
and false and the effect of which was to encourage
invasion Of the Island from this country They consider
him medium of communication between those who
mediate revolt in Cuba and those in the United States
who disposed to give them assistance
With this view of the matter the Government of Cuba,
of sef-defence could not do otherwise than
forbid his landing If Mr. Smith had been Cuban, he
would have been banished from the country put in
prison The authorities of Cuba have clearly right to
say that they will not allow any person to come on the
island or communicate with the inhabitants, who, in
their Judgment upon errand of revolt or who
is likely to leave the island charged with any message of
sort which endangers the safety Of the present order
of things Nor is it enough prohibit his landing merely
If other persons from the vessel permitted to land
if communication with the shore is allowed the prohbi
ton would be nugatory he might have his agents
accompces who would act efectualy as he could do.
But it is said that there is ground for supposing
that Mr. Smith had any understanding OF any kind with
the insurgents and that his arrival in the United
States he merely reported what was true concerning the
condition of the island and the state of feeling among the
people Who is to judge in this matter? Clearly the
authorities Of the island it is they who are in danger,
and and it for them TO take such measures
seem to them calculated to ensure their safety We
cognse the Spanish Government in the island of Cuba;
and in doing this recognise its right to take the steps
it deems necessary for its preservation among which
is the removal of whose presence on the island
may be thought bring its Government in danger
As long they exercise this right in good faith and
capricously towards citizens, we have no right to
complain We must not assume to govern the island
In revolutionary times in such state of things as now
exists in Cuba when instruction is threatened and the
disaeced hope for aid from the United States must
expect this right exercised with latitude than
usual and ii is reasonable that it should be.
In the Of Smith, the Government Of the island had
given the most ample notice Of the light in which IL re-
CARDS him. and its determination not to allow him to
with the people of Cuba. Notwithstanding
this the commander Of the Crescent CITY brought him
again in the capacity Of purser to Havana. The Gov
eminent of the island irrated at this proceeding re-
fused allow the land It's mails and informed
the captain that any vessel having Smith on board as
passenger in any employment would be allowed TO
enter the harbor In defiance of this prohibition Capt
Porter, his return from New Orleans again entered
the harbor with Smith board and not allowed any
communication with the shore The conduct Of the
Cuban Government has respect to Smith only who has
made himself obnoxious and not 70 countrymen gene
rally He has got himself into scrape with the Cuban
authorities in matter of which they are necessarily the
proper judges, and he must settle ii with them as he
best If Captain Porter chooses take up the quar-
REL he do So but do not why the whole
try should be drawn into it.
Suppose the AntiSlavery Society in England should
form scheme of helping the blacks in South Carolina 70
recover their liberty Suppose Englishman, just ar
rived from Charleston in England should cause to be pub
shed in all the newspapers intelligence that the slaves
are ripe for revolt, organized among themselves with
every preparation but arms and should give 10 be
derstood that all wanted few intelligent whites
to lead them and supply Of weapons and ammunition,
TO put them in condition drive their masters from the
State IL that Engshman should afterwards enter the
Of South Carolina board Of Of the vessels Of
bis country would he be allowed to land? So far from
being allowed to land be would be allowed to
leave the harbor with his life The people Of South Ca
rona would obey what would be universally recognised
as law Of necessity in allowing such man to enter
the State.
The State Of South Carolina carries this right Of
Guiding obnoxious persons from its territory to still
greater extent citizen Of New York, who is not
Of any design peace Of the country the
continuance of the established order Of things in the most
quiet untroubed times is not allowed, II he be coored
man. TO come into the State he gdy excluded the
Cuban Government excludes the purser Of the Crescent City,
nay worse he happens be board Of vessel he Is
ken out by force and confined in jail till the moment the
sci departs from the harbor The Federal
not think this ustyng its interference Yet this
IS an infinitely stronger than that Of Smiths which
IS the subject Of 50 many indignation meetings.
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.