Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-12-03

The City AnaIr-The Climax Of submi ssi0"'
Most Of our readers are already conyersant with
the difficulties attendant upon the visits OF the steam
ship Crescent City to the harbor of Havana arising
out of objections made to one of the officers employ
ed and placed on board of her by the Company to
which the vessel belongs, namely: Purser Smith
To him it was objected by the Captain General that
he had been furnishing articles to paper or papers
in New York City, dsrespectful to the Spanish Au-
thorities in the Island Of Cuba Because Smith was
board, the ship not permitted to land either
her mails or passengers Lieut.. Porter of the u S.
Navy then in command of the Crescent City, enter
ed his solemn protest against such a high-handed
pro sdure. 1t is proper to remark that Lieut. Por-
ter pledged himself to the Cuban Authorities that
Purser Smith was wholly guiltless of the charges
alleged against him by the Captain General; and
that Smith himself, on his return to New York. went
before magistrate and made solemn affidavit TO the
same effect. WE'LL Lieut.. Porter was removed from
the command of the steamer and Lieut.. Da, EXPORT
detailed to her ; but he turned out to be no more
subservent, and he has been removed: and now We
6nd that the carrying of the U. S. mails have been
Withdrawn from the Company. and they will here
after be sent by the Isabel from Charleston because
the Company will not discharge Smith, at the de-
mand of the Captain General.
Now, We think this matter is plain enough. 1t il
evidently attempt on the part OF the Spanish Au-
thoriiies, to dictate to an American steamship Com
pany, carrying the public flag and mails of the Uni
ted States what officers shall be employed, and what
officers shall not be employed board their vessels
1t is arrogant attempt at surveillance over the &C
tons of American citizens, on American ground, and
a further attempt to punish them for alleged often
ces for which they are responsible alone 10 theil
own Government 1t Is an attempt against the free
dom of the press in this country, since the only
charge brought against Smith, is some published ar
ticles and he it remembered, that not one offence
charged against him, was committed within the lin
its of Spanish territorynor under the jurisdiction
of Spanish Authority: and even then, it should bt
borne in mind that these charges were all denied
by the accused and by the other officers of the Com
pany, under oath. ..
| Either American vessels have right, under ou
treaty with SPAIN to enter Spanish ports without
moestation, they have not and our citizens have
right under the same treaty, to enter her terrific
ry-suhject, of course, to the local police laws-o
they have not. II they have then the Crescent CITY
has the same right 10 enter the port of Havana tina
any other vessel has and MIR. Smith has precisel,
the same rights that any other citizen has, OF which
he cannot justly be deprived at the caprice of tn
Captain General, on the mere vague assertion o
charges against him, for whichever if they wer
true-he would be in no ways responsible to tina
functionary. AS the Baltimore Sun justly observes
1t is not to be denied. that If assent to the RICH
of the Cuban authorities to exclude citizen of tn
United States without alleged before our owl
government, we admit the right to exclude two, o
two hundred or two Millions - .4...t -.s-
But the eliminating point of submission has a
length been reached in the withdrawal of the mail
from the Company, because of the non-remoyal G
Smith Our own Government has Joined with tn
Captain General of Cuba. in the effort to hunt dow
one of its own citizens, who happens to be obnoxiou
to the prejudices capriees of Sgnor Don Canede
God save the State --- -''