The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-02

and whilst there the City ConneA of San Juan del
Norte, or Graytown, on the 1th Of Febfuarv 1883.
passed resolutions Of which the following il true
copy:
"Pe enacted BY IT, Common Council, IN session.
ss'SEc.l That should the Accessory Transit Com
pany remove their Office, workshops, &c, to this
aide OF the harbor, that they be exempt from all
and every description Of city tax on all the pro-
perry they have. or may have, in the city and on
the rv.r for the use Of the said company. and the
ocean steamers of said company arriving in the
harbor be exempt from port dues, upon payment
OF the ordinary pilotage.
CSC 2 Should the said company establish anv
hotel, mercantile, any other business aside from
the transit business, that they shall pay the same
tax and license that other citizens pay for pursuing
similar business
"That the secretary of this council do furnish the
agent OF said company with copy of the foregoing
sections SAMUEL s. WOOD,
president of City Council.
ROBERT D. LEES, Sec. City Council
"GREYTowN, or SAN JUAN DEL NoRrr, Feb. -"
In answer to the above resolutions, the council
o. sa1E city was informed that the agent here, Cap
tam Thomas Baldwin, had no authority from the
company to move the depot of the same, &c, and
mat Inc landings, &c, we're not adapted for the
purposes required; upon which notice the agent of
.ne company received letter from L. J. Martin,
mayor OF San Juan del Norte, or Greytown, en-
eloslng an ordinance passed by the city council at
me same tlmethe above ordinance was passed, of
w'.iGh the following is a copy:
lrat the mayor be directed to notify the Ac
cessory transit Company TO remove, within five
Gays the buildings lately erected by said company
ON the city land; and also. within thirty days, to
remove their entire establishment, az said lands
are required for the of the city and in case of
the said company not complying within the speci.
ned time, that summary proceedings be taken for
the e]ecture. ROBERT D. LEES, Sec. C. c.
"FEBRUARY7, 1858 -
Upon the receipt of this ordinance the sgent of
the said company asked for an extension Of time
to show cause why the election should not be made
and the person in charge of my business address,
ed letter to the City Council, praying an extern
sion, &C., setting forth that the buildings referred
to were not the sole property Of the said company
but that had an interest in said buildings and
protesting against the enforcement of the said or
dinance; as also making protest before H. L.
Stevenson, esq.,, vice commercial agent Of the
United States, to the effect, and that the reso-
luton was against law and justice Every means
was resorted to to induce the Council and city
authorities, as well by the agent of the company
as by the person in charge of my business to grant
an extension or to rescnd the said ordinance but
to no avail. They asked the protection of the vice
commercial agent to prevent destruction Of
property, and perhaps loss of life, in his official
capacity, being the only representative of our
Government here; but that the answer he re.
ceived was, that he could not offer any pro-
lection, and that his power and duties were
of an advisory character, but that he should
seek to avert collision between the local au-
thorities and the Accessory Transit Company.
the agent OF the Mayor, charging him with having
used seditious language. &c., solely, / believe,
OF harassing or preventing the said agent from
taxing any active part, in case he should have
thought necessary to do 60, upon which he was
arrested, and obliged to enter into heavy bonds
for keeping the peace-especaly against the city.
Three days passed in this manner, and the day
for the election arrived. At about noon the en-
persons, of all nations and coors. headed by the
city marshall and commanded by Major James
Lyons, "a colored gentleman,) and Of Captain
Benjamin Mooney, arrived at this point to COM
with all the necessary instruments for such pur
poses which destruction they commenced by
tearing do,cn the American flags which were -wav.
ing above the house and other buildings and then
wantonly destroyed the whole of the property,
not even giving my employees time to save the ar.
tlcles in the houses, with the exception of very
few. In tearing down the buildings, these per-
sons looked more like tigers falling upon their
prey than human beings. Resistance could not
be offered, because leader and arms were
wanting, and all had to look on in silence on
the destruction until the work was finished
which left all of US houseess, without the means
OF providing for our men the necessities of life, and
exporting them to the nclemencies of the weather
at this season of the year, and in such sickly
country as this. What have we then to expect
at the expiration of the term set by the said ordi-
nance, OF eJectng us from all the balance of the
Property-which time will expire in very few
days? The worst! the werst Here we are with
out arms. and without protection in any way
whatsoever; subjected to be robbed by set of un
prlncipled men-who have nothing to lose, and
who act, and W no are, de nctO the authority of the
city of San Juan del Norte, or Greytown-of our
property, jeopardizing the safety Of our persons
and lives, and leaving us to protect ourselves,
wlthoutthe means in our hands to do 80. 1t is now
nearly year since an American ship of war has
entered tins port; therefore this state of affairs
leaving Americans and an American company
having very large amount invested in the pur.
solt OF their business, unprotected, and at the
mercy OF such legalized band of land pirates TIC
speak OF protection from our Government appears
to them farce. They think that the United State.
Government cannot protect herself, much less
American citizens and property abroad; therefore
they tear down with impunity the flag of our coun
try, and all that ia wanting is their tramnlino tn.
same under their feet.
The British government has a steamer of wa,
coming IN here every now and then, and during
the tendency of the difficulty, and before the de-
str ction OF the property, application was made 10
b. M. steamer Gazer to protect the company;
but the answer of her commander Captain vii.
SOM was, that che had no instructions from hie
government to interfere with protect the Access
sorry Transit Company; his instructions only re-
lated to the Atlantic and Pacific Canal Company y
The English Vice Consul here, Mr.. Foote, wac
requested to protect our interests; but he refused
advising US, very kindly, to seek protection from
the very authorities and persons who were seeking
the destruction of our property.
The agent OF the Accessory Transit Company, al
this point, received notte several months ago
from the board of directors of said company, that
the government had sent, or would Immediately
send out a ship of war; but, up to this time, NO
vessel has arrived If one does not come very
soon it s likely that but very few Americans will
be left here able to tell their story. Being appa
rently abandoned by their Government, the au-
thorities OF San Juan del Norte, Greytown think
and believe that they can with impunity rob them
Of their property, and murder them, if necessary.
In conclusion. it Is but justice to say that there
are but few Americans in the whole town of San
Juan del Norte. or Greytown, and they are, nu-
merieally too weak to interfere in the matter. Our
only hope now ia the arrival of an American ship
of war before it will be too late.
Very respectfully, your friend.
GEO. W. McCERRAN
JOHN JoHNsoN's CHILpREN.-An advertisement
appears in the New York Herald, asking informa
ton of the children of John Johnson, who it SAVE