The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-08
CAPTAIN GIBSON.

This gentleman was commander of an Amer
lean schooner Tile Fiu He left New York
in May, 1851. He visited the Fast Indies
He and bis crew were taken prisoners by the
Dutch authorities, and kept in dungeons, from
one of which Caprain Gibson recently escaped,
and our Government is now asked to interfere
for the liberation of the Others, and indemnity
for his losses The authority Of the Dutch
Government to imprison strangers is likely to
be tested. A correspondent furnishes some ju.
dicious reflections
IMPRISONMENT OF CAPT. GIBSoN-INVIoLA.
BILLY OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.
The case of Captain Gibson, recently i'm
prisoned in the Dutch East India Islands, is
exciting much attention, and is likely to call
forth strong feelings of indignation from the
American People.
If such are the liabilities of our seamen
abroad, it is gratifying to discover that our
countrymen at home, however insensibe to
domestic disgrace, yet retain the quality of re-
sentiment. May it prove their salvation from
utter degeneracy! But to this end it is ne
cessary that it be seasoned with reflection, and
a certain kind of philosophy which BELTS us,
being, AZ we claim, the pioneers Of Govern
mental reform. While giving expression to
this resentment for Captain Gibson's wrongs
properly enough-it could be hoped that tn,
American People will consider well, not til,
enormity only Of the outrage, but its immedi
ate occasion, and it's remote cause. Jealous,
consequent upon American flibusterism occa
stoned that unsatisfactory was its responsible
and guilty cause. This is no statement o
probabilities but an assertion, fully warranted
by facts and the testimony Of the injure,
party.
Captain Gibson, in fleeing from his accuser
in India, supposes he fled from his enemies
And 80 indeed he did but he has now com
among those who are the prOcurtrS of his enc
mies-among those who in aggression AM
lawlessness, laid the trap of his misfortunes b,
sowing abroad the seeds of that mistrustful re
! venge, which was ready to sacrifice him. Wha
India Dutchman, or what Malay, would eve
have thought to accuse Captain Gibson of hos
tile designs in his recent visit among them
had it not been for the bad reputation whicl
Slavery and Slavery-propagandism have fast
cned upon our People as a nation This ba,
fame has been amply earned-unavoidabl,
created 10y long series of acts-by the Semi
mole war; by the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Mexico
bymarne imprisonments in the port of Charles
ton by intrigues Mt the Court of Spain b,
armed aggression on the soil of Cnba Tn,
only wonder is that its consequences have no
been visited upon us with greater severity
President Pierce has said that American
citizenship is an inuioidbie panoply for the sc
curity of American rights" Would that hi
words were true, either now, or prospectively
But since every slave ut the South, every col
ored seaman imprisoned at Charleston ever,
fugitive servant dragged from freedom int
bondage, is a glazing instance Of high-hande,
violation Of the rights of American citizenship
it IL sheer presumption to expect that thi
panopy" outraged al home, will be invio!a
BILE abroad Blame not the Hungarian q
Smyrna, whose honor compelled him to dc
cline its protection, even in the extremity o
danger.
Such things sound unpleasant in our ears
However, We, the enslaycrs of the heather a
home, must expect that the heather abroad
and their associates, will be our enemies Ter
ribly humiating ia the thought that enter
prise must thus be crippled; that even the ad
vent OF our flag NUT be n spectacle of alarm
the signal OF treacherous revenge; that tn,
peaceful American advonturcr, unless protect
ed by the guns of n navy, must DO compelled
to carry the weight of unmerited dishonor--
be imprisoned and condemned, because of tn,
: very name which should and might be his wei
come passport into every island and PROVING,
, of the globe
. Unless these truths are seen and acknowl
l edged, there is no probability that our Govern
{ inent, which IL now appealed TO for redress
will either be saved from Inconsistency, or b,
guided IN Its efforts 10y wise and efiectiv,
, policy. Designating these truths, American
public sentiment will probably spend its fore,
! in blind indignation against Dutchmcn ane
! barbarians, instead of administering, as i
might, safe and efficient corrective.
oh, sacred name of Liberty profaned ,
: exclaimed the Roman orator, nyeighing agains
tyrannlcal functionary; and the populac,
! appauded with tears-not dreaming that Tn,
yllany they deplored was the legitimate result
I of the whole Roman system, domestic and for
eign IL is a common thing for the proud ;,
7 feel sorely the shafts of insult and an cas-,
thing Tor the powerful to take vengeance upoII
7 the weak, But there may DO indemnity fo
the past" without security for the future.
! | would not underrate our Governmental intlu
enoe neither doubt the efficiency of Yanke,
resentment. But to be enabled to stand "un
abashed" before European princes is no
all that belongs to Americans. American citi
senship has, legitimately, u higher function
and should serye us in much wider capacity
Ii should DO to us in remote and barbarou
islands, what the name Of Penn was to tho col
onists in the wilds Of aboriginal America
} Against civilized nations these rights of cit
zenship can DO maintained by force Of ARM
or by the arts of diplomacy, Not no anon
barbarians, Organism can resist organism