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

The SAA J~an AFFAIR.
The New Fork Herald of Friday blishcs the
following docamsnts ooansoted With the proceed
ings at San Juan, In the dispute between The au i.
thorities OF that town and the Accessory Transit
Company: -
GRzrrowH, or SAN JUAN DEL NoRrs,
=, "a March 10, 1883.
an IN tne aHernoon OF this day, Lieutenant Green
and the doctor Of the United States sloop-of-war
Gyene. accompanied by H. L. Stevenson. esq.
United States Commercial Agent for this port,
came to inform his honor the Mayor. on the part
0! Captain Hoilins, of said ship, that writ of
electment could be executed against the Accessory
Transit Company. o.l 80 III sif..Iii -.
His honor the Mayor replied that the government
of this city was legally constituted; that the lands
occupied BY the Accessory Transit Company be-
long to the city government that those lands were
now required for quarantine purposes; that the
| Acce:so Transit Company had been notified 6.
cording to law to quit those lands; that the legality
Of the proceedings could be at any time tested; and
that be, the Mayor, would that the law be duly
executed, unless prevented by superior forces
However, that he, the Mayor, would be most hap
| py to confer with Captain Hollins upon the SUBJ
| to understand that il no communication was re-
ceived from Captain Hollins by tomorrow morn
| ing at IL O'Clock, the law would be executed? To
which the Mayor replied in the affirmative.
| We, the undersigned, then present at the above
interview, certify the above to be true and correct
| ]. w. earle, Acting City Atty.
| J. LYONS, Mayor.
Pr. MONCASSOS, Captain.
RoBr. D. LEES, Secretary City Council
On the following morning Captain Holins went
on shore, and had an interview with the Mayor, in
the presence of the members of the government
and some American citizens, at which the follow
| ing conversation occurred
We, the undersigned certify to the following
conversation as having taken place in an interview
between the Mayor of this city and the comman-
der of the United States sloop of war Cyane First
ly, that the commander of the Cyane stated to the
Mayor that bis orders from the United States De-
partment were to protect the buildings and pro-
perty now occupied by the Accessory Transit Com
pany of Nicaragua, and that be fully autho-
rized to, and would, oppose by force any attempt
of the authorities of this city to remove any build
ings occupied by said company.
The Mayor then made the following statements
to the commander of the Cyane:
First. The government is legally formed and
duly acknowledged by Great Britain and the uni
ted Statewide the appointment of H. G. Foote,
ESQ.,, Vice Consul of Great Britain, and H. L. Ste
venson, esq, Commercial Agent of the United
States.
Second. That the Accessory Transit Company Of
Nicaragua is amenable to the laws Of this city, and
has never yet pleaded in court want of iurisdic-
tion-vde suits where the said company were plain
ts and defendants before the Mayors court Of this
city. ss--
Third. That legal proceedings have been had in
to remove, and that the acts of the city are legal
and proper.
Fourth. That the laws Of the city would be car
ried out unless prevented by force.
We, the undersigned, certify that the United
States Commercial Agent was present at said in
tervlew, and that the following questions pro-
pounded to him by the Mayor, and that said Com
mercial Agent answered them in the affirmative:
First. You have resided here some time. Do
you believe that the city authorities and the
OF law have acted legally in the matter of the Tran
sit Company? re N.1r
Second. Do you not represent the United States
here? and have not the United States, through
you [recognisedI the local authorities of this city
as the government for the time being?
To all of which We hereby certify.
VIM B. GERRING,
P. F. MONCOSSOS,
J. B. LYONS,
THOMAS CODY.
SAN JUAN DEL NoRTE, or REYrowN,
March IL, 1853.
ROBERT D. LEES, Sec'ry of Council.
We now quote from the Herald's account:
The Mayor then requested Captain Holins to
make known his resolution in writing, stating that
the marshal and workmen were waiting to carry
into execution the writ, The commander then re-
turned on board, and in about two hours the fol.
lowing communication was received from him:
-HF UNITED STATES SHIP CYANE,
hARBoR OF SAN JUAN DEL NoRrE, or GREYTowN,
March IL, 1852
SIR: After the interview / had with your honor
this morning, before your council assembled, /
have to state, most respectfully that cannot per-
mt any dePredations upon the property of the
Accessory Transit Company" whose de pot is To-
Gated upon Punta Arenas, at the entrance of the
servant, GEORGE N HOLLINS
Commander Of the United States Ship Cyane.
To his Honor the Mayor of San Juan del Norte, or
Greytown, Nicaragua
To which this reply was made:
SAN JUAN DEL NoRrE, or GREYrowN,
March IL, 1853.
TO G. N. HoLLINs, esq, Commander United States
SIR: have the honor to acknow ledge the receipt
OF your communication of this date, and in reply
have to state that ssdepredations" have been or
Will be made upon the ''property OF the Accessory
Point Arenas at the entrance of this harbor;" and
that shall proceed to eject the said company, ac
cording to law, unless illegally prevented by a
superior force
i have the honor to be your obedient servant.
T. J. MARTIN, Mayor.
The marshal and two carpenters, unarmed, were
sent of in email boat. AS they passed the Cy-
ane, the order was given on board, "prepare for
action; the boats were manned, and in the twink
ling OF an eye forty marines, armed capa pie,
ready to receive the marshal and the two carpen
ters. OF course this ended the writ of eiectment
The marines were subsequently, sent on shore.
That evening public meeting was held at the
"Saranac Hotel" The members of the govern
ment, every one of whom was American, then
presented to the people, through the Mayor, the
following protest, with their designations:
GREYTowE, or SAN JUAN DEL NoRTE,
March IL, 1858.
To the Commander of the United States ship of
war Cyane.
The undersigned, representing the constitutional
government OF Greytown, or San Juan del Norte,
to wit: T. j. Martin, Mayor; VIM. B. Gerring,
President of the Council; Thomas Cody, Chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court; and H. J. Richards,
Captain of the Port-beg leave to say:
That this government has been in existence I'M
der it's present organization since the first day of
May, A. ID. 1852, and during that time has exer-
cised all the rights and privileges of free in
dependent State, enacting laws under a constitu-
ton, and afording protection to person and pro-
| perty.
| The existing government has been recognised
| by the Government of the United States, shown
by the appointment of Henry l.. Stevenson as COM
mercial agent at this city, the part of the United
States, and by that of Great Britain, by the ap-
| pointment of Henry Grant Foote British vice
consu! on the part of that government.
The proceedings of this government in relation
to the illegal occupancy of lands belonging to this
city by the Accessory Transit Company of Nicara-
qua have been conducted according to the due
forms of law recognised and acknowledged by all
civilized nations.
The rccononcv Of this ritv bv ormad forco