The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-28
The East Outrage on our Flag.

1
The Last Outrage on our Flag.
Outrages upon the American flag have be-
come, within the last few years. quite common
place events. Our vessels have been boarded
in every sea, by the frigates of almost every
foreign power, the crews maltreated, and the
national ensign insulted,- with the most perfect
impunity. Indignities that would have kindled
war had they been perpetrated on Europeans,
and left unexplained, have been tamely suffered
by our citizens; and neither the complaints of
the injured nor the voice of the press. has
availed anything to arouse the late administra-
lions to a sense of their duty in the matter. To
such pitch have foreign insolence and our for
bearance been carried, that las spiritless as the
American government" has become proverb
abroad. And well it might. When American
citizens are compelled to deny their country.
and seek refuge under the British flag for pro-
lection against the tyranny of petty ifth-rate
government our national insignia may not I'M
naturally be coupled with still more CALLING
epithets.
| 1t is high time that this state of things should
end. II is rampant nonsense for us to clamor
about our power as nation, and buster in the
teeth of Great Britain or France, if we cannot
prevent the ruler of some sixpcnny rincipality
from threatening to shoot our citizens or CO
lonial governor from boarding our vessels and in
sultng our flag. Such a glazing contradiction
is too ridiculous to be endured. We must either
cease to talk about our strength. and the Prov
ess of the United States, and the Monroe doc
trine, or we must find means to compel foreign
crs to respect us and cur flag abroad. There is
no middle course One Of the two the admins
tration must adopt; and whichever policy Gen
Pierce may deem fit to pursue, our commercial
interests absolutely require that that policy
should be frankly exposed and clearly under
stood IF it be the intention of the present adj
ministration to tread in the footsteps Of their
predecessors. and deny to our citizens that pro-
lection which foreigners enjoy, let it be broadly
stated that such is the case-uncertainty is even
worse than open desertion. 1t would not, we
imagine. be a matter of ins1perable difficulty
for our citizens to procure passports as foreign
ers. or for our vessels to sail under flag which
the world is accustomed to respect
Fortunately however, this hypothesis is un-
tenable. The dilemma noticed above has been
already placed before the President, and his
| decision has been announced in terms which ad-
nit of no controversy or misapprehension. Pre-
sidcnt Pierce has said
The rights which belong to rs az a nation are not
alone to be regarded, but those which pertain to
every citizen in bis individual capacity at home and
abroad, must be sacredly maintained. He
cannot, in legitimate pursuit. wander SO far from
home that the agent whom be shall leave behind in
the place which now occupy will not see that no
rude hand of power tyrannica passion is laid upon
him with mpupity. He must realise HGt upon ercTy
and ecery soil ,chere o enterprise may right
fully seek the protection Of onr flag, american cu'.
Scaship IS on iardrsGUe panop,y for the security Of
american rights.
| So far as the intention is concerned. this Ian
guage is unequivocal; and the applause which
hailed it in every section OF the Union testified
to its harmony with the feelings Of the people.
An opportunity is now afforded for testing it..
not the sincerity Of the speaker, for we believe
that TO be above suspicion, but the practical
feasibility Of the promise here held out. Can
we or can we not protec. our citizens abroad !.
| That is the question which the action taken on
the case contained in the following brief state
mcnt Of facts will enable us to answer
THE REPORT OF CAPT. STERLING, or THE SCHOONER
| MANCHESTER.
Schooner Manchester, OF Baltimore, Captain Stcr-
| ling, from Falmouth, jamaica arrived yesterday.
On the 18th inst, OF the island of Cuba, about TWEEN
| ~ miles east Of Cape Antonio, was boarded by a
| Spanish cruiser OF twelve guns. They sent on board
Twelve men, well armed who took posse Of the
vessel and carried her inside the reef. They thea
| demanded her papers, broke open her matches, and
took out about third Of the cargo but not finding
| amongst it any guns or ammunition put the cargo
back again. They then threatened to take the yes
| rel into Havana; but after keeping her twentyfour
| hours they decided 70 allow her to depart getting
out Of the reef the best way she could.
| New York March %, 1853. ISAAC STERLING.
| The above statement we know to be correct.
DAWSON & Co., leo Pearl street, con:ignees.
The prcienco under which the above piratcal
| outrage was rerpctrated was alleged to be a
| suspicion that the Manchester contained arms for
| the use ofthe disagected population ofCuba. How
| shallow IhiSrretencc was is seen by the wanton
| invasion of the hold ard search Of the cargo
| after q careful inspection 81 the schooner pa.
pcrs had fully satisfied the captain Of the cruiser
| that bic uspicions were unfounded. Indeed
| The character Of tire whole proceeding is
| clearly revealed in the wanton attempt
Of the Spaniard, mentioned in our paper
| OF Saturday, to break open the con-
signecs' iettcrs. IN suppo~ing him 20 have
been acting honestly in fulflment of orders. 10
prevent the landing of arms 10 Cuba, il would
have served no purpose IT, break the seals a
| private Iet.crS and possess himself nf tbc com.
! mercial Information cCntsinod In irc adv,es q.