Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-03
rHn GREYTowN AFFAIR.

peated and aggravated outrages had been per
!. petrated upon the rights, persons, and pro
perties of our citizens, by the nest Of pirates
who infest that locality. These people claim
and exercise exclusive, though illegal, jurisdic
ton. There is no superior power acknowledged
by them, to which to appeal for indemnity
| satisfaction, or security.
From them, and from them alone, can repa
ration be sought. If not obtained from them
| it cannot be had at all.
| What are the general facts |?
These people arrogantly and Illegally exer
cising jurisdiction on one side of the river, i'm
pose transit duties on all passers up the river
They have repeatedly and wantonly outraged
their persons, rights, and property, and not
withstanding every resort was had to every
possible mode of peaceful redress, every one
of which had been treated with contempt, after
Aacing exhausted every peaceful mode Of OBJ
tanning PREPARATION, there was no other re-
source for indemnity and security than the
one adopted.
Suppose Captain Hollins, after every demon
stration, and receiving no promise OF repara-
ton, nor even denial of the injuries charged,
had come away, how would that have served
the rights and interests of our citizens? In
what manner would his return from SO idle a
trip have tended to secure reparation?
In word, by what other method could our
people have been made to feel that govern
ment would not permit its citizens to be op.
pressed?
Instead of the long suffering under the vio-
lence and injustice Of this piratical crew OF
English-Jamaica negroes, and appealing and
demonstrating with them, it would have been
proper if our government had at the outset,
in the very first instance, sent vessel to en-
force respect to the rights of our citizens,
as has been the unirersal custom Of nations,
with all hordes Of savages, which those people
are.
Commander Hollins executed his orders with
consideration and with every possible regard
for the safety of the lives and property of all
innocent parties.
The fact that the property Of FIenchman,
who availed himself of the opportunity to save
his property, was protected, proves this. 1t,
therefore, any Americans have lost property,
the fault is clearly their own the reclamation
now being made wears very much the aspect
of speculation.
This is not the first instance of summary
punishment upon such provocations. We re-
fer for the present to the case Of Quallah Batto
These people had committed single outrage
upon an American crew and vessel. Commo
dore Downs was ordered to go many thousand
miles out of his way to punish them for the
outrage, taking with him the captain of the
vessel, to make the vengeance sure and com
plete.
Here is case of accumulated wrongs, in which
our long and earnest endeavors to obtain redress
for the past, or even cessation from continued
outrages, are treated with contempt by the
only parties responsible for these evils. What
is then to be done? Government must either
do as it did, or ask Congress to declare wal
against Greytown! There was no alternative
That the negro papers of the country should
raise an cutlery against any steps being taken
against their pets, is only following the instincts
of their nature. We believe, however, that nc
paper exempt from negro odor, will find occa
sion to condemn this step so essential to the
security of American citizens rights and pro-
perty. We annex the instructions given by
General Jacksons administration in similar
case-the case of Quallah- Battoo above referred
to. In letter of instruction to Commodore
Downs, the Secretary of the Navy, Levi Wood
bury writes thus:
"You are therefore directed to repair at once
to Sumatra, by the way of the Cape of Good
Hope, touching on the voyage thither only at
| such places as the convenience and necessities
of your vessel may render proper. On your
arrival at Quallah- Battoo, you will obtain from
the intelligent shipmasters, supercargoes and
| others, engaged in the American trade in that
! neighborhood, such information as they possess
| in respect to the nature of the government
there, the piratical character of the population
and the fragrant circumstances OF the injury
| before Should that information
substantially correspond with what is given to
YOU in the documents marked A and b, the
President of the United States, in order that
prompt redress may be obtained for these
wrongs, or the guilty perpetrators made to feel
that the flag of the United States is not to be
insulted with IMMUNITY, directs that you proceed
to demand Of the rajah, or other authorities al
Quallah- Battoo, restitution of the property
plundered, or indemnity therefor, as well as for
| injury done to the vessel; satisfaction for any
other depredations committed there on ouI
commerce, and the immediate punishment Of
those concerned in the murder ofthe American
citizens, Charles Knight, chief officer, and John
Davis, and George Chester, seamen, of the ship
Friendship.
eff compliance Of this demand be delayed
beyond reasonable time, you are authorized
in the following manner to vindicate our wrongs
| First, having taken precautions, while making
the demand, to cut off all opportunity Of es
cape from the individuals either concerned in
that savage outrage, or protecting the offenders
or participating in the plumber, you will pro
coed to seize the actual murderers, if they are
known, and send them hither for trial. az
pirates, by the first convenient opportunity
| To retake such part of the stolen property rs