The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-12-15
VOL. XIII, NO. IS.


9 for their conduct, he warned them by public
proclamation that, If they did not give satisfac-
non within time specified, he would lombard
/ Inc town. By this procedure he afforded them
opportunity to provide for their personal safety.
: 10 those also who desired TO avoid loss OF
properly, in the punishment about to be infict-
: ed on the offending town, he furnished the
means OF removing their effects, by the boats Of
MS own ship, and of steamer which be procur-
Cd and rendered TO them for that purpose. AT
iength perceivng no disposition on the part of
Inc town TO comply with his acquisitions, be
appealed to the commander of her Britannc
NaJtstyS schooner 'sBpmuda,' who was seen
70 nave intercourse and apparently much inHu-
ehce with the Traders among them--to inter-
pose and persuade them to take some course
calculated to save the necessity OF rpsoriing 10
the extreme measures indicated in his procIa-
nation but that officer, instead of acceding 10
The request, did nothing more than to protest
against the contemplated bombardment.
! no slePso any sort were taken by the peo-
! PIE 10 give the satisfaction required. No indi-
vidoals, II any there were, who regarded them
selves as not responsible for the misconduct of
lne community, adopted any means 10 spperae
themselves IRON the fate of the guilty. The
several charges on which the demands for re-
dress were founded, had been publicly known
to all Tor some time, and were again announced
TO them. They did not deny any OF these
charges they offered no explanation, nothing
IN extpnuation of their conduct but contuma-
clously refused to hold any intercourse with the
commander of the "Cyanp" By their obsti-
pate silence they seemed rather dpsirous TO pfo-
woke chaslsrmcnt than to escape IT,
There is ample reason to believe that This
conduct OF wanton defiance, on their part, is
imputed chiefly TO the drlnsiye idea that the
American government would be deferred from
pnnishlng them, through fear of dIsplrasing
iormIdablP iorplgn power, which, they presun-
ed TO think, looked with compacencv upon
their aggressive and insulting department to-
wards the United States. The "Cyanen at
length fired upon the town. Before much in
jury had been done, the fire was twice suspend
ed, IN order TO afford opportunity for an ar
but this was declined Most ofthe
buildings OF the place, of little value generally,
Were, IN the sequel destroyed but, owing 10
the considerate precautions taken by our naval
there was no destruction of life.
When the ''Cyane" was ordered to Central
America, II was confidently hoped and expect
ed that no occasion would arise for ssa resort TO
Violence and destruction of property and loss of
NE" Instructions to that effect were given to
her commander. And no extreme act would
have been requisite had moi the people them
selves by their extraordinary conduct in the af-
AIR, frustrated al! the possible mild measures for
obtaining satisfaction. A withdrawal from the
'iace, the object Of his visit entirely defeated,
you'd, under The circumstances in which the
commander OF the Cyane found himself, have
ren absolute abandonment OF all claim of our
itIzens for Identification, and submissive ac-
uleScence in national indignity. 1t would
ave encouraged in these lawless men a spirit of
nSoience and raplne most dangerous to the lives
nd property of citizens at Punta Arenas. and
Iooaby fmholdened them to grasp at the
-eaSures and valuable merchandise continually
aSSing over the Nicaragua route. 1t certainly
'ouid have been most sat sfactory to me if the
JectS OF the "Cyane's" mission could have
zen conSummated without any act of public
rce but the arrogant contunacy ofthe Offend
S rendered II impossible 10 avoid the alterna-
We, either to break up their establishment, or
leave them impressed with the idea that they
lght PerSeVere with impunity in career of
science and plundrr
bis transaction has been the subject of COM
amt on the part of some foreign powers, and
IS been characterized with more OF harshness
an OF justice. If comparisons were to be in
tuted, 1t would not be difficult to present re-
ated instances in the history of states, stand
2 IN the very front of modern civilization,
here communities, far less offending and more
iencelesS than Greytown, have been chastis-
with much greater severity, and where not
les only have been laid in ruins, but human
e has been recklessIy sacrificed, and the blood
the innocent made profusely to minge with
1t Of the guilty.
Passing from foreign to domestic affairs, your
ention is naturally directed to The financial
ldltlon ofthe country, always subject of
leral interest. For complete and exact in
nation regarding the finances, and the vari-
branches OF the public service connected
reWnh, refer you to the report of the Sc
tary OF the Treasury from which it will ap-
T, that the amount OF revenue during The
hScal year, from all sources, was seventy
ar million FIVE hundred and forty-nine thou
Q seven hundred and FIVE dollars; and that
public expenditures for the same period, ex-
ave OF payments on account of the public
I, amounted to itty-one million eight thou-
two hundred and forty-nne dollars Dur
the same period, the payments made in re-
lptlon OF the public debt, including interest
premium, amounted to twenty-four million
' iiuiuied dhu th!Fty-SlN thousand three
dred and eighty dollars.
o the sum total of the receipts of that wear
} be added balance remaining in the trea-
at the commencement thereof, amounting
Nenty-one million nine hundred and forty
thousand eight hundred and ninety-two
lrs and at the close of the same year, a
esPondng balance amounting TO twenty
ion one hundred and thiity-seven thousand
hunlrpd ond VI dollar oF.