The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-13
RAYENNA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10 1854

tained shelter there and their pursuers were
driven back by its people, who not only pro
tected the wrong doors and shared the plum
der, but treated with rudeness and insolence
those who sought to recover their property
Such in substance are the facts submitted &c
my consideration, proved by trustworthy ev.
ldence. could not doubt that the case de.
manded the interposition of this Government.
justice requires thGt reparation should be
made for so many and snch gross wrongs,
and that course of irsolence and piunder
tending directly to the insecurity Of the lives
OF numerous. travellers and of the rich treas
ures belonging to our citizens passing over
this transit way, should be percmptorly ar
rested.
Whatever it might be in other respects
the community in question SO prone to do
mischief was not dcspicable. 1t was well
proVided-with ordnance small arms and am
muniton, and might easily Sc ize on the un.
armed boats, freghted with millions of prop
erty, which passed almost daily within its
re uch.
Itdid not profess 10 belong to any regular
government, and had in fact, no rccogn ised
dependence on, or connection with any one
to which the United States or their Injured
citizens might apply for redress, for which
they would be held responsible in any way,
for the outragcs committed Not standing be-
fore the world in the attitude Of an organised
political society, being neither competent to
exercise the rights nor to discharge the OBJ
legations of a government, it was, in fact, q
marauding establishment, too dangerous to
be disregarded and too guilty to pass un-
punished, and yet incapable OF being treat
ed in any other way than as pratcal re
sort OF outla" s, or camp of savages, depre-
dating on emigrant trains or caravans, and
the frontier sett Iements Of civilized States.
Seasonable notice was given to the peo-
pie OF Greytown that this governmct requir-
ed them to repair the injuries they had done
to our citizens, and to make suitable apology
Tor their insult of our minister, and that
ship of war would be despatched thither to
enforce compliance with these demands.
But the notice passed UNDECIDED. There
upon, commander Of the nuvy,in charge of
the s!oop ofwar Cyane, was commanded to
repeat the demands, and to insist upon a
Herewith. Finding that neither
the PopnIaee nor those assuming to have uu-
thority over them, manifested any DISPOSE
ton to make the required reparation, or even
to otter excuse for their conduct he warned
them by apubIic proclamation that if they
did not give satisfaction within time spec
ihed, he would bombard the town. BY this
procedure he afforded them opportunity to
provide for their personal safety.
To those also who desired to avoid loss of
property, in the punishment about to be in
lctcd on the offending town, he furnished
he means Of removing their effects, by the I.
)oats OF his own ship, and Of steamer which ,
le procured and rendered them for that pur-
pose. At length, percciving no disposition
IN the part Of the town to comply with his
'cquisitions, he appealed to the commander
'i her Britannia Majesty's schooner "Ber- !
nuGa," who was seen to have intercourse,
md apparently much influence with the .
eaderS among them-to intarpose, and per-
uGdc them to take some course calculated to .
ave the necessity of .rcsortng to the cx-
rene measure indicated in his ErocIamution;
'nt that officer, instead of acccding to the
cqncst, did nothing more than to protest
gAInst the contemplated bombardment.
no steps Of any sort were taken by the
'eopIe to give the satisfaction required. No
if any there were, who regard
d themselves as not responsible for the mis-
onduct OF the community, adopted any
neans to separate themselves from the fate
! the guilty. The several charges, on
mich the demands for redress was founded,
nd been publicly known to all for sometime,
nd were again announced to them. They
Id not deny any OF these charges; they Of
cred no explanation, nothing in cxtcnuQtion
/ their conduct; but contumaciouSly refus-
d to hold any intercourse with the COM
lander of the "Cyane." BY their obst-
ate silence they seemed rather desirous
, provoke chastiscment than to escape it.
There is ample reason to believe that this
onduct of wanton defiance, on their part is
nPuted chiefly to the delusive idea that the
american government would be deferred
ON Furnishing them through fear Of dis
leasing formidable foreign power. which,
icy presumed to think, looked with com.
llcency upon their aggressive and insult
lg department towards the United States.
he "Cyanc" at length fred upon the town. r
etore much injury had been done, the fire
as twice suspended, in order to afford an
'portunity for an arrangement; but this
as declined Most Of the buildings Of the
ace, of little value generally, were, in the
quel, destroyed; but, owing to the consid-
ate precautions taken by our naval COM I
ander, there was no destruction Of life. !
When the "Cyane" was ordered to Cen. !
al America, it was confidently hoped and
ipected that no occasion would arise for
1 resort to violence and destruction of c
operty and loss Of life Instructions to |
at effect were given to her commander. {
And no extreme act would have been re- |
'lsite had not the people themse Ives, by
CIR extraordinary conduct in the affair,
ustrated all the possible mild measures for
'taining satisfaction. A withdrawal from |
g place, the object of his visit entirely de- I
ated, would under the circumstances in
hich the commander of the Cyane found 7
msclf, have been an absolute abandonment |
all claim OF our citizens for indemnifica- {
IN, and submissive acquiescence in ma ,
'nal ndignity. would have encouraged {
these lawleSs men spirit of nsolence S
ID rapine most dangerous to the lives and F.,
operty of our citizens at Punta Arenas. {
ID probably emboldened them to grasp at c
e treasures and valuable merchandise con-
lualy passing over the Nicaragua route. a
1t certainly wovld have been most salts :
,tery to me if the objects Of the "Cyane's" h
Ssion could have been consumated with d
tany act of public force; but the arrogant il
ntumacy Of the offenders rendered it i'm Il
ssible to avoid the alternative, either to il
eak up their establishment, or to leave ii
EN- impressed with the idea that they h
ght persevere with impunIty in an career r.