Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-14

~ in question. in power TO do mischief
was not despicable. 1t was we'll provided
with ordinance. email arms & ammunition
and might easily seize upon the unarmed
boats. freighted with millions OF property,
which passed almost daily Within its
reach. |, did not profess to belong to
any regular government, and had, in fact,
no recognized dependence on, or connec-
ton with. any one TO which, the United
States or her injured citizens might apply
for redress, or which cprfd be held respon-
sjble in any way for The outrages commit.
ted. Not standing before The world in
the attitude of an organized political So
ciety, being neither competent to exercise
the rights nor to discharge the obligations
of q government, il was in fact; maraud-
ing establishment. too dangerous to be dis
| regarded, and too guilty to pass unpUn.
ished and yet incapable OF being treated
in any other way than as a piralical re-.
sort. of outlaws, or camp Of savages.
depreda.ing on emIgrant trains or cav
ems. and the frontier settlements Of civ
Seds6nable notice was given to the
people OF Greytown that this government,
required them to repair the injuries they
had done To our citizens, and to make
suitable apology for their insult of our
minister. Ind that ship Of war would
be dispatched tAither TO enforce compli-
ance with these demands. But the no.
ticc passed UNDECIDED. Thereupon. q
commander Of the navy, in charge of the
F, sloop-of- war "Cyane." was ordered to
repeat the demands, and to insist upon a
compliance Herewith. Finding that
neither the populace. nor those assuming
to have authority over them, manifested
any disposition to make the required
reparatlon, or even to Offer excuse for
their conduct. he warned them, by pub
lie procla ma ton. that if they did not
give satisfaction within time specified, ,
he would lombard 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
inflicted on the offending town. he furn-
ished the means of removing their effects,
by the boats of his own ship, and steam
er which he procured and rendered to
them for that purpose. At length, per
ceiving no disposition on the part.of the
town to comply with his acquisitions. he
appealed TO the commander of her Britain
ic Majesty's schooner. bermuda" who
was seen to have intercourse. and appar-
emily much influence with the leaders
among them.-to interpose and persuade
them TO take some course calculated to
save the necessity of resorting 10 the ex
treme measure indicated in his proclaim
alton; but tina! officer instead of accediDg
to the reques.. did nothing more than to
protest against the contemplated bonn
bardment. No steps Of any sort were
| taken by the people. TO give the satisfac-
ton required. No individuals. if any
thero were. who regarded themselves as
not responsible for the misconduct Of the
community. adopted any means to sep
arate themselves from the fate of the
guilty. The several charges. on which
the demands for redress were founded
had been publicly known to all for some
time. and were again announced TO them.
They did not deny any of these charges.
they offered no explanation, nothing in
extenuation Of their conduct. but contu-
maciously refused to hold any intercourse
with the commander of the Crane" By
their obstinate silence they seemed rath-
cr DESTROYS TO provoke chastistment than
10 escape it. There is ample reason TO
believe that this conduct of wanton de.
fiance. on their part is imputa BILE chiefly
! 20 the delusive idea that the American
government would be deferred from pun
ishing them, through fear of displeasing
formidable foreign power. which they
/ presumed to think. looked with compia
cency upon their aggressive and insult
! ing department towards the United
States. The Cyane" at leagth fired up
on the town. Before much injury had
| been done. the fire was twice suspended
in order to afford opportunity for an ar
rangement: but this was declined. Mos,
of the buildings of the place, Of little
value generally. were in the sequel. de
stroyed; but owing to the considerate
precautions taken by our naval Comman
der, there was no destruction of life.
When the "Cyane" was ordered Il
Central America, it was confidently hop
ed and expected that no occasion woulc
arise for "a resort to violence and a de
struction of property and loss OF life.
Instructions to that effect were given t.
her commander, And no extreme &C
would have been requisite. had the PEG
pie themselves. by their extraordinary
conduct liz the affair. frustrated ell the
possible mild measures for obtaining sat
isfaction. A Withdrawal from the place
the object of his visit entirely defeated
would under the circumstances in which
the commander Of the "Cyane" fount
himself. have been absolute abandonment
of all claims Of our citizens for indemni
fication. and submissive acquiescence in
national indignity Ii would have en-.