Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-12-19
TIE GREYrOWE AFFAlR-HIEWS OF THE
SECRETARY OF TIE NAVY.

thus allu,cs 20 the conduct Of Cn,nma,Jsr II.iI;
...rr .,. l,,.u"1n,,Imcut and destruction ~ r...
Intelligence having been received that the proper
" uf AmcrcaI citizens had been improperly detuiu.
c 10y the people of San Juan dc Ncnra ua: that our
Minister I" Central America Hon. Mr.. Borland had
been treated with rudrI.Ss AMI diSrcspcc and that
the interests nf our countrrncu required the mrnc.
dlate presence OF mar-of-war in that neighbour
hood, the Cvac, being the most available vessel or
that purpose, in obedience instructions from the
Department, put 10 again on the l9ih nt June.
On her arrival At San Juan. Commander IIOllins,
learning from Mr.. Fabcns, the United States CONNER.
cal Agent at that place, that the demand made by
him. by order Of the State Department, for proper
rcparaton OF wrongs committed by them, had been
trcatcd with dcrsion and contempt. after due diber-
alton, thought il cSpedicnt, through Mr. Fabcns, Ia
make final demand upon the inhabitants Tor satis
factory adjustment. AS the result entirely un-
satisfactory, Commander l1ulns gave notice on the
llt of july, by proclamation posted III the mort
public places that il the proposed terms Of settlement
wcro not complied WITH he should, at a. VI. of the
l3;h, proceed 10 lombard the town OF :Sau Juan,
the END that 1.-The rights OF our country and citizens
may he vGdicaet, and guarantee for future p:o-
tcc,ion." He had hoped that the -!ow OF dc,crmi-
nation hs part would at this stage OF the proceed
ing have brought about Il satisfactory adjustment;
such, however, was not the case.
His appeals for adjustment disrcgarled. His
proclamation wHs only read 10 be trcatcd with
tempt. His return u his country after all this with
out niicting some punishment upon these lawlcss and
reckless people, he thought would be but signal for
II renewal Of insults and ourages Having rendered
boats for the removal of property and pcrsons
to all who would avail themselves Of them,
he bombarcd tie place and destroyed most OF
their property, without loss Of life. could not re-
prove this commander for his conduct. Humanity
often lends her sympahes 10 the sufferer, however
Just the punishment, but patriotism rarely condemns
the brave officer who administers that punishment
from 4 Of justice TO his countrymcn whos: pro-
prry destroyed and whose national flag is nsucl.
We may well regret the Stern necessity which con-
strained him, but il should he remembered that Com
man!er l!ollins Ind been compelled but ycnr before
to Interfere and stop these sam" people i'll their pro-
grcss of destruction of American property tint
he had, besides, seen the report oi our MINIS
ter speaking of them rs "beiS persons, almost
without exception, OF n0,nriously bad character
aome of them discharged ;euitcrtia-y couviCts and
refugees from Justice, habituay mnniis,ing evil dis
positions towards citizens, AMI imdulsing those
dispositions to the injury OF pcr-ons and property
whenever they not restrained by force, and tut
he WAS "unabe to regard them IN any other light
than pirates and outlaws that le knew that this
ungoverncd popuiacc bad for season restrained an
American Ministers personal liberty and rudelv
sailed him: that they had retained and refused t"
render the stolen property OF some of our country
men; that they contemStunusy turned Il deaf ear To
his appeals for adjustment, ard that his alternative
was TO intct punishment or return to his country
with Il we-arned national vessel and report That lie
had demanded satisfaction, and, upon being treated
with contempt, had tc: it his duty to come home.
Rash impetuosi;y Oh the part %! those who hold in
their hands, extent. the clements at war, can
not be too strongly discUun:cnanccd. No officer
should dare trife with them. Ba: think that az
1uauancc with all the facis, AMI calm reflection, will
relieve our people twho are justly e"ns!;ivc Of
national houor from any fear that wrong has been
perperated, and reference history may well 81
lencc the criticism Of others.