The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17
THE DESTRUCTION OF eREYTowN.

few rIaip words but as its consequences may
| Lo mora nomentous than was contemplated by
the Administration under whose instructions IL
was executed, we shall for the present content
ourselves with presenting to our readers that
which we are sure they most desire, con-
densed and unprejudiced recital of this singular
history.
| The affairs of Central America are comph-
Gated. Our intercourse with it, however, Is
limited to few localities, and has hitherto met
with but little obstruction.
GrevtoWp, or San Juan del Norte, is or was
situated on the eastern side of the Isthmus of
Nicaragua, at about tho eleventh degree of
north latitude. 1t contained about 60 or 70 ir-
different wooden houses and 300 inhabitants,
of course of various shades of color, and Of va
rious nations. The United States have been
wont to treat with it as an independent town.
although, as is indicated by one of his letters
to Mr.. Marcy, Mr.. Borland acknowledges the
sovereignty of Nicaragua over the Mosquito
territory, Of which this is part; occupying
by usurpation, territory which our Government
recognises as belonging to Nicaragua this is
his language } and Mr.. MarcOletta, the Min
lister near our Government from Nicaragua
alphabetically claims the town as belonging to
that Republic; while the British Government
claims the right Of protectorate over it.
Ga the 16th of May last, a difference arose
between Captain T. T. Smith, commanding
river steamer in the service of the American
Transit Company, and one Antonio, in COM
mand of bungo, or boat of burden Respect
ing the particulars of this difference the testi-
mony is contradictory; but it is clear that
Smith was violent and overbearing, and that he
shot and killed Antonio while that person was
not mcuacing him. A Mr. VIM. L. Miller, of
New York, who was present, states that Capt
Smith has the appearance of being mixed
breed Of African and Portuguese. He is about
as dark as Antonio, and has no more appear
ance of being American born than Antonio"
We indeed think, from all the circumstances
of the case that the killing of Antonio was a
decd of deliberate purpose, and wholly uncalled
for from any motive of selfdefenco.
At about dusk on that evening, number of
men from Greytown, 1" headed by mulatto
man calling himself the marshal" went to the
steamer, and, producing warrant from the
Mayor of the town, attempted to arrest Capt
Smith, W no armed himself and kept them at
bay. MIR. Borland, who was on board of the
steamer Northern Light went on board the
Routh, and, learning the state of the case, re-
fused to respect the warrant of the Mayor, and
took loaded rife, and, dwelling it at the mar
shall and his posse, caused them to desist and
retire
Soon after this, about dark, Mr.. Borland
went to the house of Mr.. Fabens, the United
States commercial agent at Greytown, where he
soon learned that tho people had, in town meet
ing, presided over by the Mayor, determined
to arrest him; and it was not long before a
number Of men came to Mr.. Fabens's house
for that purpose, and informed him that they
came By the authority of the Mayor. Mr.
Borland came to the door, denied the authority
of tho town to arrest American citizens, and
demanded to know if they were not aware
that in his character Of American Minister he
in particular was exempt from arrest. They
appeared to disregard this when Mr.. Borland
aiIaa n -,,-,,I,o- from, -u;th- - ---;toss
that he gave full warning. HereupOn, Mr..
Borland says, person, who represented himself
to be the Mayor told him that these proceed
ings This visit and mcnaccd arrest were not
authorized by him.
During that night, Mr.. BOrland remained
within Mr.. Fsbenss house, and the men of the
town kept watch to prevent his escape, and to
prevent his receiving succOr from the Northern
Light. In the morning he returned to the YES
sci, unmolcsted, where he organized a force of
fifty men, in the name of our Government IN
der the command Of Crawford Fletcher, of
Tennessee. Mr.. Fabens placed himself under
their protection, and Mr. Borland proceeded to
Washington.
On the 18th Of May, the day before the
alleged murder) Mr.. Fabens wrote to Mr..
Marcy, Secretary of State an account of the
purIoining Of boat load of merchandise from
the Transit Company, and in regard to the diff
ferences between that company and the au-
thorities Of Greytown, respecting the jurisdic-
ton over Point Arenas.
On the 10th of June, Mr. Fabens wrote to
Mr.. Marcy, stating that he did not think that
any suitable indemnity could be obtained by
the Transit Company from the people of San
juan ctnleSs the Government should take posses
sion Of and hold The entire territory of Mosquito
Meanwhile, on the Sd of June, Mr.. Marcy
wrote to MIR. Fabcns, stating that an order
would be sent out by the steamer, on the 5th,
to discharge the men who were employed by
Mr.. BOrland, and that one of our armed ves-
sells would be ordered to visit San Juan, and
further
"The inhabitants of that place will be ex-
pected to make reparation for the wrongs and
outrsgCs they have committed. The case sta
ted in your communication to this Department
of the 18th ultmo presents a wrong which
requires immediate reparation. As the pre-
tended authorities of the town have volunteer
ed to protect those who had stolen the prop
erty of the Accessory Transit Company, when
brought within the territories over which they
f assume to exercise authority, they will be held
responsible to the amount thereof and to make
due reparatiOn therefor. You will lose no time
J in notifying them that this Government will
require restoration of or payment for the
property taken to their town, and all damages
sustained by their outrageous conduct in pre-
venting the company from repossessing itself
: OF 1t. In other respects their conduct has
been such towards our citizens as to require
the interpOsition of this Government for OBJ
: tanning redress, and it is expected that the
people at that place will be prepared to make
1t IN satisfactory manner"
Z On the 9th Ct JGne Mr.. Marcy wrote to
r Mr.. Fabens, that Commander Hollins, of the
United States nayv will immedate nroceed