Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-12-21

a strong force for the purpose of de-
aollshing the establishment at Pun
ia Arenas, but this mischievous de-
sisa Was defeated by the interposition
Of one Of our ships Of war, at that
time in the harbor Of San juan
Subsequently to this, ia May last,
body Of men from Greytown crossed
over to Punta Arenas, arrogating au-
thority to arrest, on the charge OF
murder, captain fone ofthe steam
boats of the Transit Company. Be-
ing well aware that the claim to ex-
ercise jurisdiction there would be re-
sisted then, as it had been Oh previ-
Gus occasions. they went prepared to
assert it by force of arms. Our min
lister to Genital America happened to
be present or that occasion. Believ-
ing that the captain Of the steamboat
Was innocent, for he witnessed the
transaction on which the charge was
founded, and believing, also, that the
intruding party, having no jurisdic-
ton over the place where they pro-
posed to make the arrest, would en-
counter desperate resistance if they
persisted in their purpose he inter
posed, effectually, to prevent violence
and bloodshed. The American min
lister afterwards visited Greytown,
and whilst he was there, n mob, IT,
GLIDING certain of the so called pub
lie functionaries of the place, sur
rounded the house in which be was,
aVowing that they had come to ar
rest him, by order Of some person
exercising the chief authority While
parleying with them he was wounded
by a missile from the crowd. A boat,
dispatched from the American steam
er Northern Light" to release him
from the perilous situation in which
he was understood to be, was fired
into by the town guard, and COMPEL,
ed to return. These incidents, to-
gether, with the known cha acter of
the population of Greytown, and their
excited state, induced just apprehen-
sions that the lives and property of
our citizens at Punta Arenas would
bein imminent danger after the depar-
ture of the steamer, with her passen-
gers, for New York, unless guard
was left for their protection. For
this purpose, and in order to ensure
the safety of passengers and property
passing over the route, temporary
force was organized, at considerable
expense to the United States, for
which provision Was made at the last
session of Congress.
This pretended community, het-
erogeneous assemblage gathered from
various countries, and composed, for
the most part, of blacks and persons
of mixed blood, had previously CIV
en- other indications Of mischievous
and dangerous propensities. Early
in the same month, property was
clandestinely abstr.cted from the de-
pot of the Transit Company, and Ia
ken to Greytown. The plunderers
obtained shelter there, and their pur-
suers were driven back by its people,
WHO not only protected the wrong
doors and shared the plumber, but
treated with rudeness and violence
those who sought to recover their
property.
Such, in substance, are the facts
submitted to my consideration, and
proved by trustworthy evidence. |
could not doubt that the case de-
mauded the interposition of this gov
ernment. Justice required that rep
aration Should be made for so many
and such gross wrongs, and that n
course of insolence and plumber, tend
ing directly to the insecurity of the
liyos of numerous travellers, and Of
the rich treasure belonging to our
citizens, passing over the transit way,
should be peremptorily arrested
Whatever it might be in other re-
spects, the community in question,
in power to do mischief, was not des-
picable. 1t vas well provided with
ordnance, small arms and ammuni-
ton, and might easily seize on the
unarmed boats, freighted with mil
lions of property, which passed al
most daily within its reach. 1t did
not profess to belong to any regular
government, and had, in fact, no rec
ognized dependence on, or connec-
lion with, any one to which the Uni
ted States OF their injured citizens
might apply for redress, or which
could be held responsible, in any way,
for the outrages committed. Not
standing before the world in an atti-