Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-28

in his judgment may be required TO ensure the
observance Of our just rights. The remainder
of the day was spent in the consideration Of
the bill to regulate the pay, and increase the
efficiency of the army.
THE DESTRUCTION OF SAN JUAN OR
GREYTOwN.
Our readers are already aware that on the
18th of this month the town OF village of San
Juan was totally destroyed by the United
States sloop Of war Cyane, under the command
Of Captain Hollins. This town was situated
ON the left bank and near the mouth of the
San Juan river, within the territory Of Nicara-
qua, one of the Central American States.
Until the discovery Of gold in California, no
importance was attached either to the town or
to the river; but about that time an English
force seized the town, claiming it in behalf OF
the Mosquito Indians, whom the English gov
eminent had taken under its protection, in de-
6ance Of universal custom and repeated treaty
stipulations.
The real motive of the seizure of San Juan
and the basis Of the claim that the Mosquito
territory extended to the San Juan river, was
the belief that an interoceanic communion
could be effected in that quarter which was
deemed of great importance in view of the
acquisition Of California by the United States.
A company had been formed to connect the
two oceans by means Of the San Juan river
and the lake of Nicaragua and lake Leon,
which are drained by it. But all operations
were prevented by the notice issued by the
British consul at New York, claiming the town
and the right bank of the river on behalf ofthe
Mosquito Indians.
When the English seized San Juan they
changed its name to Greytown, and held it
by virtue of nominal protectorate in order to
injure the interests of the United States. The
title of the king of the Mosquitoes was insisted
on as mere cover to an illegal and violent
movement; and the town was ruled and regu-
lated by British officials who paid no more re-
spect to the authority Of the drunken beast they
had transformed into king, than they did to
the authority of Billy Bowlegs, chief of the
Seminoles of Florida. The difficulties arising
iions whose importance grew out of the neces
sity Of speedy communication between the
Atlantic and Pacific, led to the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, by which all interoceanic communica-
tons which might be made through Central
America, were placed under the joint protection
of the United States and Great Britain.
1t was understood that this treaty required
Great Britain to abandon the Mosquito pro-
tectorate but the English officials, in Central
America, not only placed different construc-
ton on that instrument, but contended that it
contained recognition Of the legality and
binding force Of that protectorste. Under this
interpretation they maintained their ground
until they had local government formed,
which derived its authority, nominally, from the
king Of the Mosquito Indians, who, in all pro-
liability, does not know, to this day, that there
is, or ever was such place as San Juan de
Nicaragua on the face Of the globe. A British
vessel was stationed in the San Juan River TO
compel obedience to the authorities at Grey
town, and enforce the payment Of the taxes and
port dues they levied on American shipping.
The United States passeDgersteamer Prone.
theus was fred into by the British ship Ex-
press, when full Of passengers, in order to
force her to submit to the illegal exactions Of
an illegal government.
Soon after this transaction the American
ences, and succeeded in gaining possession of
the offices and the control Of the town. Then
the British government approached Mr.. Fill
more's administration with the proposition to
erect San Juan, or Greytown into a free city
saying that it already stood in that attitude,
and it was desirable to make its legal cores.
pond with its actual position. Mr.. Everett,
who was then Secretary of State, looked with
favor on the proposition; but Mr.. Fillmore's
administration retired from Office before any
thing was accomplished Since that time,
American citizens have administered the affairs
Of San Juan as il il was actually free city
paying no respect, either to the spurious claim
set up for the Mosquito king, or for the valid
claim set up by the republic Of Nicaragua. n
was purely squatter village within the terri
tory of State which could not vindicate its
territorial rights and maintain its rightful au-
thority.
Since the affair Of the Prometheus the author
tiles at San Juan have been guilty of several
acts which were extremely annoying to our
citizens going to and returning from Califor-
MIA. In the first place they became hostile TO
the Transit Company because il established its
depots on the opposite side of the river and be-
yond its Jurisdiction, so that passengers pro-
ceeded without stopping in the town. They
undertook to compel the Transit Company to
break up its establishment and remove to