Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-12-20
WHOLE 10. Sos.

If in the attitude of an organized POLITICAL
s lparty, being neither competent % exer-
!. else the rights nor to discharge the obli-
= cations of a government. it was, ia fact,
J, a maurauding establ blishment. too danger.
Q ous to. be disregarded, too guilty to pnss
i. Eunpunisheds and yet incapable of being
: treated in any other way than as q pirat-
/ ical resort of fiontlaws. or a camp OF saya-
!ges. depredating on emigrant trains or
a caravans and frontier settlements of civ
liked states.
Seasonable notice was giyenito the Peoe
Iple of Greytown. that this government
} required them to repair the injuries they
: had done toopr citizens, and,to make suit
, able apology for their insult OF our
minister, and that ship ofswar
would be dispatched thither tos cntores,
compliance With these demands, But
the notice passed unheedcd, Thereupon,
u commander of the navy, in charge OF
j he sloop-of,wsr " Gyane," /" was ordered
to repeat the demands, and to insist on
compliance Herewith, Finding that nei-
lther the populace, nor those assuming to
have authority over them, manifested any
disposition to make the required repara-
ton, or even to offer excuse for their con-
clamation that If they did not give satis.
faction, within q time specified, he would
lombard the town. @
By this procedure he offered them 4op
portunity TO provide for their personal
safety. To those also who desired tpn
avoid tho loss of property, in tho punislt
mont about to be inflicted upon the often.
ding town, he furnished the means OF re- :
moving their effects, by the boats OF his
own ship, and of a steamer which he pro-
cured, and rendered for that purpose
At length, perceiying no disposition on tho
part of the town, to comply with his Eer
QUESTIONS, he appealed to the commander
of her Britannia aMajesty schooner.
Burmuda, who was seen TO have
intercourse, and apparently much ini
tluence with the leaders among them.
TO interpose and persuade them TO
take some course, calculated 20
slve tho necessity Of resorling 10
the extreme measure indicated, IN bis
proclamation; but, that ofieers siuslem
of acceding 10 the request did nothing
more than protest against thesc ntemPlai
ed bomhardmept. No steps otsanR sort
were taken, by the people, 70 give the.,
satisfaction required. No indlyflpa u S
III any there wore, who regarded tlsemr
selves as not responsible for the conduct
of the community, adopted any means 70:
separate themselves from the fate Of the,
guilty. $50
The several charges, on whiGh tho dGs
mand for redress were founded. had beeu
publicly known to Nil for some Lime, and,
were again announced to them. They
DID not deny any of.these charges; they
offered no explanation, nothing Ia exlen
uaton of their cGaducL but contumas
ously refused to hold any. intercourse
with the commander of the " Cyand.0
By obstinate silence they seomcI rather
desirous to provoke chastiRement thantp
escape it, There is ample reason 70 be-
lieve that this conduct of wanton, def.
ance, on thejrPart is imputable chiJHY
20 the delusive idea that the American,
government would be deferred from. pan.
ishing them, through fear Of dispieasing
a formidable foreign power, which theY
presumed TO think, looked with compla.
cency upon their aggressive. and insult
ing department towards the United States.
The I" Cyane'' at length fred upon the
town. Before much injury had been
done, the fire was twice suspended IA or.
der to afford opportunity for an arrange
ment; butthis vas declined, Most of
the buildings Of the place, Rf little value
generally, were in the sequel, destroyedj
but owing to the cOnsidera'e procautioh
Of ouf Naval Commander, there Was no
destvuciion Of life.
When the "Cyane" was ordered 10
Central America, it was confidently no.
ped and expected that no occasion would
arise for g resort to violence and do-
sLruction of properly and loss of life.
Instructions to that effect Bere given 10
her commander. And no extfene act
would have been requisite had not The
people themselves, By their extraordinary
conduct in the affair, frustrated all tho
possible mild measures for obtaining Sal.
isfaction. A withdrawal from Che place
the object Of his visit entirely defeated.
would, under the circumstance in which
the commander Of the "Cyahe" fopnd
himself, have been absol lLe abandonmehl
of al claim Of our citizens for indemhiIi.
cation, and submissive acquiescence 10 nas
tional indigpity. II would have eneonf-
aged in these laWlcss men a spirie Of ins0.
leDce and rapins most daHgerous % tha
lives and property Of our citizens at Phn.
"a Arenas, and probably emboldeBed them
to grasp at the treA9Gres and valuable
merchandise continually passing oyer the
Nicaraguaroute. ItesrtainIy would have
been most satisfactory 10 me II the objects
Of the "CJane's" mission could have beea
consummated withoat any act Of public
; force; but the arrogant contumaey tie
offenders renderedft impossible q
the alternative, either q break upt6eif
! establishment, or 70 leave them impf
with the idea that they might pefseyefe
: With impuhity IN career of insolence aud
8 plumber.