The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-08-15
The Bombardn,ent of Grcy.ow,.

After careful perusal of the documents elu'
cidating the affair, we arrive at the conclusion,
that Greytown deserved the fate the folly of its
inhabitants brought down upon it. They might
have averted that fate, and rendered extreme
measures unnecessary, but they perversely re
fused to take warning, aud preferred TO adhere
obstina:cly to the wrong, and to defy the pow.
cr of government, whose citizens they had
robbed, and whose minister they had insultcd.
| Was such conduct to be allowed to 60 unno.
ticed! Clearly not l. was not only due to
the dignity of this government to demand an
apology, and due to the violated rights Of her
citizens to demand pecuniary reparation, but it
was in view of the threats made. and OF the ef:
fects of immunity for such conduct, necessary
for fature security. Had such conduct been
allowed 10 pass unnoticed, it would have been
virtual expulsion of the american Transit
Company's agents, and the destruction Of their
business. They would have been driven away
under the humiliation of feeling that they were
citizens of q government that had not the spirit
to protect and vndicate its citizens-that they
could be trampled upon with impunity, even
by such nongrel set Of outlaws and thieves
rs constituted the ruling power at Grcytown-
n majority of its inhabitants being free negroes
from Jamaica.
The practical question was; how TO punish
these people, after it was evident they intended
to refuse all rcparatcn, and defy our authori.
tv? What other plan could have been resortcd
10 than the one adopted? None other occurs
to lis than for Capt. Hollns to have landed a
sufficient force, captured the town. seized prop
crty enough to indemnify the Transit Com.'any
for the repeated plunderings to which they had
been subjected, caught the ring.leaders of the
mubs, and those in authority, who countenanced
them, and inflicted personal chastisement upon
them. The only way to reach the sensibilties
OF the free negroes, would have been by means
of the cowhitlc Bat this course would have
been attended with bIood.shed, and, perhaps,
an inttiscriminate massacre. 1t was better then,
since the innocent had to suffer with the guilty,
that property, instead of life, should be destroy
ed. When men live in town under the do.
minion CT lawlcss, silly and pcrverse mob,
they mast abide the consequences. IL is a laz-
I'D they voluntarily incur, aud they must ex-
Tpcct to share thcir portion of the punishment,
that sooner or later the community will suffer
for its folly and misdeeds.
Tie Barbary powers for a century or two,
carried on their piratical dcprcdatons upon the
commerce of Christian nations with impunity
Their comparative i'signifcance was, perhaps,
their protection for it is certain, that either
one of the leading commercial nations could
have crushed them. They preferred, however,
to buy these pirates off by paying tribute,
But it remained for the American government
to teach them in the example of Iripol, that
our people are not to be plundered, or outraged
with impunity, and that while powerful govern
ments are held 10 a strict accountability, even
the slightest wrong, by the weakest and most
Insignificant power, is not beneath its notice.
If it were desirable to push the matter fur,
ther, it is quite competent for this government
within the strictest lines of rctrbutive justice,
to seize the site of Greytown and adjunct ter.
tritory which has been subject to the authority
Of the Greytown Banditt, and hold it as in,
demnity, or as pledge for the payment Of
damages to her citizens. When the govern
ments of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and his
majesty, the Mosquito King, settle the ques.
ton Of dominion among them there, the terri
tory could be redeemed by the true owner, on
payment Of all damages, COSTS and charges.
Augusa ConstitutioaaIsL