Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-02

postpone the CONCLUSION VI Inc interesting re-
port on Canada until tomorrow.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF SAN JUAN.
We published yesterday portion Of the doc
uments which were sent to the Senate on Mon
day, explaining the recent destruction Of San
JuaI de Nicaragua. This morning we lay be
foreour readers such of the remaining papers
as have an important bearing. --
We fully sustain the course pursued both by
the government and by Captain Hollins, and
we we're astonished at the manner in which the
Washington Union treated the matter in its
Yesterdays issue. The remarks of that journal
are of a singular character, and they are well
calculated to injure Captain Hollins, by inti-
mating that his official report does not fully
justify him, and to convey the impression that
the administration has not yet determined
whether it will approve or censure his conduct.
The Uaion denies that the bombardment of San
Juan vas distinctly indicated in Captain Hol-
lins's Instructions from the government, whilst
it is considerate enough to ask for suspension
of public opinion, until authentic information"
can be obtained, and announces the belief that
the commander of the Cyane, whose official re-
port has been published, will be able to show
when he arrives that he acted with judgment
and discreton
We cannot believe that this timid course is
acceptable to the administration 1t indicates
disposition on the part of the Washington
Union, to claim credit for the bombardment of
San Juan, if public opinion should applaud the
vigorous conduct of Captain Hollins, and to
evade all responsibility, if public opinion should
condemn the proceedings of that gallant Off
Ger. We fear that the Washington Union has
been alarmed by the clamor of the freesoilers
and abolitionists of the north, who are enraged
because q nest of pirates has been destroyed
BY an American vessel Of war. Those pirates
have maltreated our citizens and insulted our
government; but as they consist almost en-
tirely of Jamaica negroes, fanaticism espouses
their cause with zeal, and hurls imprecations
at those who presume to call them TO account
for their outrageous conduct.
As soon as the fact Of the bombardment OF
San Juan was known, and before any Of the
circumstances attending it were made public,
the abolition journals were vociferous in their
denunciations of Captain Hollins, thereby ex-
posing their mean instincts and base purposes
TO the public view. The clamors of this un-
scrupulous crew of negro sympathisers ought
not to friehten any one under any circum'
stances /; and every candid mind must regard
them with contempt after reading the papers
which the President has sent to the Senate,
Neither the administration nor Captain Hol-
Inns need a suspension of public opinion until
more authentic statements can be obtained nor
does the justification of either require that the
responsibility should be thrown entirely on the
other, no matter how furious fansticism may
be. The papers already before the public set
forth the whole ease, and no further informa-
ton is necessary to justify the destruction OF q
town ruled by band Of lawless negroes whose
occupancy was an outrage.
The instructions under which Captain Hol-
Inns acted, did not require him in so many
words to destroy San Juan, if reparation was
not made for the robbery Of the Transit Com
pany, and suitable apology offered for the insult
70 our minister to Central America. But he was
instructed specifically to demand reparaton
and apology, and to teach the people of San
Juan that the United States would not tolerate
such outrages as those complained Of, and that
they have the power and the determination to
check them. He was also instructed not tc
remain longer than necessary in that warm and
unhealthy climate. Captain Hollins was re
ferred by his instructions to Mr.. Marcy's letter
TO our commercial agent at San Juan fol
guidance. That letter characterizes the out
rage on the Transit Company as felony; ant
it declared that nothing short of an apology fo
the outrage on our minister to Central Americi
would save the place from the infection tina
such an act Justly merits. Captain Holin
proceeded with due caution in making the de
mands which the government ordered him Il
make and they were treated with contempt
Then final proclamation was published b.
him, giving ample and sufficient warning o
the course he intended TO pursue If the de
mands of his government we're not properl,
responded to within given time. When tina
time elapsed without any hope Of satisfaction
the Cyane opened her batteries on the town.
We hold that Captain Hollins acted in strc
accordance with his instructions, and the dir