Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-08-17


was present when Greytown was de-
stroyed:
1t was quite evident that, for some
reason or other, a strong prejudice ex-
sted at Greytown against all Ameri-
cans: prejudice amounting almost TO
positive hostility, and to conceal which,
no pains whatever were taken. The
immediate origin of the difficulty IN
which Boriand participated, was the
homicide of the negro captain OF pun
go. or river boat, committed by Gap
tain Smith. of a steamer plying on the
river. N Notwithstanding published
statements directly the reverse, this
homicide was considered by the Ameri-
cans. almost without exception, delib-
crate, cold -blooded murder, without
shadow of palIiation. There had been
some previous difficulty between Smith
and the negro. On the day of the
homicide, Smiths steamer ran into the
negro's bungo, when the latter threat
ened to shoot Smith if he broke his
boat. The bungo, however, was un-
injured. Subsequently the steamer
started down the river, and after it had
proceeded some distance, put back
again, apparently for no other purpose
than to run into the bungo, which it did,
chrushing it like an eggshell. At this
time the negro was sitting in his boat
with his gun across his knees. The
weight of testimony is, that he made no
hostile demonstration against Smith,
having neither risen from his seat nor
raised his gun, when Smith deliberately
shot him. Immediately on being shot,
the poor fellow got up, and while at
tempting to step from the wreck of his
bungo, into the boat alongside of it, his
strength failed him, and he fell into the
river. And yet, presses who esteem it
their duty to defend the Hollins victory,
right or wrong. tell us it was universal
ly admitted that the negro was shot by
Smith in self defence.
A warrant was issued by the Mayor
of Greytown for Smiths arrest, and an
officer went on board the steamer, as
everybody knows, but was prevented
from getting his prisoner by the forcible
resistance of the passengers, headed by
Borland. In aiding the Minister thus
to resist the officers, the passengers did
not intend to endorse the murder of the
negro, or absolve his murder. On the
contrary, it would have been a very
easy matter to have had him hung on
brief notice by "Committee of Vigi-
lance" had either of the acknowledged
leaders proposed it. But Mr.. Borland,
In speech he made to the crowd, as
well as in private conversation, told
them he was instructed not in any way
to recognize the authority of Greytown
deriving its authority from the Mosqui-
to King as seperate and distinct from
Nicaragua. To permit the Greytown
officers to arrest an American citizen
and try him for crime, would be to re-
cognize the authority of the Town Gov
ernment h the fullest sense; and so Mr.
Borland urged upon them to aid him in
"crushlng out" this scion of the Mos
quitos. If the Government of Grey
town was illegal, deriving Its powers
from incompetent authority, the act of
the officers who attempted to arrest
Smith could only be looked upon as the
act of a mob, proper to be resisted by
a mob force. In this opinion the whole
steamers party concurred. And, of
course, the arrest and Imprisonment of
Mr.. Borland that night was also looked
upon as the act of an irresponsible mob,
without law or authority of any kind.
The New York Times makes the fol-
lowing remarks concerning the matter:
As Col. Fremont was an eyewitness,
and is man of sound judgement, his
opinion as well as statements are worthy
OF attention. There seems to be little |
doubt that one Smith, an American cap
tain, murdered native, and that the
Greytown authorities attempted to ar
rest in order to try him. They were
resisted by Mr. Borland, who held the
post of American Minister, and who
denied their right to act, inasmuch as
they did not hold their posts under the
Government of Nicaragua, and he was
instructed by the American Govern
ment to recognize no other. How this
plea could give him any right to inter-
fere with the municipal authorities in
their attempt to punish crime, it is not
easy to see. Mr.. Borland was resisted
in his endeavors to obstruct Justice, and,
it is said, was even imprisoned.
Now conceding the truth of every-
thing claimed by Borland and the Ad-
minlstration,-granting that the au-
thorities of Greytown had treated our
Minister with disrespect,-what was the
proper mode of proceeding? 1t was a
case for Executive interference:-for
demand for redress from whatever Gov I;
ernment Greytown may belong to. If
we regard it as a part of Nicaragua, {
the Government of that country should {
have been called upon for satisfaction. t
# it is under British protection, Great t
Britain should have been appealed to. '
It was clearly case for diplomatic in a
reference: and if that failed to secure
redress, the country should have been {
to through Congress, to take a
such steps as its honor and rights might
demand. b
Instead Of this our Administration S
hos taEon q uarr, Air. n