Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-18
TUESDAY, MARCH IA, 1854.
SEIZURE OF AN AMERICAN STEAMER AT CUBA

SEIZURE OF AN AMERICAN STEAMER AT CUBA.
The Importance attached in some quarters to the
recent act of the Cuban authorities in seizng the
American steamer Black Warrior" at Havana,
where she regularly stopped to hand and receive
passengers on her trips between New York and
Mobile has induced US 70 transfer to our columns
the subioined communication from Messrs. CHARLES
! sTrEa Co, the agents at Havana Of the steamer,
relating the circumstances attending her conscation
We select this statement because it may be pre-
sumed to contain the most authentic information
yet received of the transaction satisfactory udg
ment upon which cannot of course, be formed until
the other side shall have been heard.
IF it shall become evident that the authorities of
Cuba have wilfully invaded the rights Of American
citizens we shall certainly have nothing to say in
extenuation of their act. In the mean time, per-
our contemporaries, and especially to those who dis
play an indscreet haste in expressing their indig-
nation at what has been done the possibility that
this alleged invasion Of commercial privileges may
turn out, after all to be the simple enforcement by
Cuba Of her port regulations and revenue laws We
profess to know nothing Of the matter beyond what
is published below. But, on the perusal OF that
statement, coming from the agents Of the Black
Warrior" our memory reverted to several events
of a similar character that have occurred in our
own ports, some Of them within a few weeks, and
others not extending back more than one or two
years We allude to recent seizures and confsca-
tions of goods illictly brought to New York and
Boston on British steamers, and the seizure OF
those steamers also for infractions of our reve-
nue. laws. On two occasions, within the time
named have British steamers of the Cunard line
from Liverpool been seized and forfeited in ports
of the United States. They were afterwards re-
leased on heavy bonds, 0hree hundred thousand
dollars in each case,) and the bonds subsequently
cancelled and heavy fines inflicted the owners of
the vessels It may turn out, we repeat, that the
Cuban Government is in like manner enforcing its
revenue laws, and hence we find some difficulty
in discriminating between the cases, unless the
"usage" sreferred to having heretofore prevailed
in reference to American steamers touching at Ha-
vana shall place the affair in different light.
Explanation of the Agents of the Black Warrior.
4. HAVANA, MARCH l, 1864.
The Black Warrior entered this port yesterday morn
ing (2Sth February about o'clock Capt Bullock re-
ported to the boarding officer when he entered, giving
his manifest usual in which 1t stated as it always
has been that she enters in ballast As were expect
ing steamer Sunday the 26th utmo, we have
always DONE and done with the other steamers which
come here entered and cleared her before she arrived
making the entrance and clearance Saturday. the 25h
umo When our clerk went to the custom-house yeser
day morning get the necessary paper to the Captain of
the Port in order to allow the ship topass the Moro it
was refused and he was informed that there ior
gpaliy in the entry, and the ship could not leave.
Mr. Tying in the office OF the time our clerk came
back to inform Of the state Of affairs and the writer
Immediately went to the customhouse to the chief
officer He informed that the boarding officer had at
tached note to the manifest of the captain, saying
The ship has entered ballast and brings four hundred bales
Of cotton NeW York; The Collector Administrator
said u.s. the captain should have entered his cargo in
transit, and not have entered in ballast" We replied
that far regards Havana, she is in BALLAST she
neither brings cargo to Havana takes it away 1t
matters whether her ballast be bales of cotton
stone. We claim that the entry is correct made but
whether correct nct you say it is not correct we
claim to take advantage Of the twelve hours allowed to
all vessels to make corrections and additions to the mani
fest He told he had already written note to the In
tsndente about the affair, and expected On at
once, but advised us to see the Intendente
We went to the ntendency and found that the Inten
dente was at home sick We went to his house; found
there young man, who told he had brought note
from the Intendency to the Intendente and waiting
an answer. servant soon came bringing
the young We asked the servant if could the
Intendente. He said could not that he sick in
bed We accompanied the young to the Intendency,
and the note handed to the head officer We left
clerk at the Intendency with orders to until the note
should be sent to the cuso-house He came to the
office, saying that the note of the Intendente had been
sent to the custom-house.
The writer and clerk went at to the custom
house. We found the Collector reading the note. He
handed 1t to the Deputy Collector Arrastue and the
deputy read it to The tenor Of the note that
the entry made not one; that the ship res
sponsbe according to the law that the goods board
should be conscated and fine equal double the value
Of the goods imposed
The writer returned at to the Office and found
that Mr. Tying had left to go the consulate to make
protest against the proceedings Mr. Rodgers the
SER and the writer went at to find Can't Bullock
not finding him, returned the Office We then start
ed for the consulate met Capt Bullock on the way as
well Mr.. E. P. Rodgers. We all went to the consu
late found the clerk drawing up protest The Consul
and Capt Bullock went to the Captain General: he
saw the Consul, but refused to see Capt Bullock A
memorial was left with him about the matter
About o'clock, it being past custom-house Office
hours, servant brought card of the sAdminstra
tor" and said he would like to see us ut once Mr..
Tying and myself went at to his rooms he showed
chairs and commenced conversation saying that he
regretted much this state of things, but he had done
every thing in his power avert it, &c., and concluded
by saying that we consgnees of the ship after
ing the CARGO would give bond holding ourselves
responsible for any fine other damages which might
be imposed the ship he would then latter taking
cargo) allow the ship proceed We told him would
pay any small fine Of nine dollars the same as
was paid for the mistake made about the three boxes
apples for Parejo previous trip, but for giving
for or SQ0 viii rou 70