Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-12-06


tent to exercise the rights nor to discharge the
obligations of a government, it was, in fact,
marauding establishment, too dangerous to re
dsregarded, and too guilty to pass UNPUBLISHED,
and yet incapable of being treated in any other
way than as a piratieal resort of outlaws, or
camp of savages, depredating on emgrant trains
or caravans, and the frontier settlements of CIV
ilized States
Seasoaabe notice was given to the people of
Greytown, that this government required them to
repair the injuries they had done to our citizens,
and to make suitable apology for their insult OF
our minister, and that ship-of-war would be dis
patched thither to enforce compliance with these
demands. But the notice passed nnheeded.-
Thereupon, commander of the navy, in charge
of the sloopeof-war Cyaue, was ordered to repeat
the demands, and to insist upon compliance
Herewith. Finding that neither the populace,
nor those assuming to have authority over them,
manifested no disposition to make the required
reparation, or even to offer excuse for their con-
duct he warned them, by public proclamation,
that if they did not give satisfaction within
time specified, he would lombard the town. BY
this procedure he afforded them opportunity to
provide for their personal safety.
To those also, who desired to avoid loss OF
property. in the punishment about to be inflicted
on the offending town, he furnished the means OF
removing their effects. by the boats OF his own
ship and Of steamer which he procured and
rendered to them for that purpose AT length,
perceiving no disposition on the part OF tine own
to comply with his requistions, he appealed to
the commander of Her Britannia Majesty's sch.
Bermuda" who was seen to have intercourse,
and apparently much influence with the leaders
among them-toi terpose. and persuade them to
take some course calculated to save the necessity
of resorting to the extreme measure indicated IN
his proclamation; but that officer, instead OF ac-
ceding to the request, did nothing more than to
protest against the contemplated bom6ardment.
No steps of any sort were taken, by the people,to
give the satisfaction required. No individuals, II
any there were, who regarded themselves es not
responsible for the misconduct OF the community,
adopted any means to separate themselves from
the fate of the guilty. The several charges on
which the demands for redress were founded, had
been publicly known to all for some time, and
were again announced to them.
They did not deny any of these charges; they
offered no explanation, nothing in extenualion of
their conduct; but contumaclOuSly refused TO
hold any intercourse with the commander of the
"Cyane." BY their obstinate silence they seemed
rather DESTROYS to provoke chastisement than to
escape it There is ample reason to believe that
this conduct of wanton defiance, on their part,
is imputable chiefly to the delusive idea that the
American government would be deferred from
Furnishing them, Though fear of displeasng
formidable foreign power, which, they presumed
to think, looked with complacency upon their ag-
gressiye and insulting department towards the
United States The "Cyane" at length fired up
on lne town. DelOIe UuCu INJURY ildu UGGll uUutJ
the fire was twice suspended, in order to afford
opportunity for an arrangement; but this was de-
clined. Most of the buildings of the place, of
little value generally, were, in the sequel, de-
stoyed but, owing to the considerate precau-
tions taken by our naval Commander, there was
no destruction of life.
When the s&yane" was ordered to Central
America, it was confidently hoped and expected
that no occasion would arise for ga resort to vio
lence and destruction of property and loss of
life" Instructions to that effect were given TO
her comm 1nder. And no extreme act would have
been requisite had not che people themselves, by
their extraordinary conduct the affair, tIuStrat
ed all the possible mild measures for obtaining
satisfaction. A withdrawal from the place, the
object of his visit entirely defeated, would under
the circumstances in which the commander of
the Cyane found himself, have been absolute
abandonment of all clam of our citizens for in
Identification, and submissive acquiescence in
national indignity.
1t would have encouraged in these lawlesS men
a spirit of insolence and rapine most dangerous
to the lives and property of citizens at Punta
Arenas and probably emboldensd them to grasp
at the treasures and valuable merchandise
tinually passing over the Nicaragua route. 1t
certainly would have been most satisfactory to
me If the objects of the "Cyane's' mission could
have been conSummated without any act of pub
lie force; but the arrogant contumacy of the Of
tenders rendered it impossible to avoid the alter
native, either to break up tnelr establishment or
to leave them impressed with the idea that they
might perseyere with impunity iii career of in
science aud plumber.
This transaction has been the subject of COM
plaint on the part of some foreign powers, and
has been characterized with more of harshness
than of Justice. If comparisons were to be insti-
tuted it would not be difficult to present repeated
instances in the history of states standing in the
very front of modern civilization, where commu-
mites far less offending and more defenceless
than Greytown, have been chastised with much
greater severity and where not cities only have
been laid in ruins, but where human life has been
reeklessly sacrificed, and the blood of the inno-
cent made proIusely to mingle with that Of the
guilty.
Passing from foreign to domestic affairs your
attention is naturally directed to the financial
condition Of the country, always subject OF gen.
eral interest. For complete and exact infolma-
ton regarding the finances, and the various
branches of the public service connected there
WITH refer you to the report of the Secretary of
the Treasury from which it will appear, that the
amount of revenue during the last fiscal year,
from all sources, seyenty-three million five
hundred and forty-nine thousand seven hundred
and five dollars; and that the public expenditures
for the same period, exclusive of payments on ac"
count of the public debt, amounted to tifty-one
million eighteen thousand two hundred and forty
nine dollars. During the same period, the pay
ments made in redemption of the public debt, in
cluuluE interest anu pIeHilulu dlnOuHleu " lNGN-
ty-four million three hundred and thirty-six
thousand three hundred and eighty dollars.
To the sum total of the receipts Of that year is
to be added balance remaining iii the Treasury
at the commencement thereof, amounting to
twenty -one million nine hundred and forty two
thousand eight hundred and ninety two dollars ;
and at the close of the same year, correspond
ing balance amounting to twenty million one
hundred and sixty seven dollars of receipts above
expenditures, also remained in the Treasury. AL
though in the opinion of the Secretary of the
Treasury, the receipts of the current fiscal year
are not likely to equal in amount those of the
last, yet they will undoubtedly exceed the amount
of expenditures by at least fifteen millions of dol
lars.
shall, therefore, continue to direct that the
surplus revenue be applied, far it can be iu-
diciously and economically done, to the reduction
of the public debt, the amount of which at the
commencement of the last fiscal year, was sixty.
seven million three hundred and forty thousand
six hundred and twenty-eight dollars of which
there had been paid on the twentieth day of No
vember, 1884, the of twenty-five million
three hundred and sixty-fve thousand one hum
dred and seventy-two dollars leaving balance
of outstanding public debt of only forty four
million nine hundred and sevcnty-tive thousand
four hundred and forty-six dollars, rodeemable at
different periods within fourteen years.
There are also remnants of other government
stocks, most of which are already due, and on
which the interest has ceased, but which have not
yet been presented for payment, amounting to
two hundred and thirty three thousand one hun
bred and seventy-nine dollars. This statement
exhibits the fact, that the annual income of the
government greatly exceeds the amount of its
public debt, which latter remains unpaid, only
because the time of payment has not yet matur-
ed, and it cannot be discharged at once, except at
the option of public creditors, who prefer to re-
tain the securities ofthe United States and the
other fact, not less striking that the annual reve-