The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-01

res snAenes.
Embraced In our ,po Il the proceedings Of
Conere y,s trday, will be fsu ID the material
portions of the fHcial correspondence touchiog
the recent COMMANDMENT ami burning Of San
Juan o. Grey town, he Alta tc or. Of the
Nicaragua transit route to Ca ifornia. These
official papers leave the facts In the case az
heretofore reported. The village was destroyed
BY order of the admin trat.on, because the
auths rites refused, on the demand Of Captain
Hollins of the Cysne, to fork over some
$4,000 indemnites for damages done to the
Nicaragua Transit CO mpany, and for the scurvy
manner in which the said authorities be treated
Major Borland, and the Official functionaries and
people Of the United States generally.
1t must be said of Captain Hollins, that he
carried out his "bloody instructions like q
gentleman and scholar-with great GOODNESS,
cipcumspection, and elaboration, and with
considerable margin Of mercy. But he had a
very obstinate set Of fellows to deal with He
could not Brighten them into submission; he
could not lombard them into capitu-
lation, and 80 be burnt them out, and
made o clean Job Of it. Instead Of com.
ing forward with the $4,000 on demand,
they actually had the impotence to
show fight, though they fed at the approach Of
the United States marines. 1t is q matter
however, Of universal congratulation that the
battle was fought, the town bombarded, carried
by storm and destroyed, and q complete victory
achieved-the completest Of all the victories of
the present victorious administration-"w with
OUT Gas we have said before,) the loss Of
single man on either side" The inhabitants
were duly warned, and got out of harms way,
Their houses and buildings, not having the same
powers Of locomotion, were reduced to aches
Capt. Hollins makes out his report to Mr..
Dobbin, pretty much in the same vein which
characterized the report Of Gen. Taylor to
Marcy, Of the battle Of Buena VISTA He
speaks with that natural confidence and self
competency which always distinguish the re
port Of brave and generous officer, who is
satisfied that he has discharged his duty in
faithfully carrying out his instructions But
there Is one point in Capt. Hollins' Letter in
which he is destined to be disappointed. He
has anticipated the hearty approval by the ad-
ministration Of what he has doae. What will he
think Of it when he discovers that the Cabinet
organ (the confidential mouthpiece Of the Presi-
dent) has not had the courage, the gratitude, or
the courtesy, to utter syllable upon the sub
ject, down to the very day that the official cor
respondence is laid before the House.
The case now stands in this postlrc. The
administration, without the advice or consent
Of Congress, send down q ship Of war upon a
hostile mission to San Juan. The captain, I'M
der Instructions, and in behalf of the United
States, demands certain indemnities of the vii
lage ($24,OO0), which it obstinately refuses to
pay. The village is destroyed, and the vessel
Of war returns to the United States without the
indemnity, after all. According to Captain
Hollins, the inhabitants and the authorities
were "taught lesson which they will not soon
forget J" but unfortunately, the question arises,
who pays the piper? who foots up the bill Of
costs?
The act was an act of war, without authority
Of law. The villagers may therefore rightfnlly
demand indemnity OF our government for the
destruction Of their property or, if the execu.
tive can make war, in spite Of the constitution,
he can seize and occupy foreign places as well
as destroy them. Why not, then, seize the town
Of San Juan, lay taxes and collect the reve-
nues Of the port until all considerations Of In
demnity were Satisfied? That would have been
OF least more sensible plan than that of killing
the goose which laid the golden eggs.
The House Of Representatives have now the
official papers before them. They have two
important questions to settle:-First, the un-
constitutionality Of the destruction Of San Juan,
as IN act of war; second, the question Of in1em-
nifty in reference to the property destroyed
And the Senate will have this important lues-
ton to determine In reference to negotiations
for peace, to wit, whether the attack upon San
Juan was an assault upon the King Of the Mos
quito coast, or the protectorate Of England, or
upon free city, made such by the interyen-
ton Of the United States. Upon the morality
and moral courage Of this act Of war we have
heretofore expressed our views Regarding
the views Of tho American people, one word
will suffice. They are disgusted. We look in
vain for the destruction of defenceless town,
in default of $4,000, either by Gen. Caraya-
jail. Col. Walker, or the ruthless Apaches. The
country will watch with interest the proceed
ings Of the House upon this subject.
MELTING OF THE HARLEM RAILROAD Col
PANY.--A duty dcvoives upon the shareholders
Of the Harlem Railroad Company this day, and
We trust they will not evade it. That duty is
to attend the general meeting to be held in
Try on row, and vote upon the motions that will