Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-08-04
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
BY RlTCHIES L. PRYOR.
THE SAN JUAN AFFAIR.

The Wing press havo habituully mnnifcsted such
alacrity in condcmnins the conduct of our govern
mcnt in its controversies with other Powers, that
their dcnuncution of the Administration for the re-
cent occurrence ut San Jual vii be tax, y the
public mere outburst OF party spleen and nnpa-
triotic impulse. From the papers submitted t" Con-
ress by the President in explanation of the affair,
the impartial mind will dcducc this double eonc's"n'
first, that the Administration are not respoSoe 'or
the bombardment of San Juan, and secondly, That
the act itself is not deserving OF censure.
The instructions of the government to Commander
IIollins, were dictated by Secretary Dobbn Will Tie
caution characteristic Of the man, and with pre-
cision of terms which excludes every inference OF
violent purpose While directing Commander
Hollins to demand rcparation and apology Tor
outragcs upon our citizens and insults 10 our
government, Mr.. Dobbn auxiously and careful
ly iuculca,ed the utmost torbcnrance and Gle
mency which the emergency would warruht'
1t is perfectly clear that he did not contemplate re-
sort to such u extremity of violence, much less adj
wise and authorize it in advance In the same spirit,
the Secretary of State prepared his instructions to the
United States Consul at San Juan. OF all the men III
this country Mr. Mnrcy is the lcest liable to be mis-
upon imperfect information and the least disposed to
measures OF unnecessary violence His Instructions
therefore, Mr. Fabens, are quite us calm aud can
tious as the Instructions Of Mr.. Dobbn to commander
Hollins, and us little significant of predISposltion TO
extreme measures. They submit the whole case I"
Consul Fabcns with the expression of nm earnest de-
sire that the difficulty may be adjusted pcaceably and
without resort to measures Of coercion.
In acquitting the Administration OF all responsblli-
ty for the destruction of San JUAN must not be I'M
derstood imply the least censure ofhe act "r OF the
conduct of the gallant commander Of the Cyanc. On
the contrary we maiutain that the wrongs and ndis-
mites inflicted upon our citizens and the person of our
Minister not only justified but demanded n signal
chastisemcnt in the event of refusal OF apology and
repara,iun The recital of these wrongs and indsnl-
ties by Mr.. Borland and Mr.. Fabes with the corrob'
orative statement OF other American citizens and the
nsoleut refusal of the authorities OF San Juan to
make atouement for their misconduct establish case
which conclusively justfies the severe punishment
inflicted by the Cyanc.
Sau Juan was another Barrutaria, den of
thieves and murdercrs who had congrcSaed
there from all quarters of the globe, with
the hope of securely practising their frlones in
aplacc exempt from the dominion Of law. Stimulated
by British influence, they have been prcying upon the
property of American citizens for years, in contemp.
tuous defiance of the menaces Of the American gov
ernmen,. When they arrested an American Minister
and inflicted violence upou his person, they filled
the measure OF their iniques and wautony provoked
the reribution which they suffered. If the govern
mcu hud neglected to avenge the insult and to pro-
tcc the rights of its citizens, il would have forfeited
all authority and respect in the eyes Of the world
The honor of the American flag has been sufficiently
insued in the waters of this continent, and we rejoice
that it has been avenged and vlndlcacd
at last with becoming spirit. While extend
ing all proper indulgence to the conuma-
cious outlaws Of San Juan, Commander Holllns re-
sented the interposton Of the British officer in man.
ner which shows his pluck and which will excite the
admiration Of his countrymcn. The insolent boast
Of Nelson day, that British seaman could whip
two Frenchmcn, retaliated upon Lieutenant Jol-
" with CALLING sarcasm, when Commander Hoillns
politelv regretted that the force Of the Ber-
lnu,,a was no, ''doubly equal that OF the Cyane"-
Ii is in this spirit that American officer should
sneak even to the "mistress of the seas