Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-15
MARTIAL Law AT SAN JUAN.

Soon after the arrival of the Star of the West
the last steamer from the Isthmus of Nicaragua,
it was stated that the commander OF the British
ship Bermuda had blockaded the place, and
declared martial law This statement was
made in such manner as to create the be-
lief that British officers had seized upon the
mouth of the San Juan river as an act of re-
taliation for the bombardment, and that we
were involved in perilous controversy with
the English government. The captain of the
Star of the West stated, in card he published
in the New York papers, that all was quiet at
San Juan when he left, and that he heard moth
ing of the extreme measures attributed to the
commander of the Bermuda.
The statement of the captain of the "Star OF
the West" convinced us that undue impor-
lance had been attached to the action of the
British captain. We thought it most probable
that he had INDUCED in some bravado for the
purpose Of maintaining English influence un-
impaired; but that it had all passed over be-
fore the 10Th of July, the day on which the,
"Star of the West" sailed for New York. The
Aspinwall Courier gives an account Of the
matter which has the appearance of truth, and
which must remove all the alarm which men of
weak nerves have derived from Captain Jolly s
proclamation. That paper says, that after the
destruction of San Juan, considerable num-
Der of its inhabitants returned, some of whom
were desperadoes, and others exasperated on
&c tla,r
menced wholesale plumber, and we're prepar
ing to destroy the property of the Transit com
pany. Under these circumstances Captain
Jolly declared martial law at San Juan and
placed his ship in position to execute it,
thus protecting the property of the Transit
company.
According to this account the proclamation
of the British officer had no reference to
seizure of the place, and blockade of the
mouth of the San Juan river as retaliation for
the bombardment. On the contrary, it was d.
rected against the people of San Juan, and was
called forth by their lawless conduct and vio-
lent threats. Without stopping to discuss the
right of the British captain to make such
proclamation, we would remark, that the fact
that it was made, and the circumstances which
called for it, show the low character Of the town
which has been destroyed. The prompt inter.
ference of British force was necessary not only
10 prevent the Jamaica negroes that had been
burnt out, from destroying the property of the
Transit company, but from plundering each
other.
The Bermuda returned to the burnt town
two days before the sailing of the Cyane, and
remained quietly at anchor. Soon after the
Cyane left, Captain Jolly's proclamation was
posted up. The departure Of the American
vessel removed the restraint which her presence
imposed, and it was, we presume, Immediately
followed by the acts of plumber and threats of
violence which the British officer felt impelled
to arrest Any act having the appearance Of
retaliation would, under the circumstances,
have placed Captain Jolly in very unen-
riable position before the public, and we,
therefore, place much reliance in the statement
put forth by the Aspinwall Courier. That
journal also mentions that the British Admiral
at Jamaica, when informed Of the lombard
ment, expressed his qualification that there was
no British vessel of greater force at San Juan;
because, had there been, collision between
such vessel and the Cyane might have occurred.
This fact must calm the apprehensions Of those
who thought that the British West India squad
ron might take the matter in hand, and will put
at rest such stories as that which represented
that British frigate had been sent in pursuit
Of the Cyane.