Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-08-09
Destruction of Greytown-

pup '"'' SCSt Va Justice io'C VI iiSut tud
will not abet and defend outrage and wrong-the
bullying, oppression and naltreating of the de
ienceiess and weak, even when carried on by those
VINO acf, Tor the time being as the representatives
oil this people. The feeling called forth by the
recent destruction of Greytown, Is a proof of
what we say. The public journals, without dis
Junction OF party, are almost unanimous III the
their condemnation of the act, as lDhurhan, IN
necessary and owardly-unworthy of this pow
eriui nation The cause that led to 1t is trifi-
al contrasted with the punishment that has been
iiHicted, that we can compare II to nothing else
than the beginning of one OF those family euds in
the South, among the chlyalry, growing out of a
look, word, iancied real slight, but which,
before IT ends, involves the lives of dozens of
those engaged From exchange we copy the
following as the origin OF the affair.
Some months since Captain Smith, of one of
the steamers which run up the river San Juan, in
the emf ny of the Transit Co, had difficulty
with native. Subsequent to this difficulty, Cap
tam Smith loaded his rifle and from the deck of
ms boat shot the native through the heart That
there may be no cavil about the act we will adj
NIT it was done in self Defence although the facts
warrant but one conclusion that it was murder.
The authorities demanded an investigation of this
ACT, bur Smith not only refused to surrender him
sell but also refued to give bonds or submit to
an investigation of his conduct. During this at
tray, Mr. Borland, Minister to Central America,
uiiot tuudtciy happened along on his way 10 the
=. y, and personally intefered in the matter, and
shoulderng rifle, played the bully, threatening
to shoot the first who set foot upon the steam
er to arrest Smith. The threats of Borland and
his friends drove the Marshal and his party off
Afterwards Mr. BorIand went on shore at Grey
town, and an attempt made to arrest him for
his resistance to the authorities. Borland defied
them, and threatened the revenge of the United
States Government if their Minister was touched
AT this time the AIaVor of tho tow data
the acts of the Marshal and his men so far as the
attempt TO arrest Borland was concerned. In the
melee some missile thrown which struck Mr.
Borland, but for which no one could be held re-
sponsible'
Borland, his blood boiling with the heat of one
the hot springs of Arkansas, hastens back to
Washington, and lays his case backed up by the
representations and influence of the Nicaragua
Transit Company, before the President, and he
dispatches steamer with orders TO Captain Hol-
Inns of the Cyane, 10 level Greytown to the dust
How that order was obeyed our readers are already
informed. Mrs. Moody, lady of New York,
and wife OF merchant at Greytown, gives the
following as part of the transaction.
'Soon after the arrival of the Cayne on the
18th, there being no Government to treat with,
her commander caused written demand to be
published IN French, Spanish and English requir-
ing the people of San Juan to pay the sum of
$4,000, and make an apology by 9 A. Nj next
day Many OF the wealthiest citizens of the
town were absent some of them in this city. and
their families in San Juan-and there being no
Government, the money demand was not of course
complied with, nor was the apology furnished, and
the consequence was the destruction Of the entire
town, together with all of the merchandise and
household furniture, and the inhabitants many of
whom were foreigners, driven to the forest for
shelter during the deahdispensing rainy season
in the tropics.
Ii s not inIurv to tho r.,
which this immense indemnity could have been
justly demanded, for the utmost value of the
matched house belonging to the Company, which
was taken down by order of the authorities at
the demand of the owner of the land, was $3.50,
ana this was the only property of any description
which had IN any manner been harmed, vet the
town, of whose people all disinterested men have
spoken well, must be demolished after the fashion
OF "lndlan warfare" With reference to the in
suit TO the Hon Mr. Borland the athorities offer
ed reward of $50 the spot for the discovery
of the vagabond who committed the outrage but
the darkness concealed him.
The New York Commercial sums up the matter
most ably from which we make extracts:
First it is indisputable that Capt Smith took
the law INTO his own hands and shot native of
Greytown. Admitting, as we do, that this was
done in self deence-that it was not only justif-
able but necessary-the universal law of nations
required that he should hold nsef amenabe TO
c ioS8i duliioI LiSdu De
fore them
Second, Mr.. Borland, who volunteered his arm
ed and IN the resistance, was present in other
capacity than private citizen. The people of
Greytown committed no offence against Minister
Borland, against the United States through
Minister Whatever Borland suffered, of insult
or injury, he brought upon himself in the capaci
ty OF private individual, who aided another
private person IN resisting the authorities of the
place, in perfectly just and reasonable demand
Third, then the alleged offence of the authori-
ties OF Greytown is reduced simply to this They
sought to arrest American citizen for shooting
one of their own people, in order to examine into
the facts That they had right to do So no one
can deny
They went no farther than the assertion of the
principle, aid having done so, retired from the
contest. to which they were so unequal The
Mayor and others Immediately resigned their off
ces, and we understand that the place has had no
local authorities.
Fourth, this Greytown is feeble place. with
out any delences whatever, and we understand
without public buildings or property being in
fact little more than 4 small collection Of wooden
sheds, with an insignificant population. Had there
been Just grounds OF complaint against this feeble
the authorities of the place commit
ted ever so helnous offence against the rights
or dignity of the United States-half a dozen or
score of marines sent shore in boat could have
tes and held them as hostages for apology and
amendment, and the honor of the United States
would have been abundantly satisfied Instead of
that, the powerful nation sends a ship of war
against these defenceless people, demanding an
apology for proceeding which was proper and
Just, and because either there is no one there en-
powered to apologize, the authorities having re-
signed, or because the people there refuse to deny
their right to arrest man who shot one of their
own citizens, the ship turns her broadside upon
the unortifed place the inhabitants of which fled
INTO the wood. Nor, according to one account
apparently written by some on board the CIV
ane, was the honor of the United States sufficient
iy vtndIcated by several hours of bombardng
these frame houses. for finding that the cannon
balls went through without entirely destroying
them, the commander of the Cyane sent party
on shore to burn every dwelling, and this revolt
ing task they performed"
The Cattle trade la Nc,c York Cattle have adj
vanced one cent per pound in the New York Mar
kef, by reason of combination, notwithstanding
the comparative deserlion of the city the intense
neat and the little travel. Several of the princi-