The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-20

(Fron tho Boston Journal, August III
We have already announced the arrival Of the
U. s. slOop-Ofwar Albany at Turks Island, which
vessel had been sent ont by our government to In
quire into the circumstances come sted vita the
imprisonment Of the American Consul at that place,
,s Josn !: Nelson, Esq: The facts connected With
follows 1T seems that some jealousy exists among
the mercantile community and officials at Turks
Island towards the American Consul. The trade Of
Turks lslaLd is principally with the Uljted States,
and the American Consul being connected with
commission house at the island secures the major
part Of the American business As a consequence,
the members of tnis house are In bad odor with
certain psrties. Both Mfr. Nelson aud the former
Consul at the island had been subjected to many
annoyances in consequence Of this state Of things
In the early part Of the last spring Mr.. Nelson was
Of the magistrates Of the island, and meeting him in
the street he incautiOusly committed some trifng
assault for which he was arrested and brought be-
fore the Police Court. There he made an ample
apology, and desired to settle the matter by paying
q fine; but the magistrate, instead Of imr osing
light fine, as was customary in such cases. bound
ham over to the Superior Court.
The case came up in that court in May last. Mr..
Nelson was charged in one cOun: with assault on
Gustavus Lig gh!bourn, and on second count with
ON assault on him az q magistrate. To the first
charge Mr.. Nelson plea:ed guilty" but to the se
ccnd mot guilty" as he no. aware at the time
that MIR. Liehtb5urn was q magistrate. However,
general plea Of guilty with extcnuatng circum-
stances seems to Eavc been recorded, against which
the defendant demurred as informal. The Court
reserved the objection for future consideration and
proceeded TO fiue Me-. Nelson the exorbitant Of
go. This lie refused to pay, and was imprisoned
until, tired OF his close confinement in unhealthy
Jail, ana despairing Of the interference OF his go
vernment, he paid the fine and was released.
The facts III the case were promptly brought to
the notice Of the government, which, however, took
no steps to secuse the release Of Mr.. Nelson, ana
subsequently, an American gentleman residing on
the issnd, who was formerly consul thsre under tho
administration of Mr.. Fillmore, waited upon Mr..
Marcy, with full statement Of tie facts. The Scs
retary Of State received him very brusquely and at
the tiEe, virtually declined to interfere. The gen.
tleman who had the matter in hand possessed, how
ever unusual energy and perseverance, and was not
easily shaken off, aud it seems that the administra.
tion after IL had despatched the Cyane to Grcytown,
10 revenge the insult TO Mr.. Borland concluded that
it could not d. less than Inquire into the orcam-
stances connected with the imprisonment OF Consul
Nelson. The sloop of war Albany was accordingly
sent out, and arrived at Turks Island on the 18th
ult-
How this matter is viewed at Turks Island, snong
the unprecedented part OF the people, will be seen
by the following extract from ao article in the
Royal Standard OF J-ly ~, announcing the arri-
val Of the ltlbsny:-
TIE cause of Mr. Neiso s late incarceration Il too well
known 10 the public to need to be repeated The
Treatment which he experienced tho occasion has
always appeared 10 us disproporcpatc TO the cicncea
common assauIt--wbich he acknowledged having
mittcd And when take into consideration the
known roll M and hostile ciir gs Of the individuals
into hose hand hc fs namely, the party assaulted
the Police agistrse who would not settle the case but
ent II 60 the Supreme Court.he Queens Advocate,
who had all eady his account preferred unsub.
santsed chsQes against him at the police court, and
arrsgned hIrn NJ The higher ribuns-he Judge OF
the Supreme Court who sentenced himand the Provost
Marshal VINO took him into custody being tho same Polco
msgisIsewe say IL requires stronger faith than we
10 believe that in all these transactions thero
an entire abs of vindictveness exercised towards
Mr.. Nelson.
We hope and trust that from the investigation which
Commsncsr Gerry IA carrying tho whole truth will
be brought to light.
We are disposed to give the administration all
due credit for its Interference in this case though
IT must be acknowledged that its action was some
what taIdy. Contrasting this case with the affair
of Borland, which presents similar points, we can
not help thinking that the administration has made
| Ash Of one and flesh Of another. Mr.. Borland, q
IN who il notoriously rash he adstrorg and rasci
BILE, was iDsulted by an irresponsible mob, and
forthwith, without entering into an investigation.
| President Pierce sends o sloopofwAr TO batter
| down Greytowa. Mr.. Nelson Is fined and impris-
| oped upon frivolous charge, and after the lapse
| Of two months q government vessel Is sent out to
/" INQUIRE into the circumstance" In order TO be
conssteIt, President Pierce should have ordered
the sloopoi-war Albany to batter down the town OF
| Grand Turk. The different mode OF managing
tre ese two similar cases will naturally SUCCESS the
inference that cur government thinks II can safety
play the bully at Greytown, but entestsins wnoie
some dread OF the power Of the Bntia1 government
. hich exercises jruisdictiop over ruru laand.