Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-03-18
Letter from con.a, Robertson to Secretary Marcy.

Sin: BY the United States Corwin which des
patched to Charleston the LIST Instant conceving tina
the Importance Of the Intelligence had to Communicate
justified that course advised you OF the seizure by tn
customhouse authorities here, apparently, rather evil
IDENTIFY with the consent and appreciation Of tho supreme
authority Of the island OF the cargo board the stesme
Black WARRIOR of New York. and of the attempt to Law
heavy 6nc upon the captain of the vessel which fine
said to be double in amount to the value Of the
this under the :ase pretence Of his having made falls,
entry to witt that he stated his ship 90 In ballast
when abe had cotton board transu feel to b,
duty repeat tho circumstances of the case to cor
any tina, may have In my dss
patch before mentioned, numbered 81.
The steamer expected hero from Mobile on ber
to New York, on tho e6th ultimo Mcs,rs Tyung 4 70
her consguocs, tho day Def re- (25th Saturday en-
tered aud cleared her in ballast This has been
for Of the Law and British mail lines am ind
formed that the Black Warrior has been entered an
cleared in ballast since she commenced rum now about
nineteen months past making two trips per month"; with
out objection the part Of the
rites who cannot plead ignorance Of the fact for immc
datey that steamer drops her anchor custom house
guards and unlimited number Of policemen public and
secret are placed board watch every
package on the ship. No attempt has been made to con-
ceal the cargo Furthermore the captain of the Back
Warrior has been in the habit to deliver the author
ties on arrival several number Of the public journals
New York or Mobile Of the latest da.cs which contained
the advertisement of the Black Warriors being about 10
sail such date expressing the cargo abe carri Tor
bert port Of destination.
The ship arrived here on the morning of the es,b -
The captain delivered his manifest in ballast "a had
customary. He assures mo that he had always been
under the impression that special concession existed
which exempted his vessel and other steamers from the
iormaliIy OF maniiesng their cargo ia transifu. no
thinks that the the shin entertain the s,, h
lief On the same day, (eSth) at about IL O'clock Mr.
Tying sent his clerk TO the house for the
Of the steamer to take the the captain of the
ports to procure the for her leave the port IL
was refused to him, aud he informed that the shin
stopped by order OF superior authority of the royal
my office and informed me of the state of th,
case. Whilst the former was entering protest. took
the latter with me to the captain general The object OF
this interview was to lay before his oxcelency all
cunstances of the case aud particularly to show that
there had not been, the part of Captain Bullock or
one concerned in the Ship the least intention of VIC
lapg any law of Spain regulation OF the port His
eSceeucy courteously listened me- and replied that no
report had been made to him the subject he also re
| commended that should give him my statement in
memorial or official communication. | immediaely re-
turned to Office and prepared my letter the captan
general ofths letter in my anxiety TO bring the affair
TO satisfactory settlement without delay kept no copy
which regret Ia the time, Mr.. Tyng went To the
custom house, finding that the Of the difficulty was
the omission OF the cargo in rinu in the manifest and
thinking that as the twelve hours allowed by law to
amend manifests had not elapsed and that by making
the amendment the difficulty would be termin sted no
applied 10 the collector stating that in the course Of fl
teen minutes or half an hour he would be prepared to
present the correct manifest The collector replied tina,
it could NOT and should not be admitted because he had
already applied for the vessels despatch something to
this effect.
1t is that Mr. Tying had applied for the despa,cb.
but it be well to bear in mind that wss not given
and is question: in my opinion whether the steamer
could be considered cleared in effect far regards
the clearance on the 25ih, before she had arrived
deem it Informal Mr. Tying was at the same time in,
formed that the cargo confscated and the captain
hned according TO the custom house regulations In the
afternoon Of the same DAY, Il have been Informed
gang of men were alongside the shin to commence
the discharge Of the cargo but finding tha the cap;ain
and purser we're on shore the operation deferred
until the next morning, when they again appeared and
the officer at the head of the party demanded of the cap
tain the delivery oil the cargo which captain Bullock de-
clncd remarking to the officer that il he took by force
he must do, single bale of the cargo he 1.-The can
tan) would instantly hauldown his colofs and abandon
his ship them. This seemed to make the officer hest
tate lie suspended his operation and came on shore
no dono to lay the facts before his supeors and receive
Their directions He soon returned board opened the
hatches and commenced the discharge whereupon Car
tain Bullock hauled down his flag and with his officers
and crew. abandoned the vessel to the Spanish authori
ties.
On the evening of the 2sth received the cap,an.pep
erals reply to letter. which far from satisfactory
copy and translation OF the we're transmitted to
you with my communication No. 81, sent per steamer
"Corwin.n
On the LIST, at about IL o'clock, the collector wrote
communication to Mr.. Tying send you copy of this
communication, as well that Of second letter from
the same officer, also that of Mr. Tyugs repy Enclosed
you will likewise find copy of letter received las,
eTenin from the inendante of the treasury End of nv
reply thereto also accompany copy Tue p,tmted
regulations which handed all captains of vessels on
the first visit from the cnsomhouse officers.
have omitted say that am informed that the -eru.
atons concerning steamers require that they shall mani
Fest the quantity Of coal they have board but that in
no instance has this Law been complied with. This neg.
lect unobservance OF the laws by tho authorities them
selves has rendered them obsolete and therefore inapp
cable avn also assured that law prescbes that when
1t clearly shown that there has been intention Of in
ringing the law or derauur her M,i.stys revonnos
parties shall not he deemed cup ,be. In my opinion
is supply ridiculous suppose for an instant TIM, the
captain OF the Black Warrior hal any intention do 9th.
erwise than conform to all established regulations
Although had written the "intenl-ntr" last eve
ming declining the reqnes; that should appoint person
10 take an account of the cargo proposod be landed 10
day. heing lei that by the ile, thar the n,en
dcntcs Object was to present least the sembance of
sanction the Of this consulate to their proceedings
nevertheless, called upon him this morning. remlrkinr
ny way OF introduction that presented myself not ONLY
IN the character OF consul or commercial agent bnt
"a friend; that was expecting the steamer Phade phia
to-day ana was anxious to communicate NV govern.
ment the true relation OF the fccs both sides that nv
government might be prepared themany demand,
upon IL for indemnity by innocent parties interested In
the cargn;thst did solicit that his government
snonIi alter its position however DESTROYS might be to
aid i'll preserving good relations between the two govern
ments, but TO obtain facts. This led to discussion
remarked that could not gee how two wroups made
Gn tnat II might have been wrong have entered and
declared tue ship in ballast but that tho captain hrour
his consignec, had attempted 20 correct the error within
the legal time, and he had been permitted that this
added to the long continued and by the authorities well
Known practice OF entering in ballast when she had
go n frd1siI. did not see how they could pu. Them
selves in the right still that disposed TO contest
the Ia" points bearing the case but that had given
me much pain that the matter had been settled s,
iactory and amicaby II should have been and final
y that was apprehensve that this affair MIGHT create
great agitation and difficulty, from the circumstance Of
thcrc being 90 many parties interested who had nothing
whatever TO do with the vessel To all this the inten
dente said that lie had regretted that he had not seen
me before; that as the matter stood, he did not know
what to DO but he would examine carefully into H. and y
this effect. incoming W
But the meantime the ship has BEEN nv order ofhe
authorities hauled to OF the whnrves and some of The
cargo taken out There Ia every appearance ,ha, i.
tended to proceed with the DISCHARGE
Ia ny derPato no. 3i stated that the British man
line have also been in the habit Of entering and clearing
N ballast when they had cargo board Mr. Crawford
! the case.
Some Of the officers and all the crew of the "Back
Warrior board Of the United States steamer Ful
tom the transient passengers fourteen in number, are on
| shore.
beg Of YOU to consider my anxiety lay before YOU
all the circumstances that can bring mind in regard
TO th's unfortunate affair sufficient apology for the
| length Of this despatch.
There are three four American vessels in diculty