Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-03-24
The Black Warrior at Havana-Signs
of War with Spain.

The seizure of this vessel at Havana has
produced quite sensation in Congress and
throughout the Union. The circumstances
Of the seizure were simply as follows:
The Captain reported to the boarding OF
fcer when he entered, giving his manifest as
usual, in which it was stated that she enter
ed as had been her custom in ballast" when
;he Clerk went to :he Custom House to get
tie necessary papers from the Captain OF the
port, in order to allow the ship to pass the
Moro. The papers were refused, with the
explanation that there was an informality IN
the entry. The boarding officer had attached
a note TO the manifest of the Captain, saying,
that the ship bad entered in ba last, and
brings four hundred bales Of cotton for New
York" The Collector claimed that the Cap
tain should have entered his cargo in transit
and not in ballast The manifest of the Cap
tain was feclared therefore not to be true
one, and that the ship was responsib e accord
ing to law, and fine equal to double the
value of thc goods imported. This decree
vas urallerable. The agents Of the ship
were told that if they would give bonds iol
the payment Of the fine, and the coniscated
cotton taken out, the ship might 60 This
offer was of course refused. This ended the
matter. The Captain and b S men abandon
ed the vessel to the Spanish authorit es.
Ful. reports of the case have been uans
milted by our Consul; substant ating the
above facts The President has sent to Con
grcss his message N the subject. A motor
has been made to repea, or suspend The
neutrality laws. Should this take place
(which We hope will no) it will give fuI
pc to the genius Of Young America -
There is but little doub but there are in
fluences at work, both Mt home and abroad
to excite war between the United State'
and Spain. Slavery wants Cuba, and EGG
land and France are determined that it shaI
not have her The signs Of the times ar'
porientous of evil.
Since the above was in type we have re
ceived the following facts:
More about the Black War. ior.
The acting American Consul at Havana
Mr. ROBERTSON, has written a long letter Il
Secretary MARCY in relation to the srizur,
and cortiscatiun of this Steamer by the CL'
f ban officials. From him we learn tie BlacA
WarrioJ d.! infringe the revenue laws. II
that the agents cleared her as in ballast, vi CT
in reality she carried a cargo OF cotton; hu
as this had been customary with The Ca tain
he had not the slightest intention OF vioatln.
| the law, and offered to correct his m miles
within the legal time. This the authorities
peremptorily refused, and informed him hc
cargo had been confscAted. Consul ROBIN
son made every effort % exp'ain the matter
but the Captain General WIS inexorabe ant
sent officers on board 10 discharge he car Q
when Captain BULLOCK hauled down III
American dag. and. with Lis crew. ab nconet
5 the vessel The unusual severity wheneye
an American vessel comes under the ban o
: Spanish law has before been remarked upor
and however much we rlav lament the wan
Of legal manifest, it still does not justify Spal
:, in confscating her cargo after the Capal
y had proposed rectifying the nftrmaiy will
the time prescribed BY law. |. is plin|y /
be seen from this, as from many other mia
cases which have hrfTehipprnrd at II Van
that American ship ing viii suffer every
: # annoy ance aud insult ii measures are n,
n taken for immediate redress. Will our go,
g ernment do so?-Sm Reg.