Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-12-14
VOL. 2. NO. IL.

4SoRoaoADlCf
the outrages committed. Not standing be-
fore the world in the attitude of an organised
political society, being neither competent TO
exercise the rights nor to discharge the obli-
cations of government, it was, in fact. a
marauding establishment, too dangerous to be
disregarded, and too guilty too pass unpunish-
ed and yet incapable of being treated in any
other way than as a piratical resort of out
laws, or camp of savages, depredating on
emigrant trains or caravans and the frontier
settlements of civilized states.
Scasonable notice was given to the people
of Greytown that this government required
them to repair the injuries they had done to
our citizens, and to make suitable apology
for their insult of our minister, and that a
ship of war would be dispatched thither to
enforce compliance with these demands
But the potice passed unheeded Thereup-s
ON commander of the navy in charge of the ,
sloop-of-war Cyane, was ordered to repeat the
demands, and to insist upon a compliance
Herewith. Finding that neither the popu-
lace, nor those assuming to have authority
over them manifested anv disposition to make
the required reparation, or even to offer ex-
cuse for their conduct, he warned them by
public proclamation that if they did not give
satisfaction within time specified, he would
lombard the town By this procedure he
afforded them oportunity to provide for their
personal safety.
To those also who desired to avoid loss of
property, in hepunishment about to be infiict-
ed on the offending town, he furnished the
means of removing their effects by the boats
of his own ship, and of steamer which he
procured and rendered to them for that pur-
pose. At length, perceiving no disposition on
. @t,o~ <1r<1 L. IL 4.
quisitions he appealed to the commander of
her Britanic Majesty's schooner Bermuda -
who was seen to have intercourse, and appar-
emily much influence with the leaders among
them-to interpose, and persuade them to
take some course calculated to save the neces-
sity of resorting to the extreme measure in
dicated in his proclamation but that officer,
instead of acceding to the request, did moth
ing more than to protest against the lombard
ment.
No steps of any sort were taken by the
people to give the satisfaction required No
individuals, if any there were, who regarded
themselves as not responsible for the miscon-
duct of the community, adopted any means
to separate themselves from the fate of the
guilty. The several charges, ON which the
demands for redress were founded, had been
publicly known to all for some time, and
were again announced to them. They did
not deny any of these charges; they offered
no explanation, nothing in extenuation of
their conduct; but contumaciously refused to
hold any intercourse with the commander of
| the 'sCyane." Bytheir obstinate silence they
seemed rather desirous to provoke chastise-
ment than escape it.
There is ample reason to believe that this
conduct of wanton defiance, ON their part, is
imputed chiefly to the delusive idea that the
American Government would be deferred from
furnishing them, through fear of disple asing
a formidable foreign power, which they pre-
sumed to think, looked with complacency up
on the aggressive and insulting department
towards the United States The .sCyane" at
length fired upon the town. Before much
| injury had been done, the fire was twice sus-
| pended, in order to afford an opportunity for
an arrangement; but this was declined
Most of the buildings of the place, of little
value, were in the sequel destroyed; but,
owing to the. he.considerate precautions taken by
our naval commander, there was no destruc-
ton of life
When the "Cyane" was ordered to Central
America, it was confidently hoped and ex-
pected that no occasion would arise for "a
resort to violence and destruction of property
and loss of life" Instructions to that effect
were given to her commander. And no ex-
treme act would have been repulsed had not
the people themselves by their extraordinary
conduct in the affair, frustrated all the poss-
bic mild measures for obtaining satisfaction
A withdrawal from the place, che object of his
visit entirely defeated would, under the cir
cumstances in which the commander of the
Cyane found himself, have been absolute aban-
donment of all claims of our citizens for in
Identification, and submissive acquiescence
in national indignity. 1t would have encour-
aged in these lawless men spirit ofindolence
and rapine most dangerous to the lives and
; property of our citizens at Punta Arenas, and
probably embolden them to grasp at the treas
ures, and valuable merchandise cont ingally
passing over the Nicaragua route 1t GER
tainy would have been most satisfactory to
me if the objects of the ''Cyane's" mission
could have been consumated without any act
of public force but the arrogant contumacy
of the offenders render it impossible to avoid
the alternative, either to break up their es-
tablishment, or to leave them impressed with
the idea that they might persevere with i'm
punity in a career of insolence and plum
der.
This transaction has been the subject OF
complaint on the part of some foreign Powers,
and has been characterized with more Of
, harshness than ofNjustice. If comparisons
were to be instituted. it would not be difficult
to present repeated instances in the history Of
States, standing in the very front of modern
civilization. where communities, far less of.
t Tending and more defenceless than Greytown
have been chastised with much greater sever
!, ity, and where not cities only have been lait
f in ruin, but human life has been recklessl,
and tho blood cf tha ;,oooo.+ -.