Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-08-04
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS, FRIDAY AUGUST 1854

house of Mr.. Fahen's the American agent
This was the insult, for which apology was
demanded and vengeance taken The rcmo-
val of the matched building, value 5000,
formed the basis Of the demand for $4,000
damages, made by Capt. Holins. The events
which followed. all are familiar with.
Ever since the news of tho bombordment
came, we have been on the look out for a
reason to he given for so eStraordinarya deed.
Nothing worthy of that name has been given
or even limited at. The accounts Of it sub
stantiully agree, on all sides We are in
doubt what to call the transaction 1t was
not buccanecring. prevalent as that used to
be in that part Of the world The buccaneers
sought for plumber, the Captain of the Cyane
only to destroy. 1t was not war. Warriors
expected to spare private property, except
where it interferes with getting ut the enemy
Here there was no enemy, no public works to
be got at. no defences to be broken through
no prisoners were wanted.
1t comes under no chapter OF civil law, or
common law, or martial law, or international
law, or even savage law 1t was laicless
act, by which the nation feels itself disgraced.
1t can he placed unde. 10 head but that OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES on a stupendous scale
and under government orders. 1t had all the
characteristics of rowdy act in its antece-
/ dents. The conduct of Captain Smith, who
/ deliberately shot a man for showing some
real or fanced disrcspcct to him or his vessel,
was that Of a rowdy of the worst kind. Mr..
Borland, before he was sent on diplomatic
errand 10 Cartral -A,nerirn LaI proved him
self rather terOc,ous rowdv, than gentle.
man fit to be entrusted with such business
His abuse of his official position to screen the
| murderer from arrest, instead of using his in
fuencc to bring him to justice and then
because his own incorporate and provoking
language had excited crowd to NEEDLE with
his sacred person, the tanning his anger till
force could be gathered to take vengeance or
the innocent as we'll as the guilty, all be-
token the bully.
We see general condemnation of tn,
outrageous act, from all quarters. Even the
Union, for wonder, has not yet come ou
with song Of praise to the wisdom, patriot
ism and decision of the executive for author
zing 50 glorious deed and Congress hal
ventured to call for information The ofhcia
letters show that Captain Hollns was acting
under orders from the Secretary of War. His
orders were rather vaguely expressed, but tn,
implication is plain enough, and the odium o
the transaction can be hardly shifted on t.
Captain Ilolins' shoulders. 1t may be said
the Secretary did not mean to have the mat
ter carried SO far, Captain lloIlins doubles,
understood them to mean that he shou d gC
just 50 far. If his orders were vague, there
was no reason why they should be.
Somehow, we cannot hut suspect that there
is some unseen scheme Of misc iefat the bot
tom OF the transaction. We have not forgot
ten how tie Mexican war was begun under
Mr.. Folks orders. We have seen enough o
present administration to look for no gpot
to come from any OF the uut-oi-thc. way move
ments OF our chief oiicials. The nation ha,
"a ris t to he afraid Of them.