Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-08-11
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
THE GREYTOWN AFFAIR-BRITISIl INDlG-
NATION
BY RITCIiIES & PRYOR.
THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 10.

The Indignation of the jamaica people on account
of the bombardment of Grcytown, does not portend
any evil consequence TO this country. The proceed
iugs Of Captain Joey, and the angry denunciat'ono
the Kingston Journals, are interesting, not because
they would seem to justify tue apprehension that the
British Government ll undertake to aNense the i"te
of Son Juan, but because they fnrcshadow an unpe"
SAINT controversy in regard to the pretes"ns Of Great
Britain in Central America The British Government
is habituay arrogant and stubborn i'll asserting lis
claims to political domination, and under ordinary cr
cunstunces, it might undertake to redress the grie'
auces of his Majesty of Bluefeds But, 1t Is not
convenient just now to provoke the hostility OF the
United States, aud England will hardly venture be-
yond mild remonstrauce, if indeed anything at all
be said of the Greytown affair.
1t is evident however, from the conduct OF Cnpt.
Joey and the expression Of public sentiment III Ja-
miaicu that the British Government has not abandon
cd its pretousons 10 the protectorate OF Mosquito lct
by the Caytou.Bulwer Treaty Of April, 1851, Grca;
Britain engaged in the most precise and emphatic
terms 10 surrender all claim TO dominion or control III
the Central American terrory-cxcepting, Of course,
the British settlements the coast OF Honduras. We
never regarded this convention anything better
than an imros,urc by which the crafty Sir Henry
R,lwer deceived and circurlvened the innocent aud
uususpec,inr Mr. Clayton. There was never the
lens, design on the part Of the British Government
10 curry out lis stipuations in good faith Great Br-
tain still cugs tenociously to its Mosquito protecto-
rate, as is perfectly manifest in the tone OF the J"ma'
co Journals and in the procamanns ot Capt Jolley.
We though, the punishment Of the pirates "t San
Juan TO be- Just in itself and abundnntly provoked ny
their outrages upon citizens and our Minister
We shall approve the bn,nbardmct OF San Juan with
greater emphasis il will have the effect OF settling
d,ntvcly and satisfactorily the pcrplexed and per-
picking question of Central American poitics. ShHh
the copHictin. claims and ambitions of these 'oii'
temptblc little provinces always keep tho United
States ami Great Britain in angry controversy! =
The cn.rcetic conduct of Commander ll"llins will
rnp the matter to issue, and for ;liut II f"r no.
thing else he deserves the applause OF the country!
! To nyoid the chance of maapprchcn-oA, II Is oH-
ter perhaps distinctly to protest that We DO not WISH
"a be understood as in any way approving the con-
duct of Mr.. Borand III this affair His il one q" the
amendments of this Administration which we have
never been able to understand or to commend. In
his nreyious career he had not cvinccd any special
qualification for public business of any sort, but east
of all for the delicate and difficult duties OF diploma
CIV. When his promotion was first gazettcd We ioreh"-
1ed trouble from his vehement, and uuSovcrnabc pas
,ous and his restless ambition for effect and notorety
The want of Judgment and dignity, and the disp"si
ton to have hand 'in every man. pie, IA Shak-'
pearo expresses it, which constitute striking feature"
in Mr. Burlund's character were deploraby cohspi'
cnous in his conduc, OF Suu Juan. Why should lie
| American Minister Interfere between Captain Smith
and ,hc negro boatman, thereby otciously thruslin
himself into vulgar dispute. aud exposing
his government to unnecessary insult and contempt
|, was the business oi Mr.. Fabeils. the Consular
AGENT to afford Captain Smith the protection which
he might justly claim Mr.. Borland forgot his dign'
~ and his responsibility, when he yielded TO that lm
pulse OF pug,m which has so often involved him III
| stree, fights and affairs Of honor Nevertheless we
regard the chassement of the populace "f Grcyt"wn
Us just retributon.