Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-05
NUMBER 10.

IN ~ uhlJlIlO lUs
of Punta Arenas, but this mischievous design was
defeated by the interpositon of one Of our ships
of-war, at that time in the harbor of San Juan.
Subsequently to this, In May last, body Of men
from Greytown crossed over to Punta Arenas ar
rogating authority TO arrest, the charge Of mur
der a captain of one of the steamboats, Of tho
Transit Company. Being well aware that the
claim to exercise jurisdiction there would be resist
ed them as it had been on previous occasions,
they went prepared TO assert II by force Of arms
Our Minister to Central America happened to be
present on that occasion. Believing that the cap
tain OF the steamer was innocent, for he witnessed
the transaction which the charge was founded and
believing, also, that the intruding party, having
Jurisdiction over the place where they proposed TO
make the arrest, would encounter desperate resis-
tance If they persisted In their purpose he inter.
posed, eiectually, to prevent violence and blood
shed.
The American minister afterwards visited Grey
town, and whilst he was there, mob, including
certain Of the socalled public functonares Of the
place, surrounded the house In which he was,
avowing that they had come to arrest him, by or
der Of some person exercising the chief author
ity. While parleying with them he was wounded
by missile from the crowd. A boat, despatched
from the American steamer Northern Light" to
release him from the perilous situation in which he
was understood to be, was fired into by the town
guard, and compelled to return. These incidents,
together with the known character Of the popula-
ton of Greytown and their excited state, induced
just apprehensons that the lives and property Of
our citizens at Punta Arenas would be in imminent
danger after the departure of the steamer with
her passengers, for New York, unless guard was
left for their protection For this purpose, and in
order to insure the safety Of passengers and prop
erty passing over the route, temporary force was
organized, at considerable expense to the United
States for which provision was made at the last
session of Congress.
This pretended community, heterogeneous as
semblage gathered from various countries, and
composed, for the most part of blacks and persons
Of mixed blood had previously given other indica-
tons of mischievous and dangerous propensities.
Early in the same month, property was clandcs-
timely abstracted from the depot Of the Transit
Company, and taken to Greytown The plundcr-
obtained shelter there and their pursuers were
driven back by Its people, who not only protected
the wrongdoers and shared the plumber, bu treat
ed with rudeness and violence those who sought to
recover their property.
Such in substance, are the facts submitted to my
consideration, and proved by trustworthy evidence
could not doubt that the case demanded the in
terposition Of this government. Justice required
that reparaton should be made for Do many and
such gross wrongs, and that course of insoence
and plunder tending directly to the insecurity Of
thS HNSS VI HuiHcIOuS tfuNcuefb ana Ol IUe Tlcn
treasure belonging to our citizens, passing over
this transit way, should be peremptorly arrested.
Whatever 1t might be, in other respects, the
community in question, in power to do mischief,
was not despicable. 1t was well provided with
ordnance, small arms, and ammunition, and might
easily seize on the unarmed boats, freighted with
millions of property, which passed almost daily
within Its reach 1t did not profess to belong to
any regular government, and had, in fact, no re-
cOunispd deDpudenca n wifi
one to which the United States or their injured
citizens might apply for redress or which could bo
held responsible, In any way, for the outragcs
committed. Not standing before the world in the
attitude of an organized political society, being
neither competent to exercise the rights nor to
discharge the obligations of government, It was,
in fact, maurauding establishment, too danger
Gus to be disregarded, and too guilty to pass un-
punished and yet incapable of being treated In any
other way than as piratcal resort of outlaws or
camp Of savage, deprcdating on emigrant trains
or caravans and the frontier settlements Of civilized
States.
Seasonable 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 ship-of-war would be despatch
ed thither to enforce compliance with these de-
mands. But the notice passed unheeded. There
upon, commander Of the navy, in charge Of the
hlOOp-Ul-WH -tyhuc, wis OfucTcu 10 repeat the
demands, and to insist upon compliance there
with Finding that neither the populace, nor those
assuming TO have authority over them, manifested
any disposition to make the required reparation,
even TO offer excuse for their conduct, he warn
ed them, by public proclamation, that II they did
not give satisfaction within time specified, ho
would lombard the town.
BY this procedure he afforded them opportunity
to provide for their personal safety. To those
also who desired to avoid loss of property In the
punishment about TO be inflicted 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
purpose. At length, perceiving no disposition on
the part Of the town to comply with his requsitions
he appealed to the commander Of her Britannia Ma
jesty's schooner Bermuda who was seen TO have
intercourse and apparently much influence with the
leaders among thom,--to interpose, and persuade
them to take some course calculated 10 save the
necessity OF rcsorting 10 tho extreme measure in
dicated In his proclamation; but that officer, In
stead of acceding to the request, did nothing moro
than TO protest against the contemplated lombard
ment. No steps Of any sort were taken, by the
people, TO give the satisfaction required. No in
dviduals, IL any there were, who regarded them.
selves as not responsible for the misconduct Of tho
community, adopted any means to separate them
selves from the fate Of the guilty.
The several charges, on which the demands for
reureSs were iOuuueu, uau Decn puDnciy knOWu 10
all for some time, and were again announced to
them. They did not deny any Of these charges
they offered no explanation, nothing In extenua-
ton Of their conduct-but contumaciously refused
TO hold any intercourse with the commander Of the
"Cyane." BY their obstinate silence, they seemed
rather desirous TO provoke chastisement than TO
escape Il. There Is ample reason TO believe that
this conduct Of wanton defiance, on their part, is
imputable chiefly to the delusive idea that the
American government wouldbe deferred from pun
isbing them, through fear of displeasing formida
BILE foreign Power, which, they presumed to think,
looked with complaceDcy upon their aggressive and
insulting department towards the United States
The "Cyane" at length fred upon the town. Be-
fore much injury had been donc the fire was twice
suspended, in order TO afford opportunity for an
arrangement; but this was declined. Most Of the
buildings Of the place, Of little value generally,
were in the sequel, destroyed but, owing to the
considerate precautions taken by our naval COM
mander there was no destruction Of life.
When the "Cyanen was ordered to Central
49, - "a l.. -.