Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-08-30
The Bombardment Of GTeytowh.

From The London Times Of lug. Oh.
We Lape never profssseJ 10 consider the spe-
/ ci5s of pratectoTate exercised by the British
i Government for along series Of years over the
+ Mosquito Coast Is "A possession ot any practical
advantage II the interests or honor 81 this oeIu-
i try. and we learnt with great satisfaction about
I four wears ngo,tha treaty had been signed at
f Washington. by SIR Henry Buser and Mir. Clay
I ton. the American Secretary of STATE, for the
/ purpose # placing the. communication between
/ the Atlantic and Pacific DecHns, 10y wAy Of Mica
r1gua under the Joint protection Of the maritime
Powers me-t interested III the prosecution 81 that
Undertakings The spirit of that treaty wa, per
treiIf far and just mud. if any exclusive right
+ had ever been claimed ar exercised by the Brit
i~h Government IN it, former relations with the
Mosquito Indians a far hHCk a under the span
5-h damuion over Central America, those rights
were ehceffnlly, and we think, wisely reiin-
qHished in exchange for positive engagement
lrIm the United states Government. that they
would cooperate with ourselves in the only OBJ
irct which gives peculiar value and importance
to tint pnrt Of the globe-namely, the opening Of
secure line Of communication between the two
oceans, and the establishment of two free ports
for al nations at eaeh extremity Of tie canal
For th- purpose the commercial stations at which
this transit trade is carried on would naturally
become important free cities, like the llanseutic
Towns of Europe, having no political character
services they render to the best interests Of soci-
ETY..
This being the principle which the British
Government has for some time past proclaimed
and acted upon with reference 10 the passage of
Nicaragua, with the full concurrence Of tho L.
States. it is with considerable surprise aud regret
that We learn that Groytown, nj the mouth of the
riycr san juan, has recently been attacked, and
destroyed b. one Of the most extraordinary out
tfll
ccr- Of any civilized State
Greyiown is not British possession fit had
been. measure would have been taken to iepcl
50 wanton and barbarous attack but we have
at this time no further interest in the place than
that which results from the commercial under
iahlugs IN which British nbiects may be cugag-
cd there. 1t j. impossible however. to lose
sight of the fact, which stands recorded in a sol
emu trentv. tbnt Great Britain waved and relin-
gu-heI her rights to the protectoratc Of the
hosg1ito Coast aud OF Greytown. it. principal
trading station, on the express stipulation with
the ! nicd states that they would, in conjunc-
ton with ourselves, guarantee the neutrality
and security of the passage The object Of
mat irentY wns Ia promote the construction
between the two oceans for the benefit of man
kind, on equal terms 10 all, ard for the protec-
Ton otthy .ame." 1t is certainly a most extra
ordinary violation of the spirit Of that treaty, that
an American ship 81 war should have presumed,
IN defence Il at best very doubtful cause, to
a'tnck and destroy the principal commercial sta
ON situated Oh this very line of communication,
which the American Government is expressly
bound t. maintain aud protect. The act of Cap
tam iiaiIns speaks for itself. 1t is indeed with
ont parallel in my history with which we are
acquainted, fer the place was wholly incapable
81 hung "a shot ia lis defence, not Il man was Kill
i'll ef wounded in thc attack, and the enterprise
Hn+ one cd mere destruction. The AmeriCanpa