The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-12-08

insecurity of the lives Of numerous travellers.
and OF the rich treasures belonging 10 our citizens
passing over this transit way should be peremp-
toriy arrested. Whatever i, might be in olhcr
respects, the community in question, in power 10
do mischief, not despIcabie. Ii was well pro-
vided win ordnance, small arms and ammunition.
and mi ght easily seize on the unnrmed hoats,
freghted with millions Of property. which passed
almost daily within its reach. ii did not profess
to belong TO any regular government, and had, in
fact, recognised Dependence on or connexIon
with any one which the United States their
injured citizens mr. apply for redress, which
could be held responsible IN any way for the out
RACES Committed Not standing before the world
in The attitude of organic political society,
being neither competent TO exercise the rights nor
TO discharge The obligations of government, II
in fact marauoIng establishment, too dan.
gerous TO be disr"garded, and too guilty to pass
unpublished, and YET incapable of being treated In
any other way than piraical resort of out
laws, a camp Of savag S, depredating on emf
grant trains or caravans and the frontier settle.
ments of civilized States.
Seesonable notice was given to the people oil
GreyiOwn that this Government required them to
repair the injuries they had done TO our citizens,
and to make suitable apology for .heir insult Of
our Minister. and that ship-of.war would be
despatched lhther TO enforce compliance with
these demands. But the notice passed unheedeG.
I'hereupon a commander Of The navy, in charge
OF the s"op- of.war {" Cyane,' was ordered to
repeat the demands. and to insist upon a comp'i-
ance herewith. Finding that neither the popu-
lace, nor those assuming to have authority over
Them, manifested any disposition to make the re-
CURED repa alton, even 10 offer excuse for their
conduct, he warned them, by public proclama-
,or that ii they did not give satisfaction within
a time specified, he would lombard the town. BY
this procedure he afforded them opportunity 10
provide for their personal safety. To those also
who dtsr+d to avoid loss OF property in the pun
iShment about to be inflicted on the offending
town, he furnished the means Of removing their
effects by the beats of his own ship, and Of
steamer which he procured aud rendered to them
for that purpose. Al length, perceIvIng no DIS
position the part Of the town to comply with
his requislions, he appealed to the commander of
her Brtanic Majesty's schooner Bermuda
who was seen TO have intercourse, and apparently
much influence, with the leaders among them, TO
nterpose and persuade them 10 take some course
calculated to save he necessity Of resorting to the
extreme measure indicated in his proclamation;
but that officer instead of acceding TO the request
did nothing more than TO protest against the con-
templated bomba rdment. No steps of any sort
were taken by the people TO give the satisfaction
required. No individuals, if any there were, who
regarded themselves not responsible for the
misconduct of the community, adopted any means
to separate themselves from the fate of the guilty
The severa! charges 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 misunderstanding in extenua.
ton of their conduct; but contumacousIy refused
TO hold any intercourse with the commander Of
the "Cyane." By their obstinate silence they
seemed rather DESTROYS to provoke chastsement
than to escape it. There is ample reason to be-
Iieve that this conduct OF wanton defiance on their
part is imputahle chiefly to The delgsve idea that
the American Government would be deferred
from furnishing Them through fear of dispeasng
a formidable foreign Power, which they presumed
TO tbInk looked with complacency upon their ag-
gressive and insulting department towards The
United States. The "Cyane" at length fired
upon the town. Before much injury had been
done, the fire was twice suspended, 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 de.
stroyed, but, owing TO the considerable precautions
taken by our naval commander, there
destruction Of life.
When the sCyane' was ordered to Central
America, it was confidently hoped and expected
that occasion would arise for ga resort to vio-
lence and destruction Of properly and loss OF
e.'' Instructions to that effect were given to
her commander; and no extreme act would have
been requisite had not the peopfe themselves, by
their extraordinary conduct in the affair, frustrated
all the possible mild measures for obtaining salts.
faction. A withdrawal from the place, the object
OF his visit entirely defeated, would, under the
circumstances in which the mmander Of the
Cyane found himself, have been absolute abandon.
ment of all claim of citizens for indemniica.
ton, and submissive acquiescence in national
indign!ty. 1t would have encouraged in these
Iawless men spirit Of insoence and rapine most
dangerous the lives and property of our citizens
at Puna Arenas, and probably emboldened them
TO grasp at the treasures and valuable ,nerchan.
disc continually passing over the Nicaragua route.
1t certainly would have been most satisfactory TO
me if the objects of the "Cyanes" mission could
have been consummated without any act of public
force; but the arrogant conumacy of the offend.
ers rendered it impossible to avoid the alternative
either TO break up their establishment, or to leave
them impressed with the idea that they might per-
severe with impuniiy in career of insolence and
plumber.
This transaction has been the subject of COM
plant on the part Of some foreign powers, and
has been characterized with more of harshness
than Of justice. II comparisons were to be insti.
tuted, it would not be difficult 10 present repeated
instances in the history Of States, Standing in the
very front Of modern civilization, where commu-
mites, far less offending and more defenceess
than Greytown, have been chastised with much