The daily union., 1854-08-01
To the PnEsmENrof the United States.
NJ. Borlq,ad 10 NJ. Nucy.

SAINT " ehHiti ou'y - ioo'
NJ. Borlgtad TO NJ. lMrcy.
WAsHINGros May 80, 1854.
SIN: Having arrived i'll this city from my mission in
Central America beg leave to submit the following state
ment occurrences which regard important and ask
for il early consideration:
Enclosed herewith and marked A, is Il printed slip
by from New York newspaper, which purports to be
of those prepared by the officers o!
the Northern hight" and which find to be cor
in all material particulars present ii in lieu of
separate statement Of my own and adopt it as such
Enclosed ALSO marked B hand you copy of the agree
made by with the persons employed to remain
at Puna Arenas guard the persons and property
of our citizens ge
In addition, deem it proper to remark that although
personally cognznt of the conduct of Captain Smith
for which he was charged with murder and sought to be
arrested by the soced authorities of San Juan or Grey
town, and las | AMI clearly and decidedly of
opinion that he jstiiabc in all he did, the question
of his guilt innocence did not entcr into the considcr
tions for which nterposed TO protect him. He was cit
ze Of the United States and the persons who sought to
arrest and claimed the right to punish him. were not rec
ognised by the United States possessed Of
ton over any portion Of Central America TO determine
any question involving the persons or property OF our ct
This ground was not only authorized but required to
assure NJ He by the preredsrts OF inerposomto pro-
citizens at the place, and against the same
persons heretofore directed and sanctioned by
ment by the special instructions under which my mis-
sion undertaken Besides, even supposing the So
called authorities OF San Juan Greyt town 10 he gov
ernment invested with the rights and powers have de-
MED over territory embraced within their town limits
they certainly had jurisdiction that portion of the
territory upon which the obnoxious act OF Capt Smith had
been done; that WAS, although the north bank yet
some ten or twelve miles above the mouth o the San Juan
river of the place where bis arrest was aempted Punta
Arenas on the south bank of the San Juan river and the
opposite side of the bay from San Juan or Gre town.
The act them of Captain Smith whether criminal not
done within the territory OF Nicaragua, and for il he
is amcabe Nicaragua alone if to any authority. And
the place OF his attempted arrest Punia Arenas territory
,pf,y aud ('nGfp Rjrac
legal process civil criminal could rghtiully be
ted there unless by authority of the other of those
powers.
1t will be observed, that one moment resorted to
threat of violence epcl the armed Of San Juan from
the steamer. wish ii to be distinctly understood that
did this from impulse of passion with the expecta
ion that my threat would have TO be executed; though
if UNDECIDED, it would have been.
Ny adopted from conviction of its necessity,
as the only mode then at my choice to prevent collision
which could hardly have ended without the destruction of
many lives
II is true that the mayor sigand) to and dis
avowed the acts of those who arrested and assaulted
But is equally that he presided at the meeting in the
sation-house Iron hal in which it was proposed tby
Martin, the cx-ayor and resolved to arrest me that the
authorities took steps to prevent t and that the armed
men who arrested composed mainly of the police
guard of the and armed with the mnskets of the
corporation Their leader declared that he by order
of the mayor to arrest me.
From the best information could obtain, the popua-
ton of San juan Geytown numbers about three hun
dred of all sorts and consists OF few Engsmen Erench-
y of negroes from Jamaica, and some natives of the
Mosquito shore There also two three natives
from the interior OF Nicaragua When reached that place
last September the number of negroes much smaller
than AT present This number has been increased as am
informed by recent arrivals from Jamaica, until now they
constitute the majority, and exercise the greater influence
At the last election and corporate organization no Amer
lean (except muatto man from New Orcans was III
cluded
of these people informed that seyentyfyc to
one hundred can be mustered for military service and
| IN hoy in
pounder and two l2-poundcrs--and some~&wo hundred
musket With the exception OF few PERSONS these peo-
pie property and have osenslc means OF live
hood. In their anomalous condition, without govern
mcnt which any civilized nation reeogn'ses--indeed
o. upyiug by usurpon territory which our government
recognises belonging to Nic,mgua--being persons
almost without exception OF notoriously bad character
some OF them discharged penicnary convcts aud rei-
gees from iusticehabuay manitesng evil dispositions
towards our citizens and ndugng those dispositions 10
the nuryof persons and property whenever they no,
restrained by force unable TO regard them III any
other lg, than pirates and outlaws upon whom pun
ishnent he extent OF determination, may be rgbiuy
inflicted by any hand that has the power; aud in my
opinion; the interests of good government and humanity
impose the duty upon any offended party of ihlctng such
punishment manner at once summary and effective
Heretofore when these persons have committed their law
less acts upon citizens the armed hand OF olr govern
ment has been interposed TO punish for the past of
fence but only prevent It's threatened repetition As
consequence Che restraining force was with
drawn the offence repeated until now, they have POI
to believe that restraint for the time, and not punishment
is the worst they win have suffer for their worst acts
When ! warned them of the consequences OF their bnc
conduct hey boldly told they intended to do as thes
| pleased and we're reckless of consequences.
Under these circumstances, and informed by our com
mercal agent Mr. Fabens also by Mr. Scott the agen
of the Accessory Transit Company who has under bis ca
many thousand dollars worth of property, that IN view
the evil dispositions of those persons manifested Tor som
time past in of high excitement they did not con
slider that the persons and property OF our citizens wouio
be safe after the had left unless protected by al
adequate force deemed il my duty to employ the services
of The men, forth in The printed slip and the agree
ment enclosed in order TO afford that protection AS thes
circumstances are far am informed without precc
dent so presume is the of conduct pursued
der them. What did | found to be necessary, and be
lieved to be right therefore assumed the responsibility