The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-08-08
Special Correspondence Of the N. Y. Daily Tines
WAsaINoroN July o.

Special Coyrespondence of the N. Y. Daily Iimesa-
WAsHINoroN, July 27,
Col. j. c. Fremont was one Of the American
citizens present at Greytown, at the occurrences
of tho "outrage" npon Mr.. Borland. for which
such rotribution has been visited by Capt Hol-
Inns upon the town. As he is well known the
world over, as q cool, clear-hoaded and truth
full gentleman, his statement of that transac-
ton, the facts connected with II, cannot DO
otherwise than highly interesting at the pres
ent time. Upon questioning him on the sub
ject this morning. he very cheorfulIy oommu-
nicatod to me his understanding OF the affair,
WEIGH is substantially as follows' saN
II was quite evident that, for somo reason or
othor, a very strong prejudice existed at Trey
town against all Americans; q prejudice a
mounting almost to positive hostility, and to
conceal which, no pains whatever wero taken.
The immediate origin ofthe difficulty in whhioh
Borland participated, was the homicide OF tho
negro captain OF bungo, or river boat, com-
mitted by captain Smith Of steamer plying
on the river. Notwithstanding pnblishod state
ments directly the reverse, this homicide was
considered by tho Americans, almost without
exception. a deliberate cold blooded murder.
without q shadow Of palliatlon. There had
been son,e previous difficulty between Smith
and tho nogro. On the day Of the homicide.
Smiths steamer ran into tho negr0e'a bungos
the latter threatened TO shoot Smith II he broke
his boat. The bungo however was uninjured.
subsequently tho steamer started down the
river and after Ii had proceeded some distance,
put back again, apparently for no other pur-
pose than to run into the bungo. which it did,
crushing It like an ggshell AT this time the
negro was sitting in his bat with his gun
across his knees. The weight OF testimony IS,
that he made no hostile demonstration against
Smith. having neither risen from his scat nor
raised his gun, when Smith deliberately shot
him. Immediately upon being shot, tho poor
fellow got up, and while attempting to step
from tho wreck of his bungo, into the boat
alongside of it, bis strength failed him, and ne
fell into tho river. And yet presses who es-
teen il their duty to defend Hollins victory
right or wrong. tell us that it was universally
admitted that the negro was shot by Smith IN
sci f. dofcnce. N
A warrant was issued by the Mayor of Groy-
town for Smiths arrest, and an ofiicer wont ON
board the steamer as every body knows pus
was prevented from getting his prisoner by the
forcible resistance of the passengers neadeo
by Borand. In aiding the minister thus to
resist the officers, tho passengers did not in
tend to endorse the murder Of the negro, or
absoIve his murderer. On the contrary 1t
would have been a very easy matter to nave
had him hung on brief notice by a COMMITTEE
of Vigilance had either Of the Acknowledged
Iaaders pronosed IL. But Mr. Borland, In q
speech be made to tho crowd, as we'll as In
private conversation, told them he was instruc-
ted not in any way to recognize the authority
of Greytown deriving its authority from Tue
Mosquito King,) as scperate and distinct ironi n,
Nicaroagua, To not prevent the ureyto"u viil-
GERS to arrest an American citizen and Try MN
for crime, would be to recognize the authority
Of the Town Government id tho fullest senses
and SO Mr.. BoRLAND urged them to aid him In
"crushing OUT this scion Of the Mosqultos.-
If the Government of Greytown was Illegai'
deriving it's powers from incompetent autnori-
ty. the act of officers, who attempted to arress
SMITH could only be looked upon as the act Oh
n mob. proper to be resisted by mob force
In this opinion the whole steariiers party con-
Cured. And, Of course, tho arrest and iupris-
onment of Mr.. BoRLAYD that night was also
looked upon as the act of an irresistabie moo'
without law or authority Of any kind.
Il will be seen that this statement OF tho
case relieves Mr. BoRLAND and our Government
faom tho charSe of resistance to legally con
stituted authority, bvt l hive this statement OF
| facts, not with the Wow of expressing any o.
pinon on tho merits of tho case. 1t IS my
purwoso simply to afford some additional iight
whereby your readers may make up their own
opinions. II ought not to be overlooked, tnat
while the miserable mud hovcs and ehahties
of Greytown stand in tho foreground OF TINS
picture, Great Britain. with her Mosquito Pro-
tectorete, lies in the background; and while tho
Mosquitoes suffer in person, tho moral weight
of the blow struck by the orSer of the United
States Government falls indirectly upon that
Protectorate. 1t remains to DO seen wnethor
England will resent our act and remain her
| Protectorate by force Of arms. or whether sno
will abandon it as too expensive for the possl-
pie results to accrue thercform.
have no idea that Capt HoLLINs exceeded
his instruction in tho course he has pursued
but feel well assured that whoever else ls ?
resnonsible for tho sacking and destruction OF
| Greytown whenever the secret history OF thls
affair is revealed, if over, it will be seen that
Mr.. MARCY never couuoellod, approved or con-
tomplated any such catastrophe. 1t is 10 oe
hoped Congress will not fail to eau upon 'ns
presiden, for information on this subject, and
for copies of the Instructions to Captain HoL
Inns.