New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-03-20
THE AFFAIR AT HAVANA.

On Saturday messenger sailed from this port for
Spain carry demand for settlement Of the aair
OF the Black Warrior seized by the officers at
Havana, and we learn by the Crescent City which
arrived here last evening, still in their possession
Tie circumstances Of the have already been laid
before readers but the statement on both sides
naturally contradictory proceed though in the
absence Of official Spanish documents, to up the
facts as far as they now appear to be made out.
The Black Warrior s an Indifferent chip, owned
mostly in Mobile but partly in NewlOrk and is worth
some $4,000. She has run nearly two years be-
tween this port and Mobile, touching regularly at
Havana on her way coming aud going. She has been
allowed to enter ana depart from Havana without
porting her cargo to the authorities of that pOrt-fOr
that cargo has always been carried direct from New
YoIk TO Mobile or rice rersa from Mobile t. NewYork.
The steamer has landed at Havana received
Gu board al that port any commodities OF commerce
wbsteyer-her sole object touching there having been
to Lana OF to receive passengers The autbori
ties at Havana have always perfectly understood this
1t is not her alone, but the OF the other
steamers running from this City to ports the Gulf
Of Mexico and to the Istbmus 10 prevent contra
bard trade all these 81 ps have always been put unier
surveillance from the time OF their arrival till their
Black Warrior, and the other STEAMERS, carried car
goes, but they have been invariably passed through
tie Custom House as in ballast" This kind of
entry has been permitted Notwithstanding revenue
law LA always existed requiring that duty should
be paid the cargo of all vessels entering and depart
Jog from the port, although the vessel should neither
land nor receive on board any thing while there.
The course OF the Black Warrior, and of our other
-, -. oc
the letter of the revenue laws Of tue port of Havana
Tlese laws however n0hayiDg been enforced against
tie Black Warrior during the thirty voyages she has
made to that port Notwithstanding che knowledge or the
fac. Of the authorities of the notorious laton them
her and agents had right 70 suppose, aud
to act upon the suPpOtion, thai there had been
tufl Suspension of them in respect to that ship The law
requiring the transit dues the cargo having been TO-
tab suspended in practice i! was fair to expect that
some notice would be given that the Law would be
revived in it the intention OF the authorities
to revive and enforce it, II such notice given,
ire seizure of he Black Warrior and the confscaon
o. ler cargo is an act Of fragrant injustice. But on
tie other hand if the authorities prom gated che
fact that the law would be enforced then 10 blame
can attach TO them for The seizure Of the ship for d
further violation oft.
TIE whole turns therefore upon the fac. of
whether lot due notice given of the revival of
obsolete law port regulations, n its application
10 tie Black Warrior, which law BY its sudden revival
bas resulted in the seizure Of the ship and the consea
tcn Of her cargo. This question We are unable to an
aver. We presume that the President is unable to
answer H. and that the Committee Oh Foreign Rela I
ops is unable TO answer it. Tie papers laid before
Congress on Wednesday DO not answer il. The report
forl Mr. Robertson, the acting Consul at Havana az
orcs good ground for the conjecture that the Spanish
authorities intesd to allege that such notice was given
On the other hand the same document and the state
rent Of the conguees Of the ship go to show that such
notice was not given. 1T present, we have but the
statement OF one side, and We must await that of the
oLer before IL intelligent Judgment on the case can
he given.
II this point is easy to branch of into conjectures
We nay suppose that the Cuban officer. have sorunga
tap upon tie Black Warrior from unworthy purposes
OF "a or trCn hostile feelings The supposition may
be true or false. We may suppose the seizure OF that
ship to Lave been On intentional outrage upon our f
AID designed piracy upon private property We
NAY also ii the intention Of the consiguee.
Of tie vessel 70 dodge or defy the revenue laws of
Havana.
al these suppOstors easy, but it may turn out
tfattley are al alike unfounded. But, whether true
or false it is impossible FOR Congress or tie Govern
L snt 20 act upon them. They can only &C. upon fas
lId facts are but slowly developed officially to say the
least Il would that tie Cuban officials had acted
without any enlightened regard to their own interest
and Obsnatey and hardly toward the agents of the
slip Tie fact that they refused to allow the captain
to correct his manifest although be had lost bis right