The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-16


our difficulties with Spain should unfortunately fail
shall not hesitate TO the authority and which
Congress may grant TO insure the observance OF just
rights TO obtain redress for injuries received and vim
dcae the honor OF our flag In anticipation of that
tngency, which earnestly hope may not arise suggest
10 Congress the proprie,y OF adopting such provisional
measures as the exigeney may 10 demand.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, March 49, 1854
Letter from Consul Robertson 10 Secretary Marcy
mo. 95l CONSULATE on THE UNITED STATES,
Havana, March 3, 1884.
SIR. By the United States steamer Corwin, which |
despatched TO Charleston on The LIST instant, conceivng
that the importance OF the intelligence had communi
cate justified that COURSE advised you oil the seizure ny
the custom-house authorities here, apparently, rather
evidently, with the consent and appreciation OF the SUI
preme authority of the island OF the cargo board the
steamer Black Warrior, of New York, and OF the attempt
to lay very heavy fine upon the captain OF the vessel,
which fine is said TO be double in amount 10 the value OF
The cargo-a this under the preence OF his having
made false entry, TO wit that he stated his ship TO be
in ballast. when she had cotton board in translu
feel il TO be my duty to repeat the circumstances OF the
case any that may have communicated
in my despatch before mentioned, numbered "a.
The steamer expected here from Mobile, on her
way to New York. on The 26th ultmo. Messrs. lying
Co. her consignees on the day before (2olh SatuT-
day entered and cleared her IN ballast This has been
customary for steamers OF the Law and British mail lines
informed that the Black Warrior has been entered
and cleared IN ballast since she commenced to run now
about nineteen months past making two trips per month";
without any objection the part OF the custom house
authorities, who cannot plead ignorance OF the fac Ior
Immediately that steamer drops her anchor, two GUS
tom house guards and an unlimited number OF policemen,
public and secret, were placed on board 70 watch every
passenger or package on the ship. NO attempt has
been made, that aware OF, to conceal the cargo
Furthermore the captain of the Black Warrior has been
in the habit 10 deliver to the authorities arrival sew
era numbers OF the public journals OF New York or Mo-
of thp thp rtiap.
ment OF the Black Warriors being about to sail such
date expressing the cargo she carried for her port OF des
tnaon.
The ship arrived here on the morning ci The 2sth.
The captain delivered his manifest in ballast, as had
been customary He assures me that he had always
been under the impression that special concession
from the formality of manesng their cargo in transit
tn he thinks that the owners Of the ship entertain the
same belief. On the same day, (2Sth,) al about IL
o'clock, Mr. Tying sent his clerk TO the house for
the despatch OF the steamer to take the the cap
tain OF the ports TO procure the for her 10 leave the
the ship stopped by order OF superior authority Of
the royal excheqner Upon this, Mr.. Tying, with the
captain, TO my office and informed OF the state
of the Whilst the former was entering protest,
took the latter with me 10 the captain-general. The
object OF this interview was TO lay before his exceency
all the circumstances OF the case and particularly show
that there had not BEEN on the part OF Captain Bullock.
any concerned in the ship the least intention Of
violating any law OF Spain regulation OF the port His
excelency coureously listened TO me, and replied that
report had been made 10 him the subject; he also
recommended that should give him my statement in
memorial or official communication | Immediately re-
turned 10 my office and prepared my letter TO the captain
general OF this letter, in my anxiety to bring the affair
to satisfactory settlement without delay kept copy,
which regret In the mean time, Mr. Tying went to the
custom house, finding that the of the difficulty
the omission OF the cargo IN ransa in the manifest and
thinking that as the twelve hours allowed by law to
amend manifests had not elapsed and that by making
the amendment the difficulty would be terminated he APP
piled 10 the collector, stating that in the course OF fifteen
half no ha
the correct manifest The collector replied that il could
not and should not be admitted because he had already
applied for the vessels despatch, or something 10 this
effect II is true that MIR. Tying had applied for the de
spach but il may be well 10 bear in mind that il not
given; and II is question, in my opinion, whether the
steamer could be considered as cleared, effect far
regards the clearance The 25h before she had
deem il informat Mr. Tying was at the same time in
formed that the cargo conhscaed and the captain
fined, according to The cqstomhoase regulations In the
afternoon OF the same day, Il have been inormed,) a
gang OF sent alongside the ship TO commence
the discharge OF the cargo; but finding iha, the captain
and puser were on shore the operation deferred
h the next morning, when they again appeared and the
officer at the head OF the party demanded of the captain
the delivery OF the cargo, which Captain Bullock de-
cned remarking TO the officer that be took BY force,
he do, single bale OF the cargo, he he cap
ain) would Instantly haul down his colos, and abandon
his ship 10 them THIS seemed 10 make the officer hesi-
tate. He suspended his operation, and came shore
doubt 10 lay the facts before his superor and
their directions He soon returned on board opened the
matches, and commenced the discharge; whereupon,
Captain Bullock hauled down his nag, and, with his OH
and crew, abandoned the vessel 10 the Spanish
thofites.
On the evening of the 2sh received the captain
erals reply 10 my letter, which far from satisfactory
copy and translation OF the same transmitted to
you with my communication, No. a. sent per steamer
"Corwin"
On the LIST, about ~ O'Clock, tie collector wrote
communication TO Mr. Tying. send you copy OF this
communication, well that of second letter from
the officer, also tha, Of Mr. Tyngs reply Enclosed
you will likewise hnd copy of letter received last
evening from the nendente OF the treasury, and OF my
reply thereto. also accompany copy OF the printed
regulations which handed to all captains OF vessels
on the first visit from the custom. house officers.
have omitted TO say that am informed that the regu-
aons concerning steamers require that they shall mani
fest the quantity OF coal they have board but that
no instance has this law been complied with. This
gect unobservance Of the laws by the authorities
themselves has rendered them obsolete, and therefore
inappllcabe am also assured that law prescfibes
that when II is clearly shown that there has been in
tention oil infringing the law defrauding her Males
tvs revenues, parties shall not be deemed eulpabe
instant that the captain OF the Black Warrior bad any
intention 10 do otherwise than conform to all established
regulations
Although had written to the "iniendente" last eve.
ming declining the request that should appoint
TO take account OF The cargo proposed to be landed to-
day. being led to that by the idea that the inen-
denes object TO present least the semblance OF
the part OF this consulate their proceed
ngs, nevertheless, called upon him this morning,
marking, by way OF introduction that presented myself
only in the character OF consul commercial agent,
but friend, that expecting the steamer Phla-
delphia to-day, and | anxious TO communicate to
my government The true relation OF the facts on both
sides, that my government might be prepared to meet
the demands upon II for Indemnity by innocent
intp he hail eDltf