Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-05-20
A CRISIS

The Black Warrior affair at Havana is no.
preaching a crisis peculiarly exciting, in conse.
quence of the refusal of Spain to accede to
the demands Of our Minister at Madrid, for in
demnity, and to prevent further recurrence of
such insults and injuries. The Geographic
dispatches which we published last week in
reference to this matter were literally correct,
II appears, which is not often the case. Spain
has as Indignantly repealed the demands of
Mr.. SouLE as they were imperatively made by
that gentleman, although assisted by the Bril-
fish Minister.
There are a variety of rumors afoat respect.
ing the action of our Government in conse.
quence Of the answer which Mr.. SouLE receiv.
ed from the Spanish Government. One version
is that our Minister exceeded his instructions.
and displeased the Executive and Cabinet, and
consequently a modification in those demands
will be authorized by the President-another
is, that the President is about TO send a war
message TO Congress-another, that Mr.. SOU.
LIE Will return home, whether by asking his
passports Or BY instructions from his Govern,
ment. Is not stated-another, that the Cabinet
IS very secret and silent in its action upon the
matter, which is undoubtedly the tru.h-and
another IN connection with the subject is, that
Mr.. MARCY has refused to receive a visit from
the Spanish Minister.
1t seems to us, in view Of the contumeIy
cast upon the demands Of our Minister. that
there is but one course, and a very plain one
for President PIERCE TO pursue, if he desires
to act consistent and to give to his administra.
ton some other than the effete character i. is
fast attaining-and that course, is to order or
recommend the immediate blockade of Havana
and other Cuban ports. But perhaps the Presi.
dent pauses to reflect that Great Britain is in.
evitab'y bound 10 assist Spain in case she gets
INTO dIf1culty with US about Cuba; and in the
present posture of affairs there would be the
almost certain result of getting against US the
triple alliance of Spain, England and France.
But Notwithstanding this, let the President hes.
'tate if he dares, after submitting to the world
the sentiments and declarations contained in
his message to Congress respecting the Black
Warrior affair. We will see if he has the
nerve and the moral courage which should ever
accompany right and justice-for which, pre-.
suned virtues he was raised to his present EN-.
which should ever be the leading |
features Of a great and free people.
MIR. PIERCE will regret the attempt, if he
makes it, to creep out of his defiant attitude
against Spain, by the fimsy pretext that our
Minister Extraordinary at the court of Madrid
gone beyond his instructions. Such a pre-
ext will not answer for the people. nor even
With his own intelligent party. Mr.. SouLE
nay not hsve acted literally in accordance with
he instructions forwarded him. That is not
ne question. But has he in this matter gone
beyond the constitutional rights guaranteed 10
Inn by the Constitution as a Minister Plenipo.
entlary! He certainly has not, that we can
perceive. We are not partial TO Mr. SouLE's
'o'itical antecedents, but we must say, that in
his instance. As far as the public has been in.
he has faithfully upheld the dignity
nd honor Of his country, aad Of his ofice-E
his Government is bound 10 endorse the
'emands he has msde-to re-assert them to I
ne world--or else bear upon its shoulders Tor
the shoulders Of the present Admins.
fat'on) the stigma Of iffeminancy and disgrace.
s&B0 l.
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