Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1854-12-12

tending directly to the insecurity Of the lives
Of numerous travellers, and Of the rich treas
ure belonging to our citizens passing over
this transit way, should be peremptorily ar
rested. Whatever it might be in other res
poets, the community in question, in power
to do mischief, was not despicable. 1t was
well provided with ordnance, small arms and
and might easily seize upon the
unarmed boats, freighted With millions OF
property, which passed almost daily within
its reach. It did not profess 70 belong to any
and had, in fact, no recognized
dependence on, or connection with, any one
to which the United States or their injured
citizens might apply for redres or which
could be held responsible in any way, for the
outrages committed. Not standing before
litical society, being neither competent to ex-
lions of q government, it was, in fast. ma
rauding establishment, too dangerous to be
disregarded, and too guilty to pass unpunish-
ed, and vet incapable of being treated in any
other way than as piratical resort of out
laws, or camp of savages, deprcdating on
emigrant trains or caravans and the frontier
settlements Of civilized states.
Seasonable notice was given to the people
of Greytown that this government required
them to repair the injuries they had done to
our citizens, and to make suitable apology
for their insult Of our minister, and that
ship f-war would be dispatched thither to
enforce compliance with these demands. But
the notice passed UNDECIDED. Thereupon, a
commander Of the navy, in charge Of the
sloop- ofwar "Cyane,o was ordered to repeat
the demands, and to insist upon a compliance
Herewith. Finding that neither the populace,
nor those assuming to have authority over
them, manifested any disposition to make the
required reparation, or even to offer excuse
for their conduct, he warned them by pub
lie proclamation, that if they did not give
satisfaction within time specified, he would
lombard the town. By this procedure he af-
forded them opportunity to provide for their
personal safety. To those also who desired
to avoid loss Of property, in the punishment
about to be inflicted on the offending town,
he furnished the means Of removing their eff
fects, by the boats of his own ship and of a
steamer which he procured and rendered to
them for that purpose. At length, perceiving
no disposition on the part Of the town to
comply with his acquisitions he appealed to
the commander of her Brltanic Maiesty's
schooner 6 Bermuda" who was seen to have
intercourse, and apparently much influence
with the leaders among them, to interpose,
and persuade them to take some course cal
culated to save the necessity of resorting to
the extreme measure indicated in his procla-
nation; but that officer instead Of acceding
to the request, did nothing more than to pro-
test against the contemplated bombardment.
No steps of any sort were taken by the peo-
pie, to give the satisfaction required. No in
dividuals, if any there We're, who regarded
themselves as not responsible for the miscon-
duct of the community, adopted any means
to separate themselves from the fate Of the
guilty. The several charges, on which the
demands for redress were founded, had been
publicly known to all for some time, and were
again announced to them. They did not
deny any of these charges; they offered no
explanation; nothing in extenuation Of their
conduct; but contumaciously refused to hold
any intercourse with the commander of the
"Cyane." By their obstinate silence they
seemed rather DESTROYS to provoke chastise-
ment than to escape it. There is ample rea-
son to believe that this conduct of wanton
defiance, on their part, is imputable chiefly
to the delusive idea that the American gov
ernment would be deferred from Furnishing
them, through fear Of displeasing formula
BILE foreign power, which they presumed to
think, looked with complacency upon their
aggressive and insulting department towards
the United States. The 'sCyaneo at length
fred upon the town. Before much injury had
been done, the fire was twice suspended, in
order to afford opportunity for arrangement !:
but this was declined. Most Of the buildings
of the place, of little value generally, were,
in the sequel, destroyed, but, owing to the
considerate precautions taken by our naval
Commander, there was no destruction Of life.
When the ssCyane'' was ordered to Central
America, it was confidently hoped and ex-
pected that no occasion would arise for ssa
resort to violence and destruction Of property
and loss Of life.' Instructions to that effect
were given to her commander. And no ex-
treme act would have been requisite had not
the people themselves. by their extraordinary
conduct in the affair, frustrated all the posi-
Bile mild features for obtaining satisfaction.
A withdrawal from the place, the object of
his visit entirely defeated, would, under the
circumstances in which the commander of
the Cyane found himself, have been absolute
abandonment of all claims of our citizens for
Naturalization, and submissive acquiescence
in national indignity. Itwould have encour-
aged in those lawless men, spirit Of inso-
lence and rapine most dangerous to the lives
and property of our citizens at Punta Arenas
and probably embroidered them to grasp at
the treasures and valuable merchandise con
tinually passing over the Nicaragua route II
certainly would have been most satisfactory
to me if the objects Of the g Cyane's mission
could have been consummated without any
act Of public force; but the arrogant contu-
macy Of the offenders rendered it impossible
to avoid the alternative, either to break up
their establishment, or to leave them impress
ed with the idea that they might perseyere
with impunity in a career Of insolence and
plumber.