The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-12-09

tion-nothing in extenuation Of their con-
duct. but contumaceously refused to hold
any intercourse with the commander of the
Cyane. But their obstinate silence they
seemed rather desirous 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 to the
delusive idea chiefly that the American gov
ernment would be deferred from Furnishing
them through fear of displeasing a formida-
BILE foreign power, which they presumed to
think looked with complacency upon their
aggressive and insulting department towards
the United States. The Cyane at length fired
upon the town. Before much injury had been
done the fire was twice suspended in order
to afford opportunity for an arrangement,
but this was declined.
Most of the buildings of the place, of lit
tie value generally, were in the sequel, de-
Stroyed, but, owing to the conSiderate pre-
cautions taken by our naval commander,
there was no destruction of life. When the
Cyane was ordered to Central America, it
was confidently hoped and expected that no
occasion would arise for resort to violence
and destruction of property and loss of life.
Instructions to that effect were given TO her
commander, and no extreme act would have
been requisite, had not the people themselves,
by their extraordinary conduct in the affair,
frustrated all honorable measures for obtain
ing satisfaction. A withdrawal from the
place would have entirely defeated the OBJ
ject Of his visit, and under the crcumstan-
ces, the commander of the Cyane would
have found himself absolutely compelled to
an abandonment of all claim of. our citizens
for indemnihcation, and 10 submissive ac-
al T. IN
have encouraged in these lawless persons a
spirit of insolence and rapine most danger
Gus TO the lives and property of our citizens
at Punta Arenas, and probably em5oldened
them TO grasp at the treasures and valuable
merchandise continually passing over the
Nicaragua route.
1t certainly would have been most salts
factory to me if the objects of the Cyane's
mission could have been consummated with
out any act of public force. But the AFRO
CANT contumacy Of the offenders rendered it
impossible to avoid the alternative, either
to break up their establishment, or to
leave them impressed with the idea that they
might persevere with impunity in insolence
and plunder.
This transaction has been the subject of
complaint on the part of some foreign pow
oilH huo OCCil w llu iIIpiC Va
harshness than of justice. If comparisons
were to be instituted, it would not be diff
cult to present instances in the history OF
states standing in the very front Of modern
civilization, where communities less Offend
ing and more defenceless than Greytown,
have been chastised with mnch greater
severity, and where not cities only have been
laid in ruins. but human life has been reck,
lesSly sacrificed, ,and the blood Of the innocent
made profusely to minge with that of the
guilty.
Passing from foreign to domestic affairs
your attention is naturally directed to the
financial condition Of the country, always a
subject Of general interest. For complete
and exact information regarding the finances
and various branches of the public service
connected Herewith, refer you to the re-
port Of the Secretary of the Treasury, from
which it will appear that the amount o
revenue during the last fiscal year, from al
sources, is 1888, ,705, and that the public
Expenditures for the same period, exclusive
of payments on account Of the public debt
Amounted to $5l 0l8,249. During the same
period, the payments made on redempiiOn o.
the public debt, including interest and pre-
miums, amounted to 1924, 1886, $3.50. To the
sum total OF the receipts Of that year, is tC
be added balance remaining in the treasu
ry at the commencement thereof, amounting
to $2l ,942, ,S92, and at the close of the same
year corresponding balance amounting IL