Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-12-19

Wnereupon tney proceeded to destroy some of it's
buildings, and attempted violently to dispossess
it. i1At later period they orsanized a strong
force for the purpose of demolshing the establish
ment at Punta Arenas, but this mischievous de-
sign was defeated by the interposition Of one Of
our ships of war, at that time in the harbor of
San Juan. Subsequently to this, in May last, a.
body of men from Greytown crossed over to Punta
Arenas, arrOgating authority to arrest, on the
charge OF murder, captain Of ono of the steam p
boats OF the Transit Company. 1lsf 2 ofsosa6 tor
Being well aware that the claim to exercise;
Jurisdiction there would be resisted then, as it had
been on previous occasions, they went prepared
to assert it by force of arms. Our Minister to-
Central America happened to be present on that
occasion. Believing that the Captain of the
steamboat was innocent, for he Witnessed the
transaction on which the charge was founded,
and believing, also, that the intruding party
having no jurisdiction over the place where they
proposed to make the arrest, would encounter res
sistanee If they persisted in their purpose, he in
terposed efectually to prevent violence and blood
sked. The American Minister afterwards visited
Greytown, and whilst he was there, a mob, In
cluding certain of the so-called public function
aries of the place, surrounded the house in which
ne was, avowing that they had come to arrest
hlm, by order OF some person exercising the chief
authority; i1 '4iAa --s'.za- b - si'1-al .adt
While parleying with them he was wounded by
missile from the crowd. A boat dispatched from
the American steamer North Light, to release
him from the perilous situation in which he was
understood to be, was fred into by the town guard
and compelledto return. These incidents, tOgeth-
er with the known character of the population of
Greytown, and their excited state, induced Just
apprchensions that the lives of our citizens at
Punta Arenas would be in imminent danger after
the departure OF the steamer with her passengers
for n. Yolk, unless guard was left for their pro-
lection. For this purpose, and in order to ensure
the safety Of and property passing over
the route, temporary force was organized, at
considerable expense to the United States, for
which provision was made at the last session of
Congress. This pretended community a
Heterogeneous assem- blage gathered from
various countries, and composed for the most part
of blacks and persons of mixed blood, had prcvi-
ously given other Indications of mischeyious and
dangerous propensities. Early in the same month,
property was clandestinely abstracted from the de-
pot of the Transit Company, and taken to Grey
town. The plunderers obtained shelter there,and
their pursuers were driven back by its people, who
not only protected the wrong-doers, and shared
the plunder, but treated with rudeness and viO-
lcnce those who sought to recover their property.
Such, in substance, are the facts submitted to
my consideration, and proved by trustworthy cy-
idence. l could not doubt that the case dcman-
ded the interpOsition of this government. Justice
demanded that reparatiOn should be made for so
many and such gross wrongs, and that a course of
insoience and plunder, tending directly to the in
security of the lives of travellers, and of the rich
treasure belonging to the citizens passing over this
transit way should be peremptorily arrested
Whatever it might be other respects, the commu-
nifty in question, in power to do mischief was not
despicable. 1t was well provided with ordinance.
small arms and ammunition, and might easily seize
upon the unarmed boats freighted with millions
of property, which passed almost daily within its
reach.
1t did not profess to belong to any eguIar
government, and had, in fact, no reco gnized
dependence on, or connection with any one to
which the U. S. or her INJURED citizens might ap-
ply for redress, which could be held response
BILE in any way for the outrages committed. Not
standing before the world in the attitude
of an organized political society, being neither
competent to exercise the rights nor to discharge
the obligations of government, it was in fact u
marauding establishment, too dangerous to ke
disregarded, and too guilty to pass unpunished
and yet incapable of being treated in any other
way than piratical resort of outlaws, or n
camp of savages, depredating On emgrant trains
or caravans, and the frontier settlements of cyi-
zed states.
Seasonable notice was given to the people of
Grcytown that this government required them.to
repair the injuries they had done to our citizens.
and to make suitable apology for their insult to
our minister, and that ship of war wculd be dis
patched thither to enforce competence with these
demands. But the notice passed unheeded.-
Thereupon, commander of the navy, in charge
of the sloop-of-war "Cyane ;" was ordered to re-
peat the demands, and to insist upon compli-
ance Herewith. Finding that neither the popu-
lace, nor those assuming to have authority over
them, manifested any disposition to make the re-
quired reparation, or even to offer for their
conduct, he warned them, by a public procama-
ton, that if they did not give satisfaction within
a time specified, he would lombard the town,
By this procedure he afforded them opportuni-
" to provide for their personal safety. 10 those
olo unr Il srofl< <o
punishment about to be inflicted on the offending
town, he furnished the means of removing their
effects, by the boats of his own ship, and Of a
steamer which he procured for that purpose. At
length perceiving no disposition on the part of
the town to comply with his requisitions, be ap-
pealed to the commander of her Britanic Majcs-
ty's schooner, "Bcrmuda," who was seen to have
intercourse, and apparently much influence with
the leaders among thcm-t6 interposc and per-
suade them to take some course calculated to save
the necessity of rcsorting to the extreme measures
indicated in his proclamation; but that officer,
instead Of acceding to the request, did nothing
more than to protest against the contemplated
b0mbardmcnt. s,f- D. -.r s.of. =. -f -f.rg
No steps of any sort were taken by the people
to give the satisfaction required No individuals,
il any there were who regarded themselves us
not responsible for the misconduct of the COM
munity, adopted any means to separate them
selves from the fate Of the guilty. The several
cnarSes, on WDicn inc demands 1Or redress were
founded, hal been publicly known to all for somo
time, AMI were again announced to them. They
did not deny any of these charges, they Of
fcred no explanation, nothing in extcnuation of
their conduct; but contumaciously refused to hold
any intercourse with the commander of tho
"Cyanc." by their obstinate silence they seemed
rather dcsirous to provoke chastisement than to
escape it. -rr,- .gl sa. ,go s.ef-. u f.....-
There is ample reason to believe that this con-
duct of wanton defiance, on their part, is imputa-
bic chiefly to the delusive idea that the American
government would be deferred from Furnishing
them, through fear of dispIeasing formidable
foreign power, which they presumed to think
looked with complacency upon their aggressive
and insulting department towards the United
States. The Cyanc at length fired upon the town.
Before much injury had been done, the FIRE wa,
twice suspended, in order to afford cpportuntia
for an arrangement; but this was declined. Most
Of the buildines Of the place. of little value gem
orally, were, in the sequel, destroyed; owing to
the considerate precautions taken by our nayys
commander, there was no destruction of life.
When the Cyane. was ordered to Central Amer
lea, it was confidently hoped and expected that
no occasion would arise for ssa resort t. violence
and destruction of property and loss of life."--
Instructions to that effect were given to her COM
mander. And no extreme act would have been
requisite had not the people themselves, by their
extraordinary conduct in thu affair, frustrated all
the possible mild measures for obtaining salts
faction. A withdrawal from the pl,cc fbe of