Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-09-06
The GreYinn Amir.
IComnenls OF the London Times.

lNN'i''--NAA'h
| We have never protested to consider the
| species Of protect0raie exercised by the British
Government for long series of years over the
Mosquito Coast possession Of any practi-
cal advantage TO the interests or the honor OF
this couniry, andwe learned with great satiSfac-
ton about four years ago, that treaty had
been signed at Washington by Sir Henry Bull
wer amd Mr.. CLAYTON, the American Secretary
| OF State, for the purpose of placing the commu-
| nlcallon between the Atlau1icaud Pacific Ocean
by way OF Nicaragua under The joint protection
OF the maritime powers most interested in the
prosecution OF that undertaking. The spirit of
| that treaty was perfectly fair and just; and, if
any exclusive right had ever been claimed or
eXerci5 ed by the British Government in its for.
mer relations with the MuSquitc Indians as far
back as under the Spanish domihioH over Cen
jral America, those lights were cheerfully, and
we think, wisely, relinquished in exchange for
a positive engagement from the United States
Government that they would cooperate with
ourselves in the only object which gives pecu-
liar value and importance for that part of the
glUbe-namey the opening ola secure line of
Communication betweenthe two oceans, and the
establishment Oftwo free ports for all nations at
each extremity of the canal. For this purpose
the commercial stations of which this transit
trade is carried on would naturally become i'm
pOrtant free cities, like the HamSeatio towns OF
Europe, having 10 political character or siren
9Th, but respected by all the world for the SER
vices they render to the best interests of socie-
ty.
This being the principle which the British
Government has for some time past proclaimed
ard acted upon with reference to the passage of
Nicaragua, with the full concurrence OF the
nh ,I r i. RI IL Ia
and regret that we learn that Greytown, at the
mouth of the river San Juan has recently been
attacked and destroyed by one Of the most ex-
traordinary outrages ever committed by the
commissioned officers ofany civilized State.
Greytown is not n British possession; if it
had been measures would have been taken to
repel so WATSON and barbarous an attack; but
we have at This time no further interest i'll the
place than that which results from the CONNER
clad undertakings in which British subjects may
be engaged there. 1t is impossible, however,
to lose sight OF the fact, which stands recorded
in solemn treaty, that Great Britain waived
and relinquished her rights to the proiectorate
of the Mosquito Coast and Of Greytowu, It's prin-
cipa trading station ON the express Siipula
ton with the United States that they would, in
conjunction with ourselves, Guarantee the neu-
traiity and security of the passage"
The object Of that treaty was to promote "the
constructions of the communication between the
two oceans for the benefit humankind. on equal
terms TO all, and for the protection of the same.
1t is certainly more extraordinary violation
of the spirit of that treaty that. an American
ship OF war should have presumed, in defence of
at best a very doubtful cause, to attack and de-
stroy the principal commercial station on that
very line of communication which The AmerI-
can Government is expressly hound to main
tain and prot ect. The act of Capt. HOlhns
speaks for itself. tits, indeed, without paral-
lei in any history with which we are acquainted
for the place was wholly incapable of firing a
shot in its Defence not man was killed or
wounded in the attack, and the enterprise was
one of mere destruction. The American pa
pers from which we have extracted these de-
tails record them with the strongest expressions
Of shame and regret, and we cantot doubt that
the public opinion of the enlightened classes in
the United States will condemn these proceed
ings as strongly as the judgement Of every other
part of the world. There is in this case no war
and no provocation to account for or to paliate
such a measure.
Far from being at war with the States of
Central America, the Government ofthe United
States has always affected to regard them with
peculiar interest: and the first proof given of
this interest is an act ofviolence which would
have dsgraced buccaneer. Indeed, consider
ing the species Of protection established by the
Treaty OF 1850, and the engagements cpntrac-
ted 10y the / nited States towards this country
and the whole world for the securityo of the pas
sage, this outrage of Capt. Hollins is con-
tempt Of the authority of his own Government
and gross breach of faith to every nation
which may have mercantile transactions carried
Oh across the Istmus of Nicaragua.