The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-12
The Black Warrior Outrage.

The mere we reflect on this insulting outrage
to our flag and nation, the more clearly we per-
ceive. and the more keenly we feel, the neces-
sity of adopting prompt aud vigorous measures
of redress and vindication. It is time that the
authorities Of Cuba were taught lesson that
they would not soon forget. Above all, it is
time that the hopeless, nerveless imbecility of
the administration were redeemed and our ma
tional honor once more restored to its native
splendor If we could count upon the pat
riotism of the House of Representatives so far as
to indulge the hope that they would lay aside
their squabbles about the spells long enough
to read the details of this impudent and intole-
rable aggression, there might be some just ex-
pectation that they might be aroused to some
sense Of their duty in such conjuncture. But
what can we expect from q body which, on re-
ceiving the bill from the Senate authorizing the
construction of six steam frigates, refuses to
suspend its rules to give so important sub
ject even a consideration? The universal ap-
probation of the people, the unanimity of the
Senate, and the admitted pressing nature Of the
subject could not prevail to procure suspen-
sion, for single hour, of the paltry and dis
creditable wrangles which have thus far formed
the staple of the debates in that house. Mem
bers must finish their wretched party aud per-
sonal harangues, come what may. What
if national insult has been offered? What
if vessel in the employ and under the
protection of the government has been
seized without color of law or right? What
if public indignation has been aroused to
pitch scarcely equalled by the attack on the
Chesapeake are there not eloquent members
who have their conned discourses ready for re-
citation? And what prodigious loss if all this
embryo oratory should be smothered by sub
ject that merely touches our rights and our
honor as nation, not that we are DESTROYS of
giving that rhetoric direction upon those
topics Heaven forefend "Action, action"
is all the rhetoric now admissible, or at all
tolerable. We are now in that position where
our future rank and dignity as the leading
power in this hemisphere, demands that we
should adopt that sentiment which so we'll de-
fines the duty of great nation =
-"Rightly to be great
is not to stir without great argument,
But greatly to find quarrel in straw
When honor is at stake"
For the argument here we have more than
enough to stir our blood. What honor can we
have left if we let this outrage pass unrebuked
and unavenged? The letter of the consignees,
whose spirit and firmness cannot be too highly
applauded, demonstrates that this seizure and
confiscation are most wanton violation of pub
lie law and private rights 1t indicates m 1re :
n hot tbo Ioc1o Of
don in the House of Lords, a short time since
that France and England were acting in accord
and close concert all over the world-has found
its way to the Captain-General of Cuba, and
has made him bold enough to act in the
spirit of that defiance to the world Now he
can count upon the already announced pro-
tectoratc of France and England, why should
he not freely indulge that hostility to our flag
and commerce Of which his predecessors have
set him the example, and so far without note
of angry remonstrance ever having reached the
ears of Spain? But we believe that even the
demagogues who have been elected to the House
Of Representatives, will quail before the coming
blast. A large majority will look upon the dis
honor to our stars and stripes rs one that must
be met with something more vigorous and prac-
teal than defamation about our q star-spangled
banner" and " the land of the free, and the
home of the brave We have before us task
to execute, which requires the calmness of de
termination and the CELEBRITY of execution which
belong to the genius of our nation--or did in
the olden time. No halfway measures are to
be thought Of: they would only aggravate the
insult by a display Of pusillanimity. There is
therefore, nothing to regret in the ill-success Of
I'm Dean, Of New York in his attempt TO intro
ducc lie following resolution which he submit
ted o. Thursday =
Tfat 70 Re referred 10 The Committee on Fore; m
hhaF' y inquire into the OF the recent outras
" TIC Ia anihh authorities ia Havana, the property
ara ptrors Of American citizens and report what legiJ
ation by Congress, what action by the gosernment
snesPsaFy z procure indemnify therefor AMI c4ry