Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-03-22
THE BLACK WARRIOR.

THE BLACK WARRIOR.
The Washington Union of yesterday con.
tanned an article which we do not exactly un-
derstand. The article to which we allude is
the leading article, and its caption is "TAe
Black Warrior Case Settled" We were sur
prised when we saw this caption. We could
not divine how any knowledge Of any settle
ment of the Black Warrior case, or ofany other
case pending between us and Spain could pos
sibly reach the United States just at this
time.
1t was but few days ago that the Wash
ington Union undertook to show that the
Spanish Government intended to follow up pro-
long, and continue the game Of injustice and
delay-injustice and delay which amount to a
practical refusal to make any atonement for
wrongs inflicted on our citizens and contempt.
uous conduct towards our flag. Since the
Washington Union made these charges against
the Spanish Government, no steamer has ar.
rived from Europe; and we know--at least
think, feel, and fully believe that we know
that no submarine telegraph has been laid
down and put into successful operation across
the Atlantic. We are perfectly positive about
this fact; and we say, and we say boldly, that
there is no Geographic line which unites us
with London, Paris, Madrid, or with any point
in the Eastern hemisphere.
We were naturally surprised, therefore, at
seeing in the Government organ yesterday that
the Black Warrior case had been settled. We
could not exactly comprehend how such q case
was likely to be settled at time when we had
no minister at Madrid. And, supposing that
it had been settled, we could not exactly COM
prehend how any information of that settlement
could have reached the city of Washington,
without telegraph or line of carrier-pigeons
across the Atlantic. Looking into the matter
and scanning the manner of the Unions arti-
Gle, we have come to the conclusion that the
announcement of the Black Warrior settle
ment is hoax--intended only to gain time
for, and create diversion in favor Of, bungling
diplomacy. Something was necessary to draw
the public mind away from the consideration
of the Ostend papers, and Of the letter of Cap
tain Gray, detailing the particulars Of the re-
cent outrage to the Ell Dorado.
And, after all, what is the basis of the an
nouncement Of the Government organ that the
Black Warrior case has been settled 1t is
this, and nothing more: Galignanis Messen-
ger, journal published in Paris contains in its
issue Of February 18th, a letter which says
II appears that the Spanish Government has
decided on proclaiming that the autRerities Of
Cuba exceeded their po,ocrs in the affair Of the
Black Warrioryas regards the tsoo principal
points Of 1.-THE description Of the cargo and
the time alloWed for the production Of the ships
manifest. In consequence, Il is disposed to &C.
cord a just Indemnity" The Union says that
il has reason to know that the foregoing state
ment Of Galignanis correspondent is correct.
We wish, and the country wishes, TO know what
that reason is. Vague statements cannot de-
lude the public about this matter. If the
Washington Union undertakes to announce an
article with the grave caption THE BLACK
WARRIOR CASE SETTLED" it must give the
public something better than an anonymous
letter to Paris paper. If the case has been
settled the fact Of settlement, and time OF set
Element, and manner Of settlement-all facts,
circumstances, and particulars Of the settlement,
must be known at the Department Of State.
Taking this view Of the matter, we do not
believe that there is any authority whatever
for announcing that the Black Warrior case has
been settled. There may be those who antici-
pare a settlement; and, who, feeling the crush
ing force Of recent publications, might be will
ing to gain respite from present embarrass-
ment by drawing largely on future bopes-as
money dealers obtain cash advances on cargoes
that have not arrived, We hope and trust that
the Black Warrior case, and all our cases
against Spain may be speedily adjusted but
we had understood that the admin stration ha
determined to settle them all at one and the
same time. We wish TO see the people sustain
that point with unanimity, and we wish to see
them at the same time fully impressed with the
true character Of our relations with Spain and
with Cuba, and with the Cuban Protecto-
rate which England and France have estab-
Esbed, so that there may be no difficulty
in uniting all our citizens in favor of the neces-
sary measures Of selfdefence If Spain has
shown any returning sense Of justice-if she
has manifested any desire to repair the injuries
she has inflicted on our commerce. she has
given any assurance that her future course will
not be nimical to us-sll the facts should be
Announced from the State DEPARTMENT and not
from Paris. We protest against any attempt
to soothe the just Indignation Of the American
people, and to patch up bungling diplomacy by
quotations from anonymous letters in Galig-
sSnfs Messenger.