Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-10-31

The lesbetHeeaI the Qs Sc q OuSut
at Panama and the GpHeFnor..
The fact that Thomas w. Ward, Esq,
United States consul at Panama, had
struck his flag in consequence of an in
suit offered BY the governor of the pros
vince has already been briefly mentioned.
The facts in the case are thus given in the
Panama Star, of the Cd instant
The consul applied some days ago to
the Jefe superior for certain information
respecting an American then in prison,
and was informed that that officer was I'M
able to attend to his duties on account of
rheumatism, and, moreover, that he had
not the required information in his pos
session, as the case was in the hands of
the governor, and could not be procured
for two or three days. In order to avoid
all possible delay, the. consul then wrote
to the governor on the subject, and the
governor handed the letter to the inter-
prefer for translation. After delay Of
four days, during which time it is presu>
med the governor had consulted with the
iefe superior, the letter was returned to
the consul unanswered.
Another letter was then addressed by
the Consul to the Governor, also embo-
died in the protest, desiring to know, in
writing, why his Grst letter was thus re-
turned, and to this no other reply was
made than a return Of the letter unopen-
ed, and verbal message to the effect
that it could not be received. This re-
turn of both his communications, without
any explanation, was Of Course consider
ed by the Consul as an Intentional and
pointed insult, not to himself but to his
Government ; and as he very naturally
concluded that any further application he
might make to the authorities, would be
treated in Il similar manner, he decided
that the indignity thus offered, was such
as should be promptly brought before
his own Government, and as would not
admit OF his holding any further commu-
nication direct with the authorities of
New Granada. The protest was read by
the Consul to number of his country
men who were present to witness the pro-
ceeding, and simultaneously Herewith it
was forwarded to the Jefe Superior, and
the flag of the United States was hauled
down from the Consulate, not to be hois-
ted again until instructions are received
from Washington.
We learn that the consul has sent in
! formation Of this proceeding to the COM
mander OF the steam sloop OF war Massa-
chusetLs, now ON this coast, and that this
vessel may be soon expected here, to re-
main fox the protection Of Americans I'M
til the affair is settled and we have
satisfaction in stating that the course pur-
sued by The consul is considered by his
countrymen here as the only one he could
adopt, and is highly approved of by
! them ard that those Of the native popu-
lation, who have been made cognizant
with the facts as they really are, feel NOR
tilted and indignant at the outrage which
has been committed on the consul.
1t appears from the consul's protest
that the name Of the imprisoned Ameri.
can is VIM. II. Hunter, who is now in
prison at Panama, under u charge oil
trust preferred against him by Mr.. G.
NJ. lotion, and is about to be sent TO AS
pinwail. there to be kept in prison until IA
judgement be given in the case by the au-
'horities of that place. Mr. Ward shows
By an extract of letter from the acting
consul at Aspinwall, that the affair
had been settled by arbitration, it having
been decided that Hunter should pay a
man named Cal!aghan whom he was in
debted, $1,000. 10 this Callaghan, in
the presence OF the acting consul, agreed,
whcreupon Hunter paid him a portion in
cash, and gave security and notes (not
yet mNturcd) for the balance.
The Governor has written a letter ex.
planning that he returned the consul's let
! I