New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-09
Nep-Dprk DAILY Gribnre.
AFRICA.
THE MASSACRE ON THE WESTERN COAST

n
cured on the West Coast of Africe, where such
the Enp.h or 10 the French either for our allies
rather the worse of the two on that coast a1d have
iust received rebuff near Goree.
About thirty years ago British force, sent to The
Gold Coast TO chastise the King of Ashantee, dis
sftrously defeated and s General, Sir Charles Ma
ceripcy killed by that Prince. In own times we
have had Governor of the Gambia severely tronnced
and nesily tared and feathered by tribe of dsdGln
fu and humOrsOTne negroes up That rver. AT Lagos,
some three years ago expedition was repulsed and
driven ont of il with considerable loss by a black
MOI arch whom il went up 10 depOse, at the instance
of tie church missionaries settled there and az AbeO
kuta, who desired to set up in his stead rum-lriuk-
ing aud otherwise spiritually disposed friend OF
their Own-given, however, as 1t turned out,
TO elavo-deaing well as strong waters. And
now we have been defeated in expedition up rivcr
near Sierra Leone. But no doubt we have some milf
tary 10 set against these msortunos and to
rtciify the balance OF glory IN Western Aircn
Such Tor instance a. the destruction the other day OF
n nativ. town up tie Old CalubHr, at, said Sir
Charles Wood the request of the missionaries
though why or Wherefore those reverend gentlemen
should have exacted such vengeance the First Lord OF
The Admiralty could not tell the House Of Commons
But whether assaults be successful or unsuccessful
matters little to commerce. for with the Negroes chas
tsement has very little effect 10 alter their conduct
and success their part never prOvokes them into re-
taliaion. The truth il, that of all Gods creatures
commercially disposed of mankind. Whether you
blow his brains out he knocks you the head he IL
equally ready and willing to trade with You next day,
a. this last affair abuDdany tostes But then he is
not 10 be oragoOned out of his opinion, TO be at
tackled with impunty. He is obstinate in bis own
view of his "rights and valiant against all appar-
eni odds in defense Of his home and hs property
shall see.
Governor Kennedy of Sierra Leone is now in Eu-
rope on an unusually prolonged leave of absence aud
in his place there Iegneth as acting Governor a mu-
latO gentemean desirOus, II would seem, 10 dustin.
push himself but with small discretion and little wit.
Shortly after Governor Kennedy departure he sent
large expedition consisting of three ships of war aud
nearly 500 troops mp one OF The rivers opposite the Pc
nnsula Of Sierra Leone. This expedition at once
caue to terms with the refractory Chief OF Nj tnghca,
Banda Mimah lahi, who, desirOus to get nd OF 80
overwhelming force from before his town. agreed to
pay in the March following 81 900 10y way of indemnity
for his alleged oienses as OF course he would have
promised, nnder such pressure TO pay million, had
II been demanded. March came round, but not The
money The negro chief offered $500, but the acting
Governor refused that sum, and IN May sent
small expediion consisting Of only one ship OF war
and 80 rank and file TO enforce payment OF the dieI
Cnce in dispute namely $500. When thus e1pedliOh
reached Mallaghea some negotiations TOOK place. INC
chief either not aving or pretending not 10 nave
thousand dalars in hand The expedition directed by
an inferior clerk in the Government Once at Free
town. insisted full payment; and, M letter written
by merchant on the spot 1t Is stated that at last
the king had sent the whole Of the money say 1880
10 Bntv requesting Air. Dawson 10 receive 1t on be-
half of Government but tnat gentleman refused TO re
ceive it," However, this was on the 2Jd OF May, tue
shin opened fire on the town, and IT was quickly IN
flames night only closing the bOmOerdment.
Nevertheless next day. portion OF the town was seen
still standing; and the rockets proving worthless, just
as in the Ashantee war, kegs OF maecaIOm mseal oi
gunpOwdeT were brought INTO acton, the troops were
landed ignoby armed, read, with luclfer mat
ches to ignite the standing remnants OF the place but
from behind the smoking RUNS they received so muir
derous negro fire that after 70 killed, wounded, and
~ To M shi
Leone with all possible dispatch.
Now from This statement il is abundantly clear that
the expedition Tashy, ana even unnecessarily I'M
dertaken, nadeQuately provided cruelty and barbar-
ousy conducted and IN every way grossly mislnan-
aged. To negotiate a treaty three ships OF war a. d
200 men sent; 70 enforce lis provisions one sup
and $50 soldiers. Punishment degenerated INTO ven
eCsuCe. was pursued with rashuess, ana icl INTO u
Tetrbutive ambuscade. Such were he military errors.
Ru we can see no grounds for any military expedition
as ALL Commerce was IN no danger, that Is clear
for even after the extreme proNocauOh OF the al'dch
uyOn and the burning OF Their Town, not even wien al
thar Missions were excited did the natives Oier the
least insult OF station 30 the English traders IN the
river; they gTated their anger by OarbaOus Iepisals
two Of their prisoners but though properly 70 te
value Of 50 coo at their mercy, they so entirely
resutcted IL that the Euc lIsh merchants, immediately
after the sfrsy went in body to return Their thanks
10 the negro chief whose town had been barOarOus-
y destroyed. This pr, gnaut TACT highly luusira-
five of the friendly spirit Of both chief AMI people
and also strongly suggestive OF The folly ara
wick duess of the hostile expedition al once the cause
and object OF 30 much suffering. Nor, IN all proba-
bitv will the matter eI where the news leaves II;
for The uulAito Governor of Sierra Leone has, OF
course sent of 10 the Commodore Tor reenOrcems nis,
and bV next mail We may expect accounts OF ne"
eNledition NJ tie Mshcauua though 10 save hs peo-
lie. from an o,htr assault of the kind, Banda Nina
Iahi hes pa rOcay abdicated IN favor OF hs Orohcri
and the chief missionary al Sierra Leone less oeicose
than bis bre hren the coast generally, had from the
pulpit of 81. Georges Cathedral Fieetown, en-
ceayOred 20 soften the Governors heart
TIE time has surely come 10 put an end TO all these
folies ON a Western Coast Of Arca, where gunp0w-
der and phi tbropy have t0olOng ruled The roast Al
one moment we permit false sentiment 10 promote
and encourage INSTRUMENTATION, irregularities, and DIS
regard OF good faith and uen long pcnod OF lnacnon
$ followed by measures OF pr'cipiiae coeEclye So
vciity. The negroes hrst allowed to get saucy
through immunity, and then they are chastised win
berhhry The cause OF this Is that, With rare eXoeq-
tiors the ri h. man never placed IN TIE night place
Ia our Ain. On settlements. W nen the Gold Coast
was presided over by the late Mr.. Mac'ean, none OF
n ose collisions ever occurred there. lie thoroughly
undosood the native character, pursued and nctii-d
II through al It's phases, won Tie respect and resart Of
the trib,s around him made bis Influence felt al the
hostile Court of kumasi, ana cft the BRUSH posses
sons and the country generally ID state OF pros
Itrity from which hss since steadily dechuei until
now the Chiefs teGsed and i0rinented by pol tax
the produce of which has been mis- ppro ated by the
British authorities. are becoming hostile ana danger
Gus the roads MO interior Unfaie, and new war
with Ashantce Will surprise no one acqaaniei with
ihat Taft OF the Coat And Just as II al Cae Coast
Casile 60 &c have seen j. Is at Sierra Leone