The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-11

NEUTRAL hlSHTS.--JHE ZEN. ARMSIhONp OASE.
few days after the claim of the officers and crew
of the brig General Armstrong presented 10 the
Senate at the last session, communication appeared
in paper the subject which repubsh to-day,
II written by gentleman of eminent talents who has
since died He had interest in the claim, but felt an
enthusiastic admiration of the brilliant engagement which
he so eoqueny described AS this claim still pending
we have deemed the article worthy of reproduction.
There circumstances connected with the Of the
General Armstrong which invest it with peculiar interest
II was the opinion of General Jackson and the facts
justify the opinion that the action of the Armstrong at
Fayal exered material influence upon the fate of New
Orleans This action took place the Goth of September
1914 The feet of Admiral Cochrane waiting at Ja-
maica for the squadron commanded by Capt Lloyd de
patched from England to join the fleet at Jamaica. Capt
Lloyd on learning that the General Armstrong lying
in the harbor of Faya ordered its captures and made the
attack the result of which is matter of history. This af
fair delayed the sailing of the fleet for days and pre-
vented its arrival off New Orleans until the 9Th Of Deem
ber General Jackson arrived there on the 10th Of the
same month. If Cochrane and Lloyd had arrived ten
days sooner the British might have taken possession
New Orleans before the American forces could have
its relief But the briliancy of the action itself has
been the theme of euogy of Captain Reid and
he has received many testimonials Of the public common
daton
These circumstances however do present the ques
ton involved in the claim made by the officers and crew.
however much they incline the patriotic mind to give to
the favorable consideration The application rests
upon the following facts: The brig attacked by the
British feet whilst in neutral harbor and there destroy
ed Portugal either could would protect the
vessel against this attack But Immediately after the
transaction the Prince Regent Of Portugal of bis
cord, before any demand made that government
caused letter be addressed Mr. Sumpter our minis
ter Rio de Janeiro in which the liability of Portugal
was acknowledged the United States government and
stating that 'not moments delay had occurred in adj
dressing letter to Lord Strangrd the British minister
demanding apology and naturalization for the out
rage committed Lord Casereagh, the premier of Eng
land did not hesitate to make the apology and award the
ndemni6caon for the destruction of the Portuguese prop
erty destroyed by the firing of the British ships but held
the peremptory demand for the loss of the American brig
under Amusement This government afterwards prosecu-
ted this claim without knowedge of these facts which
not brought to light until all the documents were
published by call from the Senate under the admnisra
ton Of Mr. Polk She made her government liable for the
loss and injury This created claim government
but its duty undertook prosecute
the claim against Portugal and finally under these crcum
stances submitted it to the arbitrament the French Empe-
ror This was done without the and against the re-
monstrances of the claimants Thcarbitrator decided in ia
of Portugal The question is then presented whether
government under these facts is liable to satisfy the
claim Of the applicants We do allude to the case to
argue it, but bring the subject the attention of Con-
grcss