The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-02

NEED L express surprise that Unitet
States naval officer should make so dishon
orable proposition.
Finding that Commander Davis appeared
to hesitate i'll the execution Of what he hat
declared his unalterablo determination,
L endcavored TO convince him of the gros,
wrong and injury he would commit by the
seizure of the Granada. I endeavored tc
satisfy him he had no right to question the
flag of the schooner while she lay in the
port OF San Juan: that while there she was
within the territory of Nicaragua, and sub.
Ject only to the sovereignty Of that Repub.
lie: That it was unworthy of the United
States to thus trample on the most scored
rights OF sister State; and that could
not and would not believe his government
would sanction such violation of interna-
t'onal law. lie replied he would weigh
what had said, and see me again on the
subject; but without any further conversa-
ton lie gave written orders to his first lieu
tenant to seize the Granada by force
The order was executed. The first licuten.
ant boarded the Granada with small force.
Capt. Fayssoux, of the Granada dcat to
quarters. Lieut.. Mauay cndeavored to per-
suade Capt. Fayssoux to give up his vessel,
alleging, in accordance with his instruc-
tlons, that it would be in accordance with
the fivas convention. Captain Fayssoux
said his orders were not to deliver the
schooner unless to an overwhelming force.
Lieut.. Maury returned to the St. Mary's,
and Informed me that he intended to take
the Granada; and if desired to save the
effuson of blood, l should give an order to
deliver her to him. He then brought his
broadside of II guns to bear on the schoon-
cr, manned his small boat with one hun
dred men, and came to me for the order,
which was, of course, given. Soon after,
had the modification to see the Nicaraguan
flag hauled down and the American flag
hoisted. Indignation, as an officer of Nicar-
aqua, at the lowering of her flag was sti-
fled by shame as native of tho United
States, at seeing its glorious ensign disgraced
ny covering an act Of perfidy and wrong.
l ask leave to beg your special consider
alton of the fact that Lieut.. Maury applied
to me for an order to Capt. Fayssoux. This
was acknowledgment that Capt. Fayssoux
was still an officer of the government of
which 1 was the Executive.
But the dignity and honor of Nicaragua
had not been sufficiently degraded by hav-
ing. her own flag lowered in her own port
1t was reserved for Commander Davis to
complete series of insults, by delivering
the Granada, with all her armament and
equipments, to an alien enemy.
Nor did the hostility Of the United States
naval officers cease on our departure from
San Juan del Sur. On the arrival of the
St. Mary's at Panama, Commodore Mervine
kept me and the sixteen officers with me
prisoners on the sloop. He would not per-
NIT us to land or hold communication with
the shore. Even my letters from the Un-
tied States were sent back to the shore
and when I requested to send aboard the
California steamer in order to inquire for
letters expected, the Commodore replied
he would send one Of his own officers to
inquire for my letters. protested that
had gone aboard the St. Mary's as an Off
cer-with my sword on-and not as pris-
oner; but the Commodore replied that the
New Granada government had published a
decree forbiddng any one lately engaged in
the Central American war to land at Pa.
mama unless upon conditions. An Ameri-
can citizen at Panama afterwards assured
mo the governor Of the place remarked,
there would have been no difficulty about
my landing, if the application for it had
been made.
Such, cir, is the faithful history of the
means which have been used to exile Amer
leans naturalized in Nicaragua from the
country for which they have split their
blood, and risked their lives. For the land
of their adoption, they left the ease and
comfort Of homes endeared to them By
many tender tie, and many glorious re-
collection. One thousand Americans have
persisted. in order to secure the lands and
privileges promised them in Nicaragua
Their heirs are, for the most part, citizens
of the United States; and leave it to your
wisdom to decide whether it is right or poll.
tic, that such interests should be endangered,
ifnot sacrificed by the acts, either authorized
or unauthorized of American officers.
But whatever your wisdom may decide
in relation 10 the policy of such conduct,
I know the justice of the Government your
Excellency so worthily controls, will not fail
to raise up the honor Of Nicaragua, woun-
ded by the seizure Of her own vessel in her
$3.50 -o.t ,uJ H., .ko l.l.-.s-