The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-03-30
TIE CAPTURE OF THE MEXICAN STEAM.


The news of the capture of the two Mexican
Steamers has excited very general attention.
! and much anxiety has been felt with regard ia
the course Of the administration on the subject.
Ii Is nl!edgcd that thc Steamers were captured
on account Of gross violation hy them of the
! law of nations: that they committed an act OF
| aggression 10y firing into our vessels. instead OF
recognizing the signal which was given them
by national ship. to show their flag, and an
swer IN inquiry as to their chnractcr-and
that hy national law and our own statutes, YES
, sells committing such aggression upon the
high sens nre subject not only to capture, but
to condemnation by our courts. On tho other
hand, it seems that the capture was made in
! Mexican waters, and that we had no right to
assume the sovereignty Of Mexico, and demand
Of foreign vessels the exhibition Of her colors.
The idea seems to be entertained in some quar-
tcrs that this union move OH the part of the
Executive, intended to embrol the country in a
foreign war, and thus divert attention from
Our troubles at home We annex the follow.
ing brief statement Of the facts. ard the com.
ments Of the Charleston -lcrcury:
The facts appear to be these: Vera Cruz,
! now in the hands Of Jaurez, is bescigcd by
General Miramon, his opponent in the strife
for predon,inance in Mexico. These steamers
were n part Of General Miramons force to re-
duce Vera Cruz. They were armed IN lava
| ma. and came into Vera Cruz under no colors
The reason why they displayed no colors is OBJ
vi"us. If they had displayed the Mexican
color5 they would have attracted She fire Of
the Castle of San Juan dUlloa, and they had
no right 20 assume any other. Having passed
ftIl1 rost1 Iptr, cl,
! the Castle, to call upon hem to display their
c"'"rs. they anchored in the bay. at three
o'clock Mt light the American Commodore Or
dcrs;thc American s'oop ofwar ,Sarutoga and
the steamer Mdiamoia and Tile Ware to FRO.
ceel TO the anchorage Of the Mexican steamers
On nearing the anchorage, orc of the Mexican
s,ca mcrs probably taking The alarm, raised Eer
anchor and moved oil, and sIlo: is fred at
her by the Saratoga. it is said, across her bows :;
but this could not have been seen by the AIcyi-
can steamer in the darkness Of the night. The
hai"noia is sent up to her TO overhaul her. and
her hail is very naturally answered by n vol.
ley of musketry. The Saro'oya then poured
into the McSican steamer q broal<iLr and u
general fight takes place.
Now, in The first place what business had an
American war vessel to attempt to compel q
steamer, quietly lying in the hnrhor Of Vera
Cruz, to show her c"lorsl On the high seas,
where n war ship of any nation secs II vessel
suing WlthouL cOIOrS lie mas n right to presume
that she is piratical, and therefore he may conf
pei an exhibition Of colors; but in waters be.
longing to nation only the nation TO whom
the waters belong can compel an exhibition Of
ctlors. AS these steamers We're in Il Mexican
harb"r, the authority Of Mexico only could dc.
rnan'l the exhibition of cnlors. The American
vessels we've in this h rbor only 10y the courte-
sy o!nati"hs. rby express treaty. They had no
right to assume the sovereignty o{1Nexico, and
compel by force the exhibition of a&prs Of yes
sells belonging to other nations ih3harbor of
Vera Cruz But if they had the right to re-
qn;rc of the Mexican steamers to exhibit their
co!ors, they required it when the cdlors could
not be seen. They went at the dead .ofsnighL
to perform this delicate affair. 1t is stated
that the Mexican steamers did run up their
colors, hu: Of course they were rndistinguisiat.
bic at night. The Mcxcans certainly codfdi
hot have Inferred that this was the purpose q
the American war vessels. They found them
selves at dead Of night surprised and shot at
They of course supposed that the American
squadron were enemies come to capture chem
We fear that they were right and that the
hunt after c"lors n mere pretcxt. The
American squadron, we fear, attacked the
Mexican steamers in the harhcr of Vera Cruz
ut night with view to capture them. The
Constitution says that Congress only shall de-
claro or authorize war. Is not this war, not
only on al enemy, hut Oh n weak and unotrend.
ing people with whom we are in profound
peace?