The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-03-28
Terms of subscriptlOn--in Advance.
An Engagement in the Gulf.

AL GuSdS0IueuC III Cue 0u1A'
Considerable surprise and specula-
ton was caused during the past week
by the receipt of an account of the cap.
ture of two Mexican war steamers, be-
longing to General Marimon, by Capt.
Turner, in command of the u S. Ma
val forces in the Gulf The following
incidents of the affair, as set forth in
an exchange, show that Capt. Turner
acted with spirit and ptitude
becoming an American Naval Officer,
entrusted with the honor of the Ma
tional flag =
1t appears that Miramou has sue :
ceeded either through sympathy or
money in getting four Spanish steam
ers at Havana to aid him in his attack
on Vera Cruz, now held by Juarez
Two steamers, filled with Spaniards
and munitions of war, arrived at Vera
Cruz about the time of the intended
attack. They sailed from Havana I'M
der the Spanish flag, but on entering
Vera Cruz they were without any en-
blem of their nationality, to distin-
guish them from Spanish or even
American filibusters. Capt. Turner
went to ascertain their character, and
while properly executing this duty was
fired into by one of the steamers with
both round shot and musket balls
This unceremonious and hostile recep-
ton drew from him the prompt and
only reply it deserved broadside,
and the speedy capture of the steam
ers, which have been sent, with their
contents, to the United States as law
full prizes. The insolence and uniusti-
fable conduct of the Mexican Com
mander brought this severe punish
ment upon his own head The con-
sequences to Miramon will probably
be disastrous. He was awaiting the
arrival of these vessels, as necessary to
furnish him with the means of success :
fully prosecuting the siege of Vera
Cruz. The loss of them will probably
Illustrate all his designs, and compel
him to abandon the siege.
tits quite probable that Capt. Tur-
ner has only anticipated what would
ultimately have been required of him
Miramon's intention was to cut of, by
q blockade, all commercial intercourse,
so as to exclude any foreign assistance
to his opponent This obstruction to
our commerce would have, in all prob
ability, brought him into collision with
the u S. naval force. The internal
quarrels between the factions in Mexico
do not destroy our rights as foreign
nation. They may quarrel among
themselves as much as they please, so
long as they do not interfere with the
rights guaranteed to us by treaty or
by international law. When either of
the factions does this, we have right
forcibly to interfere for our own pro-
lection 1t was only about a year ago
that a T. S. naval force anchored at
Vera Cruz to compel Juarez to res
pect our commercial rights, which he
was wise enough to do, without any
more active demonstration on our part.
In the internal war of factions which
is now waging in Mexico, it is not like
ly that foreign nations will permit
their commerce to be INSTRUCTED oil
injured.
We do not see that the act of Capt
Turner viii involve US seriously ir
these Mexican troubles Miramon il
in no condition to act Extensively, MOI
has our government any official deal
ings with him. Exercising the righr
under international law to regard eithel
of the factions as the lawful govern
ment, ours has recognized that which
has shown the greatest ability to sus-
tain itself by the permanent possession
Of the chief sea port of the country.
whence is derived all the external re-
venue which supports the Government
of Mexico. 1t is the Juarez govern
ment with which ours is negotiating
treaties, and it is from that government
that we expect those commercial modi-
fications which are to benefit our
trade in that quarter of the globe
This fortuitous turn of affairs, where
by his adversary becomes so crippled.
is fortunate accident for him, and
will aid in establishing his government
on a still more durable foundation
Unless the u. S. Senate should pass
the treaty, authorizing n more direcr
inference with the internal feuds O
Mexico, we are not bound by the re.
cent transaction to any further med
ding with their affairs, except to pro-
tect our own rights in that quarter
REV Mr.. GERDoL, Catholic pastor
at Gonaives, Hayti. has been driven