New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-02
TEX MEXICAN STEAMERS.


can steamers have now been received, including the
versions of the newspapers Of Juarez at Vera Cruz,
Geographic summary of the protest of Marin, just
published in New-Orleans, which will be found on
another page of this paper, the official reports OF
our wnoffcers and the interested views Of those
Who desire to have their conduct approved by the
Government at Washington Thcfcw grains ofwheat
in all this chat may be described in short terms.
On the 9th Of March, about noon, the two steamers
commanded by Capt Marin appeared before the
Castle of San Juan, and were challenged to show
their colors by blank cartridge from the fort.
The United States steamer Savannah was lying
near by, and blew her steam-whiste, and hoisted
her colors as signal for the steamers to do like
wise. No notice was taken of either summons, and
they pursued their course passing by the English,
French, and Spanish vessels of war off SACRIFICES,
down to the common anchorage at Anton Lizardo.
If the steamers committed any ofense against the
usage of nations in not hosting their colors why
did not Captain Jarvis demand proper redress on
the spot and how happens it that the ships of other
nations took no notice whatever of an omission
which il so much denounced Leaving this point,
let us come to the real gst of the The United
States sloop Saratoga, commanded by Commander
Turner, left Vera Cruz on the evening of the 9th
instant, at 81 O'clock under orders from Captain
Jarvis to inquire into the character of the steamers.
The ship was towed down by the 1ndanola and
Wave, two small steamers in the service of Juarez
though nominally called American. and reached the
anchorage at midnight. 1t is the rule of ships of
war not to fly their flags at night. The Mexican
steamers, therefore, had not their colors up, and
the first summons they received was shot across
the bows from the Saratoga which was followed by
the approach of the Indianola, and hail from the
quarterback. Then the Gen. Miramon returned
the FIRE, and the engagement began, in which forty
or fifty lives were wantoDly sacrificed.
This plain narrative of facts proves that we were
the aggressors, and the attempt to fix the onus on
the Mexican steamers for provoking . conflict,
which we had begun by the first shot, and all the
appearance of hostile mission at midnight, in
which the well-known steamers of Juarez figured
conspicueusly, is miserable expedient to excul-
pate our completely with one of the factions in
Mexico at the expense of truth and honor. The
truth is, our Government became possessed Of
oil the correspondence between Miramon and Marin
in regard to this expedition, and Juarez had de-
nounced it in advance. As he was unable to inter.
cept it, our chips of war used for the purpose,
and we have been made to play the part of supple
instrument to Mexican faction all through the
affair, in the presence Of foreign fleets the officers
Of which, as We lean, as well as the Ministers of
their Governments ct Washington, agree with
out a dissenting voice that it was q gross
and deliberate outrage, without pretext of
justification or a color of right. If MiramOn
had been backed BY England or France, it never
would have been attempted This example may
induce the great powers, which have heretofore
stood aoof, to take part now; for if the United
States, by active intervention, thus procaims itself
the ally of Juarcz why should not they adopt, with
equal efficiency, the cause of Miramon' The Pres-
dent has been bent on making war with Mexico, and
utterly disregards the for attaining that end
Let us hope that Congress will take such action in
the premises as will put decisive check upon his
reckless and wantOn abuse of Executive authority.