The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-22
The obstinacy Of the MEXICAN commander il

The obstinacy of the Mexican commander in re-
fusing 10 show his colors, and his precipitancy in
answering, with a volley of cannon-shot and mus
kerry, the summons of the American commander,
to heave to, until his national character could be
ascertained, have probably saved the general
public great deal of trouble in determining the
exact amount of praise or blame to be ascribed to
the part taken by our officers in an affair which
might otherwise have seemed even worse than ques-
tonable When the news was distributed
the country, by telegraph from New Orleans, that
two Mexican war-seamers had arrived below that
port in charge of officers of our navy, as prize of
war; the first question upon everybody's lips was
how came we by them, and what were the Cir
cumstances which led 10 or justified their cap
ture? Those circumstances have since been briefly
detailed in dispatches received at the Navy De-
parment from the officers in charge of the captured
vessels. According to the statement of Lieutenant
MINOR, which is the fuller and more explicit of
the two-the steamers were captured off Anton
Lizardo a point about twenty-five miles to the
southwark of Vera Cruz, and not far from the
port of Alvarado. They had previously appeared
off Vera Cruz, without showing any colors. They
had passed the Castle of San Juan d. Ulloa and the
foreign men-ofwar lying at anchor at SACRIFICES,
without the customary salute, and they had drop
ped anchor off Anton Lzardo, without having
given the smallest indication of their national
character, or of the object of their visit. To
solve this apparent mystery which seemed to sur
round their appearance and their movements,
Captain JARVIS in command of our squadron at
Vera Cruz, sent Com mander TURNER in the sloop-
of-war Saratoga, with attachments from the So
Uannah and PreJle, in the steamers Indianola and
WaUe, to visit the strangers at their anchorage
and ascertain their character. Upon nearing
them, however, one of the steamers was seen to
be moving off, when "a shot was fired ahead of
cher to bring her to, and the Indianola was sent
'to overhaul her." The hail from the In
dianola was answered by broadside from
the steamers guns, and volley of musketry.
The Saratoga at once opened fire in return; the
action became general, and in few minutes, re-
suited in the capture of both steamers, which
proved to be the General Mirdmon and the Mar
Quez, belonging to the Reactionist or MIRAMoN
Government of Mexico, and which had sailed
from Havana, where they had been purchased
and equipped, for the purpose of cooperating
with the Reactionist forces in the siege Of Vera
Cruz. After the action commenced it is stated that
the steamers hoisted the Spanish flag, but Mex-
can ships they undoubtedly were, as far as they
can besad to have possessed any national charac-
ter at all.
Thus far, and upon this statement of facts, the
presumption is altogether in favor of the propriety
of the conduct of Captain JARVIS. The appear
ance and conduct of the Steamers-their refusal to
display any national flag, or to extend the usual
cOurteses due from the armed ships of every
ton to the flag of every other friendly power
and the attempt to elude the approach of our men,
of-war-were undoubtedly circumstances such as,
under ordinary circumstances, would justify sus-
picion and invite scrutiny. Their firing into the
Lndianold was an outrage which merited chastise-
ment, and rendered their capture inevitable.
IT, therefore, there were no other facts
in the case beyond those we have stated,
we should have no hesitation, not only in acauit-
ting Captain JARVIS of all blame in the matter,
but in awarding to him the highest praise for his
promptneSs and gallantry. The considerations
which induce us to suspend this favorable verdict,
at least, until we shall be put IN possession of
fuller information respecting Captain JARVIS views
and the instructions under which he acted may
be briefly stated. In the first place, there is no
reason to believe that anybody at Vera Cruz, or
on board Of the American squadron, was really
ignorant of the character and designs of the cap
tured steamers. 1t was sufficiently well known
there, for time before their arrival, that two
steamers were being fitted out at Havana
for the purpose of blockading Vera Cruz by sea,
while General MIRAMoN should invest the city on
the Landslide. Captain JARVIS had been strongly
urged by the JUAREz Government to intercept
the expedition, and at the departure of the last
mail for New Orleans was supposed to have the
matter under serious consideration. The DISPOSE
ton of the Administration to find pretext, or, if
need be, to make one, for interfering in the affairs
of Mexico, and in behalf of the JUAREz Govern
ment, has long been manifest. The fact that Cap
tain JARVIS should have sent a force TO Anton
Lizardo-a distance of twenty-five miles from
Vera Cruz-for the purpose of informing himself
about matter which he perfectly well understood,
and the extent and character of the force which
was sent-would seem to indicate a disposition to
have a brush at all events. What Captain JARVIS
would have done had the Mexican Commander
not given the justification he did by refusing to
show his flag, attempting to run off and firing
into the Iadianola-of course we do not know.
1t is fortunate for the gallant Captain that he
should have had such provocation afforded forw
he has done. Considered by itself, and without
reference to any of the complicating circumstances
we have mentioned, we do not know that any ex-
ception can be taken to what Captain JARVIS has
done. If, however, the capture of the steamers
was predetermined thing-precipitated per-
haps by the obstinacy and rashness of the Mexican
commander-but resolved upon, at all hazards,
and an initatory step towards more active in
tervention in Mexican afairs-then, we think
before the country is finally committed to the con-
sequences of such policy, the country should
know more about it. Upon this point, the in
structions from the Home Government under
which Captain JARVIS acted, will throw much val
liable Highland we perceive by the proceedings
of Congress, yesterday that no time has been lost
in calling for those Instructions, as well as for a
more definite explanation of the views and inten-
tentions of the Administration in regard to the
whole business.