The Black Republican., 1865-05-13
NEW ORLEANS, SATURDAY MORNING NJ

ward, and when the idea of pursuit was alb
| surd-to move the ships to the usual moor
| ings for convenience to the city Owing tC
the state Of the tide the bows Of all the
shipping in port were pointed toward Belem
Castle. The Niagara and Sacramento were
under the exclusive direction of Portuguese
| pilots, wearing the uniform and other IN
| sigma Of mis- Majesty's government. The
| Sacramento never advanced an inch from
| her first position, but backed and turned.
| Owing to the great length of the Niagara,
| the Portuguese pilot did not see 1T
to attempt a similar movement, but
| with q sweep in the river, described the arc
| Of circle, to carry her to the new anchor
age ground. IN executing that movement
| the Niagara passed near to his Majesty's
| ship Sagres, then lying between the Niagara
| and Belem Castle, from which all the verbal
messages had come, and which is charged
| with the special duty of enforcing the regu-
| latione Of the port, and all orders OF the gov
ernment relating to foreign ships. No Objec-
ton or opposition of any sort was intimated
| by the Sagres, and that fact was plainly visi
bic at Be1em Castle. AS the Niagara was
proceeding on her way, and at no time within
several hundred yards of the conventional
line Of exit from and entrance to the port,
Belem Castle, without warning inquiry or
precaution, opened fire against the ship OF
three shOtted guns in quick succession. The
flag of the Niagara was Immediately dipped
in acknowledgment. The firing ceased dur
ing the space Of a few minutes, and was then
suddenly resumed, when the flag of the
Niagara was hoisted at the peak, notwith-
standing which, and while her bow was
turned to the city, the firing continued,
one ball striking the port quarter" and two
others elsewhere. While the firing was 90
ing on, an officer of the guardship Sagres
presented himself on board the Niagara to
express regret for this violence, stating at
the same time that it must have originated
in some strange mistake as his ship had re-
ceived orders to permit the Niagara and
Sacramento to proceed to sea at P. NJ. that
daY-an hour and a quarter before they be.
gan to move at all--if such was the desire of
the Commodore.
By a proTidential interposition no life was
lost, and no injury was inflicted. COmmo-
dOre Craven, with rare selfcommand, in the
face of such marked provocatiOn, did not
return the fire Of the Castle, and to MA dis
cretiOn alone may be attributed the happy
exemption from causes Of mourning, which
every friend Of humanity will appreciate
and rejoice at. He considered and treated
these repeated acts of hostility as proceed
ing from an excess of zeal on the part of a
cOmmandant, who either ignored or misun-
der3tOod his duty, and he testified his friend
ship for and his confidence in the justice Of
his Majesty's Government by refusing to
take JnG feureSS N ms own ndnuS.
Rhis is not the proper place to speak Of
the diplomatic action which followed, but
it may tie said, as an answer to much mis-
statement, that the representation was con-
fined to the facts, and that explanations and
reparation have been accepted. The man.
ner of proceeding viii be left to the judg-
ment Of candid and enlightened men when
the correspondence should be allowed TO
speak for itself.
Pains have been taken to excite prejudice
against the United States in this matter, by
stirring the embers Of Il much regretted in
cident at Bahia. Tho authors of this inius-
tice conceal from view with characteristic
intention, the reparation which was prompt
ly and hOnorably made, by disavowipg and
apologiZing for the reprehensible act, by
court martial of the offending naval COM
mander, by dismissal of the Consul, and by
a salute of the Brazilian flag.
It is not expected that journals which
have been so quick and eager to distort and
misrepresent the facts which are here pre-
sented, and whose unworthy vocation it is
to intiame the bad passions of a kindred
that they have culpably circulated far and
wide. But this plain, unVarnished tale"
viii serve, at least, to inform those whose
good opinion and good will the people of the
United States have cherished through pro-
longed period of sad strife, and which they
respect too much to be willing to forfeit by
any omission Of candor.
JAMES Z. HARVEY,
United States Minister.
LISBON, April IA, 1865.