ARRIVAL OF THE BARQUE MATIAS SALVINIUS AT AUCKLAND, FROM VALPARAISO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 332, 14 December 1865, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE BARQUE MATIAS SALVINIUS AT AUCKLAND, FROM VALPARAISO.

(From the Daily Southern Cross, December 9.) Bt the arrival of tlie American barque Maiias Salvinius, Capt. Douglas, from Valparaiso, we have dates to the sth October, containing important news respecting the blockade of the ports of Chili. We give the following from an extraordinary of La Patria of September 2Sth. BLOCKADE LAID ON ALL THE PORTS OF CHILI. WAR DECLARED BY CHILI. We present our foreign readers this interesting compend of news with mingled emotions of surprise and indignation. Spain, taking advantage of our undue confidence in her good faith and fidelity to her obligations, has attempted to set her foot on our nation... She will bitterly rue the day. Our offence was that, penetrating her designs against the independence of her quondam colonies, we have dared to speak out and resist her fillibustering advances that she may return to her prey in Peru, relinquished for the moment. She dreams to crush Chili in order to remove an obstacle to her ambition. We give the facts as they have occurred, with the despatches and declaration of blockade and bespeak for our country the sympathies of all who love the right of Americans to hold and govern America. We look for the moral if not the material aid of the countrymen both of Canning and Monro ; and trust we shall not he disappointed, although, in any case, we mean to resist to the death.

To the surprise of all, theintelligenee was brought on the 11th instant, by an extra steamer from Callao, that the arrangement made in May last had not been approved by the Spanish Government, and that the whole question was to be re-opened by the Admiral in command of the Spanish squadron.

Little, however, waa anyone prepared for the sudden and peremptory policy which has since been inaugurated by the Spanish agents in the

question. Admiral Pareja arrived on the 18th. He immediately made demand on our government, not that the negociations should be resumed, but that reparation should be made for the offences given. Certainly if summariness be a virtue, that quality cannot be denied to belong to the Spanish commander in a pre-eminent degree. He sent in his despatch on the day of the national independence, calling for an apologetic salute to his flag, which he would reply, and then commence negotiations. That is, that Chili should make amends, and then negotiate whether amends where due. The choice for the Government was hard. Should the prosperity of the country be compromised ? or should the nation’s honor be sacrificed? The President elected the former alternative. Spain has asked Degrading terms of Chili, and cannot obtain them. The representatives of foreign nations, who may be accounted impartial in the case, have disapproved of the policy pursued by the Spanish Admiral plenipotentiary and protested against all hostile measures that he may commit affecting the interest of citizens of their respective countries, on the ground that he has exceed his own instructions. They also allege that his unusual course is not calculated for obtaining a pacific solution of the questions issued. In his reply he contents himself with asserting that their government would have done as he is now doing. it is about two years since the Spanish squadron consisting then of two frigates and a steamer, came into the waters of the Pacific. They were received with no misgivings; hut on the contrary, with the liveliest welcome. The Admiral and his officers were entertained at public banquets here and in Santiago. A national pride was felt at tbe prospect of a cordial re-union with the mother country. The Spanish admiral, Pinzon, uttered some ungracious expressions it is true, but these were received as splenetic, rather than as token of ill. The ships went hence to port, and no fears were entertained until Pinzon Mazrredo seized the Guano Islands in re-assertion of the territorial rights of the Crown of Spain which they further elucidated by going on to say there had been a truce of forty years between the colony and the mother country. That was the match that caused the explosion. Chili was alarmed. The people more than the Government. South American independence as a principle was assailed. Spain furthermore had sent to Peru a commissary to negotiate, which was of old the title of an inspector of a colony’s affairs. Prom that hour trouble was brewing. After Peru had made no effectual resistance, Spain obtaining a treaty of settlement, gave up the island. Then the Spanish minister in this country complained that Chili had manifested a disposition inconsistent with neutrality ; had favored Peru; had allowed men to be shipped for the Peruvian service, as well as provision and coal. Whereas Spanish ships had later, on being refused supplies and coal by public decree, been forbidden to be exported for the use of either party, because the hostilities were defacto existing between them. There also was a question of popular outcries against the Spanish flag in Santiago at the house of the Minister.

After those complaints had been discussed tartly for some time the Spanish Minister rather suddenly stated that he was satisfied with the declarations of the Chilian Secretary of State. The affair was considered at an end, and commercial affairs, that had seriously deranged, resumed their prosperous way. Late events, however, have reversed them all. Admiral Pareja arrived on the 17th and sent in his despatch on the ISth, demanding satisfaction and mating threats that he should within 40 days proceed to extreme measures.

He received a reply refusing to accede to these peremptory demands on the 22nd immediately he forwarded an ultimatum that hostile measures should nest day be adopted. • The remonstrance of the Diplomatic Corps obtained a delay of a few hours. On the 24th the blockade was began at 6 a.m.

Thus, in a week has a heady man, representing a rash and unscrupulous policy lain open violently the question that was considered by the North to be settled, presented his ultimatum, declared hos-

tilities and established the blockade of the ports of Chili. The Government has been taken entirely by surprise. They had not imagined for a moment that Spain would repudiate the action of a Minister,

The heart of the nation beats bravely on the land, but an overwhelming force occupies the waters.

IVo steam frigates are blockading Caldera the Blanca and Berenguela, another the Marquis de la Victoria is at Coquimbo while the Resolucion and Villa de Madrid each 42 guns, with transport, occupy the outer roadstead of this port. Congress in both houses passed at once the declaration of war, as proposed over the signatures of the Presidsnt and all the members of the cabinet. A loan of twenty million dollars has been authorised ; and unlimited power granted to the Executive for raising troop* and procuring ships for the defence of the country. . Yhe common sentiment is that Spain is attempting to trample on her colony that was, for,having had courage to resist what was believed to be an attempt against the independence of the Spanish American republics. All men of all parties have rallied round the Administration, Party lines are effaced by the waves of patriotic emotion, and the determination is to resist to the uttermost.

Unfortunately there is no commander-in-Chief of either the French, English, or American squadrons on this part of the coast. The British Commodore is looked for daily with anxiety, and surprise at his non-appearance. It is apprehended that he may have been detained at Callao, by the progress of the Peruvian revolution.

The diplomatic corps have acted with promptitude. Mr Nelson, the United States minister, has led the way, speaking with decision and manifesting a generous sympathy with Chili in the aggravated, ill-treatment to which she has been ruthlessly subjected. H.B.M.’s corvettes Columbine and Mutine are at anchor in the bay. The French and English storeships have been requested to change their moorings, to get out of the range of fire from the Admiral’s ship to the fort. Eumors prevail in town that he will fire on the fort, on the railway station, and on the custom-house stores. Some even say that he intends firing on the town itself, and families have removed into the country for safety in consequence. Business, as may be supposed, is for the time prostrated. Public securities and stocks have gone down to the most nominal rates. The national Bank has been authorised to issue four and a half million dollars in bills, not payable in specie until the end of January.

The other banks were compelled to suspend specie payments several days ago. The steamer San Carlos arrived last evening the 27th instant, from Talcahuano, running the blockade.

The West Australia, Adam Sedgwick, and Ismay, British vessels, and Napoleon 111, French, have come in since the blockade commenced. The Admiral maintains, howover, that they must not go out again since he has control of the entire harbor.

It is understood that the Santiago, British steamer, looked for daily from England, will be allowed to come in, and also the mail steamer from the north, due on the 29th. to sail Oct. 2nd, but after that the port will be closed. The Chilian government and people declare that they will not in any case submit to the unjust conditions proposed by Admiral Pareja, come what may. The Chilian corvette Emerald and the steamer Maipu slipped out of port on the night of the 18th. It is only surmised whither they may have gone; some say tc Callao, some to the Atlantic. They were well manned and found.