The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-07-29
Botley, 18th May, 1915.
THE CONSTITUTION AND HER
TWINS

The opinion ofthe court martial, held at
Halifax for the trial of the late commanders
of the British vessels Of war Cyane and Lee
want, taken by the Constitution has drawn for h
the following remarks from the Boston Ga
zette the Gazette on former and similar
occasion, was rather rudely rebuked by some
of the Wdshingt onianS, for what they were
pleased to call its .dmericanisn,. We are
yet to learn how this deUiation is to be tole-
rated f:
"There is a perversion of truth as well as
magnanimity, in this account, diSgraceful to
the character of British officer. We know
it to be a fact. that the opposing ships were
in nusket shot Of each other during the kiri,i-
cifiai FART, Jnot the zvhote Of the actian so
that the marines in the tops, and from the
gang way, were constantly engaged, and Sc
veral of them wounded by musket-6aHs-
that so far from any alluremcut being held
out to induce the enlistment of single prs-
oner, captain Stewart uniformly resisted the
solicitations Of great many II them, 10 enter
the service Of the u. StateS-and that with
respect to their treatment while on board the
Constitution, they were no further manacled
than is usual on such occasions or than was
lmperiously demanded, as a measure of safe
ty, the prisoners on board actually outnum-
berlng the crew of the Constitution. These
remarks we make w tn confidence, having
our information from an officer who WAS In
the action"
The Nezv Byunsvick FREEDMAN, on the
same honorable ofiinion, makes the following
pertinent comments:
a. Base CaluDN1y.-In an account of the tri-
al of the officers and crew of the Levant and
Cyane, the two British vessels captured by
the Constitution, we find it mentioned, in pas
sing an eDcomium upon their conduct, that
repeated attempts were made by the Off
CelS and crew of the 10 induce
them TO enter our service-but without eff
feet. Now, we have no hesitation in pro
nouncing this wilful and scandalous false
hood. We believe so,
A" Because, we have seamen enough of our
own, and of the very best, as the whole world
knows. an d as the enemy had Just received
ItrdcticaL evidence of.
" Because, we understand it is regulation
in the navy to employ no foreigners on board
our public ships: or at any rate no English
men not naturalized. And,
Because, our officers will not, il no such
regulation as a5ove mentioned existed, de-
grade themselves so much as to take advan-
tage of the situation of the British seamen, to
induce them to enter our service.
Upon the whole, therefore, the assertion
may be set down as base calumny, every
way worthy its foul origin.
% II is also stated in the account above aIlu-
ttSQ w. tildl llC WlAD4S vi TIC SSdtncn,
prisoners, were confined in the hold of the
Constitution, in warm climate, 0ith their
legs in chains, and hand-cufcd fur three
7veetS.
The proverbial humanity ard magnanim-
ity of American officers in victory, confutes at
once this dishonorable and foul SANDER. Had
they followed the example of British officers,
then, indeed, every thing that is vile and I'M
worthy might be said of them. But as it's
as just and generous enemy have them
selves repeatedly borne testimony Of the hui
name and honorable conduct of our officers in
regard to their prisoners, we pronounce the
statement UNANIMOUSLY false and we feel no
apprehension that this attempt to stain the
fair character of American heroes, will have
any better success than all the previous eff
forts to that effect, that have been made
it will only serve to exhibit i'll brighter CO.
tours the virtue of our officers, and in con-
trast depict the foul defOrInity of their calum-
niators."
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