Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-23

criizss gjttr money, by the officers and men
whu Da,e been iu,oluntaIily aud ubprofitably
concerned IN them, are such IL excite the
surprise aud astonshuent of every one that
the subJcc, has not, before this, been one of
serious aud scrutinizing enquiry BY the new
Incumbent OF the Navy Department, who we
we're led to hope would let no act, dsreputa-
lilo In IN" service, pass uurrearied, which
came before lam IN pal pablo aud tangible
| form.
| He cannOt be ignorant that the vessels of
| the l. States, have gone of he course con-
ienpiaicd 10y The government, for their cruize
after Pirates and the protection of our com
mtrce," 10 distant ports Oh the Main where
| IuiUrtnatiOu WIS received that large sums of
money were ready Ia be shipped on freight
Ia Havana, J.nalra, and ports M the United
States. That wmle lying in port, notice WAS
iodustriou-ly circulated thar money on freight
was Tie OBJECT of the call that alterw ards
boats nave come alongside with men of the
most vulgar and odi0us characters, who have
nevertheless been courIeousIy invited on board
by the captain and conducted into his cabin-
| WHEN the disgusting spectacle was witnessed
oy the other uibcers. of seeing these SD,uggierS
STRIP 10 The brE, and counting out gold and
silver CON bullion or gold dust, which
they had brought or in belts concealed round
their bodirs, aud agreed with the captain, for
certain per cen'ag', varying from To five
per cent, he should convey in safety to some
other port THAT this was not always .4me
rtcdn property, but, that in one instance at
irasi, these persons smuggling money on
board, were carried by agreements, as pdSstR-
gers tn the port of its destination That while
engaged in this business, American merchant
vessels, then in port, were offered money and
goods Oh freight, propided, they could obtain
eonroy, and that when the public commander
!snf IA. In nj af lh .,ee
tunes answered that he was not ready to sail,
| or when he was, that the nature of the SER
vice he was ON, required that he should 90 in
a different direction That not only money,
but COchinenl has been thus carried on freight,
and that hy daily advertisement in the public
papers Of Vera Cruz, 600 bales Of The latter ar
tlcle were invited To be received by one of our
| SHIPS OF war, and that she did receive aud sail
with l60 bales or more, for which freight Of
5 l2 per bale was paid. That these bales of
rdio hide tied round with green strings of tn.
same material, acknowledged by every one To
he the most susceptible article for confagiouS
Jeuer That they were taken on board in the
month OF August al the great hazard Of pro-
paSatinS that disease III So Indigenous eli
| mate stored along the birth deck to the
great annoyance and disadvantage fthe sea
men who have that space appropriated aw avs,
clear, Tor their accommodation and comfort.
Aud that The JreigktS so received, and which
have amounted to considerable sum, have
been tie ercLuSire perquisifes of the Commun
der OF The squadron, and the Captains of the
vessels respectively
All these things now as freely spoken
OF at Washington, at New York and Nor
iolK, whrfe the vessels arrived and the senior
commodore lately returned from Key West
Is known To have expressed his high dispea.
sure al the practice, when il was made known
10 HIM, and by a circular before he left the
station, directed 10 all commanders, he forbid
repetition of such practices for the future.
Ills attention was awakened 10 il not only
from his own officers, but by IA remonstrance
from the Governor of Havana, who had ar
rested an officer found Carrying money thro
the gates Tor one of our vessels then in the
harbour.
These facts Of such general noiorety as to
be theme of regret To all tue young officer.
OF the navy, and every one friendly to its RI
sing prosperity, are calculated To give your re
marks most appropriate character, and 1t il
hoped they will not be unattended tn by thos.
who have IT SO easily and amply IN their pow
er 10 redress the grievance and give demnity
against lis future recurrence.
Other matters not less prejsdicial to the
Character of the Navy, are subjects of commor
conversation here al this time, and will be de.
tailed 10 you in future number, and hops
not unproiitaby. 1t is now more than ter
years since joined the Navy, and having wit
messed what il has been and is capable. of be.
ing, am unwilling that any evils which have
5 crspt into il, and yet not incurable shal
remain stain upon its character for want o
friend 10 point them out freely, and in sea
{ son, to the only power that can administer I
ii cure.
= More than six surgeons have been ordere,
to the u. 5. Frigaie at Norfolk, but all hav,
5 refused 10 obey ~! The commission of one %
them, which was returued rather than n,
,UO1'td GO TO sea, has been again returned {,
him by order of the President, who il is sal,
has yielded.
The Vera Cruz newspaper is circulating
here, and transfer of the officers of the Hor
net to the Peacock (for the Pacific) is SUSPECT
ouSty spoken of in connection with it.
A FRIEND.
Mr. Lloyd in the Senate OF the u S. has taken un III
suIjee-It is respectfully submitted whether he has ca
lied his introduction enough? Does the ransporatic
extend 20 no articles but gold silver jewery Woul
not full and fearless investigation bring many fact
for the good Of the service ?-EditOrs.l
u The PenitentiUy-and Penal Code.
We have the misfortune to differ essential
:. from MIR. ThOmas's ResOlution-We prefer IN
PeniteUtiary, imperfect as il has been. to tha
old undistinguishing and savage system. who's
laws were written in blood laws, which alik
condemn pick pocket and mtrderer-law
which were SO lily suited To theage we live il
that they could not be carried into execution
SD reluctant were men TO prosecute, wiinesse
I To- testify, or luries to condemn.
But how 1t can he said, that the Penitentia
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