Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-09-06

ton to the already made duties respec
lively assigned 10 them. So far, however the evil
deuce reaches, appears the Court that the
Iudiciously distributed and actively engaged.
fhc testimony which appears TO conflict most with
this statement that Of AIessr Randall and Mountain
which will be found in the record. MIR. Randall APP
pears have been in the Island of Cuba with the ey
cep,on OF short interval from the Cd May until the
9Th November, 1924. During this time lac was much
occupied in Attending to the general duties OF his mis-
son aart of the time c and during the whole of
situation hear all the rumors which might be in
circulation regard to piratical depredaiops NIost
ut the information which he has communicated appears
TO have been derived from the repro rntatiops of others
and however implicitly the Court ovid feel disposed TO
rely upon the accounts given BY tuat gentleman of
iacts winch fell under his immediate notice cannot
extend that confidence to Others without some proof
Of the means they possessed of acquiring exact for-
rnaton and the credit TO which their statements are en-
titled.
1t IS IN evidence before the Court that false and OK
aggeraten reports of piratcal aggressons were frc-
quenty circulated, and sometimes as the witnesses have
nelevcd tor the express purpose of drawing off the
tenton OF the squadron from in which real dan
ger existed 1t also appears that such the charac
ter OF the vessels boats in which, at this period the
pirates sailed out from their haunts-such the facilities
afforded to these naraudes by the inhabitants of Cuba
and Tue imbeci'iy or inactivity, of the constituted au-
thoritiessuch the with which pursuit could he
evaded y retring the shore, that Mr. Randall has ex
pressed decided conviction in the ofwhch
no doubt is entertained by the Court, that no naya
force, however large however vglan could itself
ensure safety from these fIccbootcrs.
The evidence of Mr. Mountain is also in a GREAT meo
sure founded upon the representation of Others So far
az this witness speaks of the absence for several weeks
at tune of the vessels of the squadron during the sum-
me! OF i0<I without giving convoy at the Havana the
aegauon is not sustained either by the testimony of
Mr. Randall or that of the officers at that time in the
Deighoorhood of Cuba. The former specifies the times
OF the arrival and departure of the various vessels of
the squadron throughout the entire summer SO far as
they fell under his observations the latter detail the
general business in which they were scyeraly occupc
and the Court has been unable detect in the testimony
OF either, the period of time TO which Mr. Mountains
assertion apply So f as regards the allepe, en-
Poynent OF the squadron in other objects of inferior
moment, the Court DESTROYS of separating that part of
the case from that which is connected with its general
operations, and to state in detail, far they have
been given in evidence. the facts which have trans
PRED.
1t appears to the Court upon a careful review, and
after deliberate consideration of all the testimony that
has been submitted to il in regard to the manner in
which the squadron under the command of Commodore
Porter was employed during the period Of his command
that every thing done towards the impression of
piracy winch c'n't ne 2Cco nrIshed wJh force of
mat tS5cF'P -. 2rI of sue United srongth. The
number OF men employ a W. small, and lie greater
part OF the vessels engaged qua .j only for pafticu-
lar KIND OF operations. Their nconsiterable size rem
dered 1t mpractcable 10 cary either provisions O,
water, for any length of ne repairs were frequently
Tequi@i, the stores furnished from the United
states and the cruises therefore, necessarily of short
duration.t
II appears also that the confinement of the officers
aHd men IN the small schooners and barges, upon the
cruises and expeditions in which they unrcmttng
~ occupied posed both by ay and night TO te bone
Iul Influence of noxious cmate--the necessities
winch drove them continually Key West for the pur
pose OF repairing the vessels and procuring Supplies
combined to engender and add virulcnce TO the n,ap-
nant diseases which broke out and proved so dcsruc-
ave to life compelling for two successive seasons the
return TO the United States of large proportion of the
squadron.
u i@r these circumstances ii appears TO the Corrt
that the officers and have ennently entitled them
selves to he the commentators which they have re-
served. Commodore Rodgers, in his report dated No
Fcinoer "a, 1873 observes with ample means of uCl
ing, that he vessels particularly purchased for the
suppression OF piracy, have done all that could be rea
sonaoiy expected towards lis suppression; indeed they
have searched every nook and corner on the whole
coast OF Cuba from which pirate might be expected
to ssue and besides capturing and DESTROYING all that
could be identified being of that character they have
made impressions not TO be erased from the minds of
5ucn monsters so long as we keep respectable force
IN their neighborhood readiness TO chastse those
whose temerity might induce them to renew their do
and which, in the present state of things
notwithstanding the scourgng they have received
would be the in the absence of such force ne have
described"
Captain Finch has stated in his testimony, that when
he lett hanzas, in June 1921, in company with Com
moLoTe Porter he did think there was anv appear-
ancc opiracy in that quarter; and that sufficient force
VS. lett there 10 keep down 'sIn the then state of
tiaSs" he continues, II thought that force as cofnpe-
tentto effect the object larger one would have
Deem" lie also states that he rccoets but single
authenticated instance of piracy while he was with the
squadron ltoccurred in the neighborhood OF NIatan
AlS' Lieut.. voorhees, was immediately despatched in
tie Sea Gull, in pursuit Of the praical vessel and
succeeded IN capturing her in the Of few hours
Still more recently Tie committee of Naval Affairs
al due last session Of Congress in their report to tie
House # Representatives on the resolution of the OH
'eccnocT 1ns'ructiug them TO inquire into the cxpe
dirncy % o''vli:rg additional means for the sup
presto" - 'racy states THAT they bad tue subjects
proPrF the said resolution under their ,.ousijera-
non 'oVc made diligenl inquiry into the operations
"i ar 'va orce Whc!' Tor The last two years has been
enoI7yci N the GuIfo' Mexico for the protection of
our commerce. and TIC suppression of piracy.
IN h' investigation, they feel satisfaction in sta
,"5 i I'VE mons employed have displayed tie vigil
Anc - r'r',rnrncut, me activity zeal ana de.
votoH % tIc fCers AMI scamcn who have been assign
ei to ma pcriou5 service; pcious, not from the nun
oars or courage of the cucmy, but the deetcrons
effect u tropical climate upon natives ola more lem
P2rate region. The vessels assigned TO this service
we're better adapted 10 short expedition than to long
AM TENN cruises They too small afford the
Fron no sary TO preserve the discipline and health OF
the Offices and scamcn assigned, yet they enabled the