Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-17
From, The Ne,c- York daily advertiser, May |.

Boston Patriot.
From the Ne,c- York daily .4dcertiser, May |.
The following communication, which is from
a very respectable source, discloses system
OF practical iniquity, characteristic of 4 new
scheme Of buccaniering; and one which calls
loudly on the government OF this country for
an effectual and final remedy.
CAUTION TO SHIP MASTERS.
The captains of vessels navigating along the
Florida Coast are cautioned, in cases of distress
and want Of assistance, against submitting 10
an arbitration al key West.
Proceedings took place at Key West former
ly under territorial law Of Florida, authoriz-
ing Jury of five men and Notary, to decide
on salvage claims. The unconstitutionalty Of
the law, and the abuses growing out of the
practice under II, induced Congress to repeal,
and TO express their unqualified disapprobation
of it.. During its continuance, however, the
wreckers and their associates, seemed to have
a shadow Of authority for their iniquitous pro-
ceedings, and were determined to make the
most of it,: disregarding the decisions of the
United States Courts, declaring it uncosstitu
tiona, and public opinion, which long since
pronounced their proceedings but little better
than piracy. The repeal Of the law gave the
sufferers reason to expect that better course
would be pursued in future; but those reason.
able expectations have been disappointed in
several recent cases OF shipwreck, by obtain
ing the consent Of the captains TO submit the
claims Of the wreckers to arbitration, instead
OF taking the usual and legal course of having
such claims adjudicated upon by the District
Court Of the United States. 1t is not intended
here to impeach in the least the motives Of the
captains thus consenting; The ingenuity Of
those who are benefited by the spoil is no
doubt set to work in every possible way to at
tain their end, and the object of the present
communication is intended to eounteract their
designs, if possible, by putting unwary cap
tains on their guard against an indirect inhu-
ence, recommending course ruinous to the
interests Of all but the wreckers and those who
share in the sales and purchases. BY fair
and disintsrested arbitration, result may be
frequently obtained as satisfactory, and some
times more so, than by any other course. This,
however,. cannot be expected at Key West;
and to satisfy disinterested person of this, it
will only be necessary TO advert to the impos-
sibility Of selecting intelligent arbitrators who
are not concerned either as wrecker, clerk, mer-
chant, sc. in few facts and cases Of recent
dale. The inhabitants themselves give no in
dication Of intelligence and disinterestedness,
to warrant a selection Of arbitrators being few
in number, and nearly all adventures oncern-
ed either directly or indirectly in living on the
distresses Of those who unfortunately and up-
willingly fall into their hands. The merchants
Of the place and their associates, act alternately
as jurors, merchants, auclioneers, clerks, and
arbitrator. AS auctioneers they charge per
cent and as merchants 5 per cent more, on the
same property; territorial duty per cent, store
rent, advertising, sc. at most extravagant rates.
24S bales Of cotton were saved Of the cargo of
the ship Adele and sold at Key West; the nett
salvage to the owners was less than $780,.
per cent. allowed TO the salvors Of the cargo
Of the barque Transit, of this port, it is only
known that 80 per cent, was awarded TO the sal
vors, and that the vessel which assisted in saw
ing is reported to have belonged to the mer-
chants Of that place. the cargo of the schr.
Virginia, 81 per cent was awarded to the SAL
vors, and the same per centage was allowed on
the Gen. Mcdonald.
The small schr. Gen. La Fayette, of PhiIa-
delphia, having valuable cargo of dry goods,
worth about 100000, Hoated off in about four
hours after she touched, with the assistance of
small wrecker, and paid for this assistance 80
per cent. on the entire value of vessel and car
go, the latter Of which was not damaged and
the former but slightly. The voyage of this
vessel could have been pursued but for the un-
reasonable salvage, and the course pursued of
selling the whole property to pay it, Other ca
ses Of still greater enornity have occurred, one
in particular, where parcel of cochineal was
taken out of French brig, and, as alledged,
against the will ofthe captain, and 95 per cent.
allowed on it at St. Augustine. This, however,
was considered Such barefaced robbery, that
the French Consul embraced the opportunity
OF lnterposing claim in time to save the prop
erty from the course of proceedings previously
pursued.
The editor Of the Philadelphia Gazette
states, that wrecker demanded e. ooo Cor tat