Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-20
MIR. ROBBINS SPEECH, ON MRS. DECA
TIJR'S CLAIM

The bill for allowing and distributing prize
money for the capture and destruction of the
ir'gae Phadelphs, to Susan Decatur and oih-
ers, was taken up; the motion 10 ill the first
blank with 100000 still pending.
Mr. HAYNE explained the grounds Of the
clam, read the documents connected with il.
and referred TO the precedents by which it was
justified.
Mr. ROBBINS rose and said, the claim for the
capture and destruction Of the irigaIe PhaGel
phIa in the harl'or Of rripoli SO far as it Is a
c'aunu on the justice and policy ofthe country,
depends upon the merits Of the case; and these
again upon ITS clrcum nanCes, and its conse
Guences; and so far "a II is claim upon the
legal obligation If the country, it depends upon
the 9Th Sec. OF the prize act, so called, passed
the 23d April, 1900. beg the indulgence of
the Senate whilst | consider the claim upon
both grounds pIedgng myself not to ,respass
upon that indulgence further than is necessary
for brief exposition of both.
II will be recollec,ed that the United States
iriga'e Philadelphia. some time think in 1903,
unfortunately got aground on the Barbarv Cousi
and IN consequence fell into The hands Of those
barbarIans. then at hostiliies with the United
States She was got oil undamaged, and added
to Their maritime force, to be employed IN their
plrocies against our commerce on those seas
The commander Of our little squadron on thai
station deemed it very im2oran, to the inter-
cs's of the United States, as in truth il was,
that these barbarians should, if possible; be de-
prived ofihis frIgate. But how was this posi-
BILE? She was now moored in the harbor of
Tripoli; she had full comp 'ement Of men kept
on board; her guns were all mounted and ready
loaded she was close under the protection Of
all the guns Of the castle and the principal bat
terry, and she was guarded on different quarters
by armed vessels kept ready for action.
young Lieutenant in that little squadron
then in the early prime Of manhood, ihen un-
known TO fame, but no longer to be so. conceiv
ed and planned an enterprze for The capture of
tins frigate: and by means too of mere hand
fu Of men, and small drogiug vessel, called
a Ketch when all more os enaiious and
seemingly more adequate, because more for-
mldablc, means must have failed. AS he had
conceived und suggested, so he prepared and
led on IN the execution of this daring and seem
ingly desperate enterprise; foreseeng every
peril ofthe attempt and forewarned against every
peril; calculating means 10 ends, and seconding
means by resolution, and mind bent on its
purpose, and adequate to It's exigency, he at
comPllshed the object; an object deemed i'm.
possible by others, who measured its difficulties
by their own powers TO overcome them and
possible to him only, because he saw its possi-
bility in his own great and daring mind.
This Lieutenant, this then unledged naval
Heio, was your Decatur; afterwards, and
thcnceforward so distinguished in your naval
history; so identified with the naval fame of his
country; of which he makes 30 conspicuous a
part: your Decatur, now, alas! no more, but in
the moments OF his naval achievements, and in
naIno which can never de; n name ahich the
muse OF history will give TO fame, as one of her
elect, 10 live forever; one of those precious
few, whom she redeems from that tide Of obv-
ION which time is forever rolling on, 10 hurry
beneath its waves the memory of the past.
He, in the guise, and under the disguise Of
market droger, made his way to The side Of that
figaie, Instantly boarded her, laid twenty Of
her men dead upon the deck, aud drove all the
rest overheard; some TO escape in their boats,
and some TO perish in the Sc and was in COM
ploie possession Of the ship, and might have
brought her Otto The squadron, but for he per-
empiory orders under which he acted, which
werc to destroy her; yes, ho migh'-for, after
destroying her. he did escape in his market dro.
GER unburi, and without the loss Of man. In
pursuance Of his orders, he set fire TO .er in dif
icrent parts, and waited till the frn broke out
from all those paris, and had got the unconiro-
able mastery Of the ship; by whlch she was
burn, down To The waters edge; and all of her
that was above water was consumed IN the
flames.
The noise ofths exploit resounded over Eu-