Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-01-14

Mr.. John w. Shaw, partner in the late
trading house at the island Of 81. Thomas, Of
Cabot & Co. has published a long statement IN
the Boston papers, Of the affairs OF that hrm, as
connected with the transactions oil the Priva-
teer Las Damas Argentiuas. aud the cnnduc'
Of The government Of the Island in relation 10
The same subject. He states that Cabot 20.
acted throughout under full bplief that thr p''
rate was a 3uenos Ayrean priva'eer. regularly
commissioned; and were totally ignorant OF
the fact ,ha, her pretended commission WAS
forgery. Upon the Trial of the pirates, 1t APP
Deared that The commission had been regularly
issued in 1926, for year, and had afterwards
been fraudulenlly altered to one for 1928, by
Buysan, who commanded her.
The following is an exlrac, from this article:
81 would first recall the at'rn'ion OF the public
to ftw prime psl events and their dates. The
Carraboo, known TO be an English brig, and
Of course q piralical capture, arrived al 81, En-
s,aia on the 18th August; she was demanded
bv and given up to the British authorities on
the 2ls,. All the facts regarding the conn.x-
ion Of Cabot 3, Co. with the schooner which
had made The pira,cal capture, were as wei
known TO the government Of s.. Thomas al
that time, as they have BEEN at any time since.
About tie frs, If September, the piraticai
schooner wa, captured and carried into St.
Ki,,s; on the 22d and Esd of hat month, the pi-
rates were uird and legally convicted Of their
offrnce; the repor, Of the trial Was published
within a day OF two, after, containing the let
,ers Of Armstrong, speaking Of Cabot Go. as
consignees Of The schoonfr, and The testimony
of Msrrinan respeo ting their sgency; the pi-
rates were hanged within week OF The 'rla'i
all these events we're known at ST. Thomas,
shortly after the act Of piracy; & speeial com
mission, consisting Of a member oil the Royal
Council, a naval officer OF the station, & or 2
NJ ore, was appointed,as usual in capita! eases,to
assist the ordinary Judge at that trial; < in the
investigation Of ,he circumstances attending
the commission o! their crime; and one OF tie
house Of Cabot & Co was witness before the
commission. il was not until the 25th OF DC
rober, that I'll hnr member Of the house OF Ca
no, & Co lef S.. Thomas. During The whole
period from he 18Th August 10 the 25th Oct,
the government well knowing every fact in re-
spect TO the connsxion Of Cabot & Co.wiih that
schooner which actually existed, he members
Of that house wen abou, their business as usu
al, were every where publicly seen, and main
tained their usual familiar intercourse with the
governor OF 81. Thomas, and The other prinoi-
pal nffi Ger. Of the place On The evening Of
the oath Of October. The pubhca ion OF the state,
menr Of the Grand Jury OF st. Kits was first re.
ceived a, ST Thomas l. was not until the LIST OF
November tina, the governor issued his procla
nation for our arrest.
The presumption arising against US from
the fac, Of ,ha, proclamation, rests upon the j.
dec ,ha, the au'hoi,ies OF St. Thomas who
had ,hr hes, means te knowing the facts, were
satisfied with our quilt, and felt themselves
bound, as matter Of official duty, TO take suit
able measures for our apprehension. But The
re pre- senla,ioa Of the Grand jury stated no new
Taet-no,hing which the Governor did not
know as we'll as Cab,t s. Co. So far as his OF
fetal du,y was concerned, il gave him therefore
no new ground Of ion. He knew on The IS h
OF August, that Cabit & Gu. had been the a.
gents ofthe supposed 3uenos Ayrean schooner,
and he also knew OF that day that she had
commi led piracy ye' he G'und no cause OF
suspicion or complain, ag Inst Cabot Il Co.
He knew N the later part of Sep'"mbsr that
The supposed pirac yhad been legally pro'ed al
ST. Kits and that the agency OF Cabot x Co.
for tn vessel, app",rrd in the course Of the
,ria,-sril he found 20 offence in the conduct OF
Cabo, & Co. well k,ow,ng that they were as
innocent as hirns,f Of all criminal participation
or intent. We mus look therefore for some ..
Their motive than Snse Of official duty TO ex>
PLAIN the fact, Of his proclamation
Mr. Shaw concludes his statement in the fol-
lowing summary reapi,uia'ion Of facts:
On ihr evening Of the oath OF October, the
statement of the grand jury Of ST. Kits af'i.-
ed at St. Thomas, and The Governor immedi.
atrlv found himself in The dilemma above sug-
ges,ed. On the morning Of the 25'h received
an'inlimation from source which consider
ed official, that il w.uld b. advisable for the
members Of the hous. Of Cabot & 60. 10 with
draw themselves from ST. Thomas fer d short
time, until the affair # The Las Damds Argen
,inas had blown Owe, as l, soon would. We
well knew the meaning Of such an animation
under such government; it gave US the option
Of pr ompr Obedience OF Of voluntary subnis-
sion TO he secret administration OF Danish law,
in question Of responsibility between the SO.
vernment and oursels.s. l instantly applied
for, ant obtained my passport (signed by the Go.
vernon, aud by the Judge or Master Of Police,
as usual and saItd fol Porto Rico on the sarals