Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-06-23
From the New York american,
THE PIRATE SHIP.

through the political sea. The one Is seen Dul-
Eett;no tLe watery waves of the vast and perious
ore, n for the necessities and convenience Of man;
the other contendiug in the boistcrous political
sea, for his benefit and happiness. The one has
her charts and compass 10 direct her course; the
other It's constitution and laws to guide its mo-
tioo. Both sometimes boldly launch forth INTO
tbesvoyage of experiment; both are subject to
the elements, natural or political, and both are
liable to founder aud TO ship wreck.
The nitrate Of he ocean is the enemy OF the
wbole h,,m1n race-an outlaw "hiS hand Is a
yainst every mau, ani every mars against him."
Sometimes his sole object seems to be to spill
mans blood; sometimes to rob and plunder, and
sometimes to appropriate the shin and cargo to
his own use. So the pirate OF the ship o. STATE Is
the enemy Of ala traitor; at one time he raises
his bloody dagger against all nations; at ano'her'
he robs and plumbers the defenceiess; and asain'
he gets possession OF the ship to rob her OF her
treasures and make her a wreck.
Since the overthrow and death OF the great and
daring captain of the ship of France, the PoiIji-
cal sea has been almostc clear ofthese sCourgrs. OF
late, however, a monster In human shape mas .so'
possession of the ship Portugal, and is now in
c~essautly engaged in murdeTng and roboing her
crew and owners. Of late, too, the owners OF
tnG IitJSu otdltS navy tSd va w '> >"HN
NAV turn pirate and devote her to has own use.
The United States is a new and beautiful ship,
the envy and admiration of all nations. She Is
built of new and rare materials; the longer in
use the stronger they appear to grow. When
first constructed she was a low and trim frlgate;
since that, she has frequently been built upon,
TILL she is now double her former size, and bids
fair to surpass the first rates OF the present day.
A shin of such beauty, strength and power
in the hands of ruthless Ishmaelites, would be a
scourre, a HYDRA among the nations OF the earth.
Her crimsoned fag would darken the vision, and
har bloody dagger pierce the heart, Of the noble
The circumstances and acts that have caused
the fears and suspicious of many OF her owners,
are not light or trivial. The present captain had
formerly been a fierce and cruel warrior; sud-
denly he assumed the garb OF peace, morality
religion, and love to all: Insiduously avaiing
himself of his ostentatious retirement within the
walls of his hermitage, he blackened the fair
fame of his captain; called him a traitor to his
employers; said he had broken the ships instruc-
tons, and was navigating her in rapid cur
rents. among dangerous reefs and shoals, and
that he had obtained possession of her by bribe-
ry and corruption. and had committed acts a.
mounting to all but piracy. He very modestly
spoke Of his own purity and virtue, and affected
TO decline an anticipated offer to take the COM
mand; but cunningly intimated. that If the ow-
ners forced upon him the station. he would get a
better crew-smoke out the rats-cleanse, puri-
fy, and repair the ship-lock up her purse-cur-
tail her expenses, and make all the owners rich
and happy. Duped by his artful cunning and
specious promises. they turned out the stern and
a~ustere, yet noble old captain, and gave him
the command. When he assumed his authority
upon the quarterback, he made a short speech
to the officers and crew; he laid before them a
chart ofhis intended four-years' cruise, bat even
the old weather-beaten seamen could not under
stand it. Whether his course was to be North,
South. East, or West, they knew not. Some, in
deed thought it pointed to every point of the po-
litical compass. This ingenious chart was sketch
ed for every breeze and every current, and was
called the snOn cOmmittal."
No sooner had the ship got under sail than the
work of death commences; and, for a long
time, the scuppers were ohoked, and the deck
covered with blood! OF those in the ships SER
vice. great numbers were killed; many by the ex-
press orders. and others by permission. of the
captain; and to others he applied the axe with
his own hands. To some he promised friendship
and protection; but no sooner were their backs
turned, than their necks felt the steel! Not a
few were falsely accused OF crimes; but against
others no charge was brought, other than that Of
long & faithful services. The terror and conster-
nation were so great, that numbers committed
suicide. to escape the general and unhallowed
No sooner were some of the new
recruits beguiled into the service but they ceased
to exist by Nortonizafion. Fear of the resent
ment of the owner. and the bold opposition of
portion of his crew, have caused the captain to
he more merciful of late: heads are now only
chopped off occasionally, principally for the di-
version of himself and some of his officers. The
fearful note of rebellion has indeed reached his
ears; but his fierce austerity to one. and suppl
ant entreaty to another, have thus far kept it un-
der,-though it is supposed that matters have
proceeded so far, that some of his officers will
yet meet with a sudden end. Among the men
by HIM to ill up the vacancies he had
made, were those of the most reckless and aban-
doned haracter:-men who had nothing to lose
.men ready for any desperate adventure-men
not only VIGOROUSLY guilty of the breach of every
moral and religious virtue, but even convicted