The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-04-29

Outrageous Conduct oftdn O6fccr Of tAe Mary

II is The town talk at Norfolk that when the Con-
stellation was on her passage fom tho iediterranc-
an ia the middle of the Atlantic Midshpman Will
son (son of the late Senator from Newjerscy, whose
mother was lately. reformed a la mede Jackson,
from Pos, Office in New Jerey,) was hiced mp, III
nautical prase, to the mast head. (Tied with bow
line and craned up) A heavy gale was blowing
at the time-tlhe frigatc pi'ching and wallowing,
with three reefs in her topsai, and this shameful
outrage was committed on Midshipman Wilson at
the Imminent hazard Of his brains being knocked
out by the rolling of the ship. Mr.. Wilson's offence
seems to have been in the inverse ratio OF his pun
ishment. Captain Read asked him" Mr.. Will
son, have you ordered the men from belowF u
have. sir' You have not, sir-you look insolent
go aIoft and look out at the mast head for land"
I'm the midst of the Atlantc.) Mr.. Wilson re-
plied-" At such time as this, it can only be for
punisbmcnt / will not co. The Boarswain, by or
der of Can't Read seized Mr.. Wilson by the collar,
and with the assistance Of two Quarter Masters,
forced him up the forergging. In short time he
came down. Then it was that Read ordered him
to be triccd up. The Sailors noble souls as they
always are, shocked at the outrage, ran below to
the gun deck, nor would they lend hand until be-
ing threatened and dragooned, the instinct of disci-
pnc overcame their horror, and they aided IN run
lining up Mr. wilson to the yard arm. Still further
to disgrace this unfortunate youth, he was iinmedi-
ately after being released, placed under the senry's
charge, for 24hours, in close confinement
This is the second outrage that Read has com
mtted of this nature His first was upon descend
ant of Dr.aFranklin. His insulting and domineer-
ing department his officers, of the most intoler
able character and the intOlerable, that he IL
not an American. We feel ourselves, at our dis
tance the gall of such ndignities inflicted upon the
defendants of revolutionary patriots, by any man
set of men, the especially by those who not
Americans,
And now, if these are facts--and that they are
there can be no manner of doubt-wl not the Pres-
dent order Court of Inquiry, and the facts being
found dismiss Read from the service $50 much he
owes to the Navy, the country and his reputation.
From the W. Y Working Mans Advoeate.
ARISTOCRACY OF THE NAVY.
Although among our national institutions there
are many that might claim our censure and animad-
version, approaching too near in their character
to the rule and despotism of foreign governments,
yet none have completely departed from the pure,
plain principles of democracy and equal rights, rs
have those dominceripg, tyrannical cold-blooded,
and heartlcss braggars whom chance, fortune, or
the interest Of wealth. have placed in command of
our vessels of war, and of the gallant tars who peo-
pie and protect them. So outrageous and nioera-
BILE has this evil at length become, that even the
most hardened and callous among them who have
heretofore been ready to screen and excuse it,
compelled to acknowledge and decry its exis-
tence, and to call aloud for some immediate power
to crush overwhclm, and destroy-it.
Would that this I" consummaton devoutly to
be wished" could at once be effected Would that
the stars and stripes, which now float side by side
with the broad pennants of cowardicc and tyranny,
could be divested of this foul stain upon them, and
again wave in the breeze as cmblcms of freedom,
and as tokens of bravery and independence! Would
thar the wretches who now, by their savage barbar-
uy, degrade our hardy and courageous sailors be-
low the level of the African slave. or the Russian
serf were dragged from their "high estate" and
made TO feel the pangs, the horrors, the accute suf
ferings they wantonly and continually inlct.
Who, possessed of the proper feelings of a human
being, can read of the thousand and acts of in
fanny committed by these ruian Jacks-in-ofhce,"
without feeling the blood mount to his cheek, and
the warmest Indignation take possession of his mind!
Take, for instance, but isolated detail of their
atrocious and unmanly deeds, which we extract
from the Evening Post Of Wednesday, and let the
reader say whether it does war with the better
feelings of his nature, and wiring from him g curses,
not loud but deep" upon the infamous perpetrators
of so much guilt and wrong.
The Evening Post, after commenting upon the
shameful conduct of Capt. Read, of the Constella
tion and charging the newspaper press with being
dormant in relation to several other similar outra
ges, aud the neglect of the proper authorities to call
the wretches to account, proceeds to say:
There is no terror in the idea of Court Martial
to such men. They well know, according to the
vaunt of one naval braggart snd tyrant, JonN ORDE
CREIGHTON, that " lars not made for Post Cap
tdins." Superior officers are never found guilty
when tho charges against them preferred by in
ferior; inferior officers seldom escape condemna-
ton, and the severes penalty of the law, when the
accusation proceeds from Post Captain. The
truth of these allegations is supported by numbcrless
instances.
We just now mentioned the name of John Orde
Creighton. 1t is within our personal knowledge
that that idividual was guilty of numerous acts of
tyranny and barbarity, during cruise some years
ago in the Mediterranean, far exceeding the outrage
now charged against Capt. Read. Let Que instance
of his despo,siii and cruelty be given us an exam
pie. The ship which he commanded was lying in
Italian port.'h A worthy marine, N amed McDcrmot,