The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-06
Boston Correspondence.

BOSTON, March z, lS4l.
| The steamer Columbia, Capt. Judkins advertised
to sail March lst at 2 o'clock, p. NJ. was detained
in consequence Of the arrival Of dispatches from
Mr.. Fox and also from Canada as rumor saith but
believe the truth is her detention was caused by the
breaking of part Of her machinery after she had
got the steam up, her passengers on board and was
about to sail She takes twelve mail bags containing
10000 letters, 1900 packages Of newspapers, and be-
tween thirty and forty passengers, among whom is
Hon. Thomas III. Perkins. The extent of damage
done to her machinery have not learned. She is
of this afternoon for Liverpool via Halifax.
Capt. Morgan took command of the Navy Yard at
Charlestown on the Goth ult, and was received with
the customary salute
The success of the fremont Theatre under the
order of things half price) exceeds the managers
most sanguine expectation. Ever since the commence
ment of the arrangement the house has been
crowded from pit to gallery.
The Salem Observer contains the following passage
in relation to another outrage by British cruiser.
We have heen favored with the pcrusa Of letter,
written at sea- on board of brig Cherokee, Captain
Webb, Of this port dated Dec. o. lS4O which states
that few days before they reached the Cape tke brig
was overhaued by her Britannia Majesty's brig-o
war Curlew, and after full examination ofihe Che
rokecs papers, her matches OPEN under pre-
tence of searching for slaves
The Courier says that Chancellor Kent has given
his opinion against the legality of all the seizures made
in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston, of woolen
goods in 1889. 1t is expected that one of these cases
will come up for argument at the present term of the
Supreme Court at Washington In the particular suit
IN is IF M Init
question involved is of Importance to the whole
body of merchants in the United States II is this:
Can the Collector after Paving passed goods at the
Coustom house, and after having them fairly inspected
and appraised, and after the duties have been paid,
turn round and seize them for condemnation on the
pretence that they are undervalued.
doubt whether the Collector has legally the right
to seize goods after having passed through all the
forms of the Custom house, simply on the prctence
that they are undervaued; but in the cases above al
luded to he had positive knowledge that such was the
fact and therefore legally and morally bound TO seize
them. | am no lawyer but common sense and the
principles of common law has taught me that fraud
vitiates every transaction between man and man. A
may have signed note, bond or mortgage and
afterwards denies the note whatever instrument it
but does not deny his signature bot alleges thai,
it was frauduently obtained; this denial in coismon
law is valid SO if goods passed the Custom house
by bribery and corruption it is case of smuggling
and the goods liable TO seizure
The facts in relation to the seizures of these wool
lens, as shown upon trial in the U. s. District Court
were these viz; The goods were entered at the Gus
om-house in New York, and one package out of
every invoice sent to the Appraisers store for exami-
nation. The appraisers examined the packages sent,
and found the goods correctly charged and properly
put up, and permit for the goods granted to the
importer TO land them. After the merchant had re-
ceived his goods was fortunately discovered that
of the Deputy Collectors had entered into secret COLI
sion with the importing merchant for the purpose of
fraudulenty entering his goods. II was shown in
evidence that there were certain bIeroglyphc marks
on the invoice which served guide to the Deputy
Collector in the selection of the package for examna
ton To show the plot and collusion il also appeared
in evidence that in twenty one entries made " the
person, and sworn to before this colle. NO Of
fccr, the highest cost package in every instance was
selected by him as the TO be sent for cxamin alton
This package as before stated, being examined, was
found properly invoiced The remaining packages
all nvoiced about one half the value as coarse
low priced goods, and not examined ;Nwhile in
fact they were all high priced, and should have paid
duties accordingly Itisirue the goods passed through
| all the forms Of the Customho and were landed
with permit Still, contend that, as they were