The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-21
Negy Fork Correspondents.
New York, May 10,


The great topic of the week has been The CASE OF
MCLEOD. II comes up before the Supreme Court on
writ of habeas corpus, a motion of his counsel
that he be discharged from custody on the ground
that the offence for which he is held TO account has
been deliberately assumed by Great Britain Ma
ona act for which she is to be held responsible in
stead of any individual. This motion has been ably
supported yesterday and to-day by Mr.. Bradley of
Lockport, and Hon. JOSHUA A. SPENCER, for the pri
soner, and quite as ably resisted by Mr.. Woop Dis
trict Attorney for Niagara County and Hon. WILLIS
HALL, Attorney General. OF course the War ofthe
Giants was between Messrs HALL and SPENCER, who
respectively made the closing arguments but the eff
forts Of the Junior Counsel in the highest degree
| honorable to their talents and requirements. Mr..
SPENCER has noby earned and long enjoyed the Iepu
tation of being Of the FIRST if the very FIRST
constitutional lawyer in the State; but am sure he
will cheerfully admit that he met "a foeman worthy of
his steel in WILLIS HALL. The great importance of
the question at ISSUE the strong excitement pervadng
the public mind, the ability of the advocates, the abb
sence of all petty cavs technical points, and the
supendous consequences which may hang the de-
csion Of this question: rendered the Court Room
theatre ofntense interest," and twas crowded through
out with an intently listening auditory. II become
at length necessary to exclude many auditors
| Mr.. SPENCER closed the argument of the at
haEpast IL to-day and the Court passed to.other bust
ness. Very probably, the decision will not be pro-
nounced till the close of next week the Judges will
all possible means Of avoiding wrong dccision--
(They are Chief Justice S. NELSON, Justices G. G.
BRoNsoN and Z. CowEN) If you choose TO present
report Of the argument, you will find the best in the
Tribune Of this morning. II would be impossible to
condense il into a letter.
have myself very little doubt that the decision OF
the Court will be against the motion for McLeods
Liberation. He will then be remanded to take his
trial-probably here or in Albany.
Our Senate has finally concurrcd in the Assembly
amendment to the appropriation bill, fixing the total
expenditures for Internal improvements this year
SO 100000. In this shape the bill has passed.
The bill to divide the county Of GeNEsgE and 10
constitute of it's southern half the county Of WON
ING, has passed both Houses fear this will injure
politically
Our Legislature will adjourn on the 26th inst
The err Honorable CHARLES +. MITCHELL arrived
here in custody on Monday evening, having been
brought from Montreal in 80 hours. Ii that he
staid in Philadelphia several days after he sup
posed to have absconded and finally back To this
CITY, and passed up the worm iNVer 70 cannua IN uis
guise He turns out the lowest, most debauched
abandoned scoundrel heard of. Il is rumored
that he intends to plead guilty to the indictment His
private papers have been opened and prove disgust
ing record Of debaucheries and visnies.
We have had piracy case here, which cxces
much interest, The schooner Mogut was found aban-
doned scutled and sinking las, Sunday of The coast
of Jersey near Bnnegat. This vlany proves the
act Of the captain named Snow aided by several Of
his crew. They have no, yet been spIrehended, or
had not this morning, but soon win be. $500 tho
price Of the captain.
Yours HaPoLp.