The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-22
Nem Fork Correspondents.
New York, May 10,

The great topic Of the week has been THE CASE OF
McLEoD. 1t comes up before the Supreme Court on
a writ Of habeas corpus, on 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 as Ma
tional 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
Lockpor and Hon. JOSHUA A. SPENCER, for the pri-
soner, and quite ably resisted by Mr.. WooD, 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 were in the highest degree
honorable to their talents and requirements. Mr..
SPENCER has noby earned and long enjoyed the repu
tation Of being of the first, If not 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 alb
of all petty cavs technical points, and the
stupendous consequences which may hang on the de-
cision of this question, rendered the Court Room
theatre ofintense interest," and twas crowded through
out with intently listening auditory. 1t become
at length necessary to exclude many auditors
Mr.. SPENCER closed the argument Of the case at
hapast IL to-day and the Court passed toother bust
ness. Very probably, the decision will not be pro-
nounced till the close of next week; the Judges will
use all possible means of avoiding wrong decision-
(They are Chief Justice s. NELSON Justices g. C..
BRONSON and E. CowEN.) If you choose to present
report of the argument you will find the best in the
Tribune of this morning. 1t would be impossible to
condense it into 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 concurred in the Assemby's
amendment to the appropriation bill, fixing the total
expenditures for Internal improvements this year at
49,, 600, 900. In this shape the bill has passed.
| The bill to divide the county of GENEsEE and to
constitute of its southern half the county of WON
ING has passed both Houses fear this will inure us
politically.
Our Legislature will adjourn on the o6th inst.
The err Honorable CHARLES F. MITCHELL arrived
here in custody, on Monday evening, having been
broucbt from Montreal in SO hours Ii seems that he
staid in Philadelphis several days after he was sup
nosed to have absconded and finally back to this
CITY, and passed up the North River to Canada in dis
guse. He turns out the lowest, most debauched
abandoned scoundrel ever heard Of. II is rumored
that he intends plea guilty tothe Indictment His
private papers have been opened, and prove disgust
ing record Of debaucheries and villanies.
We have had piracy case here, which excites
much interest. The schooner Mogui was found ADAM
doned, scuted and sinking last Sunday, OF the coast
of Jersey near Barnegat. This villany proves the
act Of the captain named Snow, aided by several Of
his crew. They have not yet been apprehended, or
had not this morning, but soon will be. $500 il the
price Of the captain.
Yours, HARoLD.