The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-18

board the United States brig Somers, which appear
ed in our paper OF yesterday has, may readily be
imagined, created universal excitement The fact
of its being the first occurrence of the kind in our
navy-the boldness OF the conspirators-the mag
nitude and attrocious character Of the whole plot
its providentia dseovery-and more than all, the
energetic, fearless, and decisive conduct OF the
commanding officer, invest this affair with unsur
passed int rest.
Had the mutneers been successful, the seas weuld
have become the scenes of outrage and blood un
paraleled in the records of piratical crime The
Somers is the fastest sailing vessel in the service
She is new and completely equipped. The black
flag has never been hoisted on board such craft
II Spencer and his associates had succeeded in the
dlabocal attempt to gain possession of the brig we
know no limits which could have been assigned tc
their career of plumber and bloodshed. The selec
ton of the packet ships asthe special objects OF al
tack, and the fearful doom ordained for their pas
sengers and crews, must awaken the most painful
sensations. These desperadoes might have success
fully eluded detection or pursuit for years The
depths of the ocean constitute the most faithful de-
pository of the fearful secrets of the murderer.
We confess that we can hardly find language adj
equate to express our admiration of the conduct Of
Commander Mckenzie. The public voice has al
ready pronounced verdict OF unqualified and unan
nous appreciation of that prompt, decided, and jus
act, which visited with righteous punishment the
chief particpators in this hellish scheme. BY thi:
one act, the commander of the Somers has done
more to sustain the supremacy of naval authority,
and to vndcate outraged law, than any thing which
has ever occurred in our Navy. And it is impossible
to avoid contrasting with this intrepid and effectua
discharge of official duty, the irresolute and in
quitous manner in which the law is so often admin
istered on shore. II has indeed been fortunate fol
the well-beng of the naval service, that such a
man as Slidell Mckenzie devolved the high respon
slblity of such critical hour. The least wayer
ing in judgment, or lack of decision in dealing with
the offenders, would have periled, not the Somer:
and her officers alone, but the whole navy.
Had young Spencer been put in irons and brought
home to meet his trial, he would in all probability
have escaped. We have had of late, such melan-
choy evidence of the facility with which criminal:
having wealthy and influential friends, can evade
the hands of justice, and set the law at defiance
that we can hardly suppose that this abandoned
young man would have received the Just dement, OF
his crime, had he not paid the penalty on the very
deck on which he had determined to consumate his
guilt.
There various rumors afoat respecting this ter.
rbe affair and ofthe particulars which have ap
peared in print, may not be altogether accurately
stated. But the great leading facts are too true In
a short time something Official, relative to the en-
tire transaction, will be given to the public. In the
meantime we may congratulate ourselves that the
alta ir farm cd in favO for he
interests of the naval service, and the prevention
similar schemes of rapine and blood We must moi
omit, however, a sincere expression of sympathy
for the relatives and connexions ofthe youth whose
evil passions and fiendish oltlon have led him to
such sudden and ignon nous end. At least one
signal and warning exampe has been now present
ed to such as forsake the paths Of rectitude fol
those which inevitably lead to shame and death.
FAMILY SEcRETs.-We submit to the National
lntelgencer, whether the fair and proper scope OF
the press is not transcribed by its New York cor
respondent in his letter of 18th Inst in the gossip
about an elopement here.
Surprising the story to be true, of which we know
nothlng-why should what is strictly mere family
matter, and ought to be family secret, be seized
upon by the press? Is any public or private good
promoted thereby? BY such proceeding, does moi
that which should be only an instrument OF improve
nomous weapon, in the hands OF every eaves-drop
per, or malicious infOrmer, or disappointed or envl
Gus traducerl
The National Integencer, as in the very frs
class OF American newspapers,--lf not plnus inter
pdres-shoud frown upon contributions that are the
main support OF such journals as the New York
Herald and Sun. Our friend of the Newark Daily
will take this to himself also
Thus speaketh Mr.. Charles King, the presiding
spirit of the "New York American" We know
not what "elopement" it aludes to-possibly thu
one that took place in Clinton Place, which NOBODY
thought worth noticing. But look al the reasoning
On the same principle, a marriage" or =" death,
is as much " family matter" and piece of gos
sip" Why not interdict them' Yet it is amusing
to observe that the same paper that is SO fastdiou
as not to publish the occurrence of an elopement, Of
the ground Of its being family NATTER" is YER
ready to call the Presidents" wretch" crmi
nal''-" no gentleman"-a person not "worth spi,
ting upon," down even to his family concerns. Tn
"American" thinks that "elcpements" are tn
principal food of such papers the Herald and Sun
but claims to have the monopoly of abusive epihet
applied to the Chief Magistrate. We shall disput
his i" rights or his tastes" The main support of ou
journal is certainly not in calling the President
wretch scoundrel" or "villain." Our maj
ouiPoit giving
they publicly developed in the financial, fashion
able, political, religious and legal world. The grea
objection to the Herald, entertained by such joul
mails as the American, is its independence of tn
cliques of delaulters and fraudulent fnanciers an
the exposure of their rascalities to the world If W
concealed the tricks of these knaves, we might pull
sh "elopements" till the day of judgment, withou
being found fault with.
FIFTEEN DAYS LATER FROM EURoPE.-We shal
look for news sometime this morning. The Br
tannia, from Liverpool was thirteen days out yes
terday, and is now due.
LATEST FROM CuBA.-The Christoval Colon al
rived yesterday from Havana. We have receive
by her files Of papers from that city to the 9th inst
inclusive.
The Raves and Miss Wells were playing at tn