Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-24
To The Editor of the Wing i:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1912
The Mackenzie continues excite here the
pnfonndsf interest Fears beginning be entertain
ed, since yesterdays publication in the Madisonan
official effort is foot wreak the
geance the gallant and most deserving officer who ap
pears under such fearful circumstances have so adira
bly, put down this daring design and saved flag from the
dshonor of being hauled down by the horrible hands of
sea-rians bloody with the slaughter of their superors
In the official paper Of yesterday appeared very remark
able communications copied, this morning. by special re-
quest into the Inteigencer. Both papers advert To il in
such terms taken in conjunction with other little
ambiguous indications of It's authorship have led nearly all
the world to conclude that it is the Secretary War him
self, who (under the signature Of ST. endeavoring-be
fore yet he avows Court Of Enquiry is ordered
10 knde up public fury against Meckanze and to fore
stall every legal proceeding He sets with deplong the
publications made in New York and copied into the pupers
These-fomed of whatever the public curiosity for news
and especially horror, could seize uponhe makes just
fcaton for publishing, from obviously truncoted and
dismembered official papers and statements a version OF
the facts in which Commander Mackenzie is almost in
direct terms, called coward and treated a. murderer!
MEANWHILE every fact that could serve 10 excupae him ia
paPaby suppressed. and the whole presented
far as possible in those aspects which ,tes to excite
the eesiy-kindled Imagination Of the public large.
The document if really from it, supposed source il q
very remarkable If it is Mr.. Spencsr's work-and
SEQ no room 10 doubt t-wha allowing for all the feelings
OF father, is 10 be said of Cabinet Minister who in
matter not merely Of professional duty but Of life and DEATH
under the most shameful punishment, Commander
with cowardce and murder upon n knowledge Of the cir
cumstances-as he all the while uges-most imperfect
But there are two special passages in the document
shocking 20 inolerable that for their sake could
omit to write this letter. The first occurs, in the second
sentence Of the following paragraph:
Ihe allegation IN some OF the papers that IL prov.
led TO have been the intention of the muneers TO
their project ON arriving at ST. Thomas wholly destitute
"oi any evidence AHd had IL been their design IL toas
Beetgdty justified so far as these prisoners
! "eerned; 6y their confinement"
Father cf Mercies! what a doctrine Muiny and Pira
cy perfectly proper the you attempt TO prevent
their atrocities, even by the mder Of imprisonment
Shall comment upon such bandits idea this Surely
need only call attention to it,
The other passage is, considering the public unctionary
who writes, and the awfuness Of the facts themselves still
more apaing-that nghul mixture Of Jest with the most
terrible ngegy, which, than any thing else human or
diaboic makes ones blood curde with horror The young
gentleman, deliberately informed fell victim to
Commander Mackenzes want of perception for an nqe
nious piece OF pleasantly
"Tho only have given by Spencer himself
"s that Das 0Ha joke. IfIt shall appear have been
he mere Of needless boy, amusing himself il j.
me, in dangerous but still devoid Of such muir
"derOus designs ~ are imputed" &c.
God IN lleaycn Mutny and Piracy are then. the prac.
ucol Jokes OF the Sponcers. little dangerous" such
pastmos admitted be; that's all But if the subal.
ten mutnicd in just, why should the superior have his
jest too, and hang him in joke
Pardon me; mean plcnsanuy for I have not the
heart to think Of this matter with the slightest evy. What
say Il serious argument and reply II Mutny II TO be.
come Joke, why not hanging, just rs well
Whoever ho bo that writes the vndctvc communication
IN question: easy that he has before him that Off
cia information, which the public ~ denied From this he
Papaby draws only what suits his purposes At his pleas.
he denies that there any information in the hands Of
the Department and then refers to the very which
he has just dscrcded Jorge prove fact against Mae
konze. Or he still ntJerably pervorts all TRUTH by
such boldly asserted asehoods that which begins the c
ston have just made; when he says, "tho only account
we have l. that Of young Spencer" Now consider this
we have any account il is not the young geneman's
who, II appears did write farewell to his parents
Is only embodied in the statement Of the positive
facts Of The giUea "a the Report Of the OGcers that
the winter have young Spcncers excuses for him
self; and matter what he first said s clear that he
gaze rery different account IN his last moments aud con-
fesscd the whole design