New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-12-21
The .rrnvedy on board the semers.

as suggested By our Baltimore Correspondent, BY
the Secretary OF War himself. It embodies facts
not known here before, and will Be found to pos
sess deep interest:
Ihefriend. OF young Spencer. who was executed,
together with Two seamen, on the lst inst. would
have Deen content 70 abide the investigation which
the laws ct the country require IN such cases and
would have trusted to that Justice which our tri-
banals award 10 all entitled 10 the protection OF
TIE Constitution and Jaws of the country. Various
publications have however appeared in the II. York
papers, and been copied into paper of extensive
circulation at the Seat of Government, giving YER
sicns CT the transaction. the materials for which,
If not The versions themselves, obviously fur
nished by some officers who had hand in the
bloody deed. This is evident from their contain
ing some facts which could be known only TO those
othcers-but SO perverted, so exaggerated and IL
ierspersad with so much surmise, and so much
downright ia!sehood as To eyince the deep anxiety
felt u make sure OF the frs. impression on the pub
lie mind. An awful responsibility rests on those
officers, and above al on their commander. With
out the least desire to render that responsibility
more hazardous than it now is, is still deemed an
ACT of simple and bare Justice to the memory OF
the slain, say than examination of the papers
transmitted BY Commander Mackenzie show these
facts.
Isl That Acting Midshipman Spencer was put
in double irons on the 25th of November, and the
boa,swain's mate, Samuel Cromwell, and seaman
Elisha Small on The day following, charge of
intended mutiny.
Cd. That no disorder OF a rutnous character
appeared among the crew for the four succeeding
days: tina! the vessel was going with good bree-
zcs and in coed weather towards The island of St.
Thomas, where she actually arrived and took in
supplies some day between the 1st and 9th OF
December
Sd. That, on the 3Oth Of November, the opinion
OF the officers required by Commander Mac
kenzie as to the disposition of the prisoners that
they appear to have examined thirteen seamen
witnesses to prove The alleged mutiny, (and who
are therefore supposed innocent of any partcipa-
ton init,) which examination was had, so far as
the papers slow, in the absence of The prisoners,
and without giving them any opportunity to cross
examine the witnesses or 10 make any explaua
tons OF defence, or to procure any testimony in
their own behalf These officers, without even the
form of court, without the obligation of an oath,
and upon this ex parte secret information, united
in the opinion that the safety of the vessel requir
ed that the prisoners should be put to death How
far this recommendation was influenced by the acts
or the fears of Mr.. Mackenzie, does not appear.
4th That on the lst of December, when every
Thing ard person on board the vessel were per-
tecty quiet after four days of entire security, the
three persons were, by the order of Mackenzie
hung at the yard-avm at midday.
The allegation, in Of the papers, that It
was proved to have been the intention of the mu-
tineers execute their project arriving at ST.
Thomas, is wholly destitute of any evidence. And
had it been their design, it etfectually frus-
traieG, 50 far as these prisoners concerned,
by their confinement. At St. Thomas any of the
crew might have been left, and the power of the
officers If the vessel strengthened to any extent
that necessary.
The statement in the Intelligencer, copied ap-
parenty from the Newly orl American, that Spen-
Ger violated an engagement formerly made to re-
sign, to have been deemed necessary to pre-
JUDGE the public mind against him, that those who
slew him might have a more favorable hearing.
1t is untrue; he did resign, and the Secretary of
the Navy, the recommendation of his com
manding officer, considering the nature and cir
cumstances of the offence (inebriation,) restored
his warrant, with a strong admonitlon; and this
was done without the solicitation OF any OF his
friends. His age is represented in the same paper
10 have been over 20. Had he lived he would
have been 10 the 2sth January next.
AS to the probability that such a mere boy
utterly unacquainted with navig aton,-brought up
in the interior, would seriously endeavor to seduce
10 mutiny an old seaman who had arrived at the
rank Of boatswain's mate, and who is represented
TO have been employed heretofore on board sla-
yer, or to have been pirste-an impartial tribu-
nal before which both sides will be heard, will de-
termne.
The idea of the mutiDeers cruising off Sandy
Hook TO intercept the packets, seems to have been
thrown in for the special benefit of the merchants
of New York. The papers, such as they are, con-
tain no such information.
The only account We have, given by Spencer
himself, is, that IL acas NU joke If it shall ap-
pear to have been the mere romance of d needless
boy, amusing himself it is true In dangerous
manner, but still devoid Of such murderous designs
as are imputed, and if the execution of him and
two seamen against enc of whom; at least, there
is not yet particle of evdence) should prove to
have been the result of unmanly fear, or of des-
potic temper, and wholly unnecessary at the time
to repress OF prevent mutiny-it all this can ap-
pear, it cannot be doubted that the laws will be
indicated. The laws of Congress prescribing the
Navy regulations, forbid the taking of human life,
even by the sentence OF a court martial, before
which all parties are heard, withou. the sanction
of the President of the Uaited States Or if with
out The United States, of the commander OF the
feet or squadron. This is believed to be the first
instance in our history in which the law has been
viosted-the first in which prisoners-not of the
enemy, but of our own citizens, have been put to
death in cold blood.
These remarks are made, not to excite prejudice,
but to repel the attempt to it, and to enable
the American People TO see what mighty princi-
piles are involved in this unheard-of proceeding
Let justice be done let it not be denied because
one of the victims was connected with high func-
tionary OF Government, nor because another is un-
known and has not a friend or relation on the face
of the earth. And let not wanton oPprobrum be