The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-23
NEW YORK HERALD
Court of Inquiry on the U. 3. Brig somers'
Tragedy.


Court of Inquiry the U. y. Brig somers'
Tragedy.
We have received authentic intelligence from
Washington, that the Secretary of the Navy has
ordered Court of Inquiry TO be held on the conduct
of Lieutenant McKensie, and his associate officers,
in relation TO the recent awful tragedy which took
place on board the IT, 5. Brig Somers. The Court
will meet on board the u. 5. ship OF North
Carolina, now in this port, on Wednesday next, 18th
instant and will be composed of the following Off
GERS
COMMODORE CHARLES STEWART PRESIDENT.
Do. JANIS, associate.
Do. DALAI
Hon. OGDEN HOFFMAN, JuDoE ADVOCATE.
This viii be one OF the most fearful, interesting,
and exciting inquiries that took place in the
Unlted States Navy-and trust that every facility
may be given To let the public know the facts that
may be brought out during its progress in the fullest
and most authentic manner. There ought 10 be
attempt, in any quarter, made 10 stihe the fullest
publication of the evldence-in order that the whole
bloody affair may be known from its origin to its
awfal termination, that justice may triumph
Too many partial statements, and absolute false
hoods have already been circulated through por
ton OF the newspaper press, obviously for the pur-
pose Of creating improper and unjust Impression
on the pubic mind, in advance of the legal inquiry.
We allude particularly to the extraordinary state
ments Published in two of the Wall street newspa-
pers, the " Courier and Enquirer and the New
York American The attempt made by these jour.
mails PREJUDICE this bloody affair, have been most
wicked, most atroclous, and most illegal through
out If their statements were true, they ought not
10 have been published-and if any persons connect
ed with the navy, have been the means of furnishing
and causing those statements to be made public, In
Il ,l,a tI,a,r d.
serves the severest condemnation from all just and
all impartial men. But in addition to these state
ments much more censurabe were the inflam-
maory appeals to the passions of the multitude,
the imaginary deeds of blood, rapine. piracy, rape
and murder, which seem to have had no other ex
istence than in the efforts of misguided fancy or
the struggles of guilty conscience, trying to tear
itselfaway from its own illegal deeds.
Never perhaps, has the world seen such wicked
prostitution of the press, as these two newspapers,
the " Courier" and the american" both exhibited
N this terrible business. Let us wait and get the
facts before we condemn or praise.
THE News FROM ENaIAND-PRoGREss OF BRITTsH
PowER.-The intelligence received from England
and China, by the Britannia, goes still farther to
strengthen the views which we expressed yesterday
relative TO the progress of British power in the
East, ana ltS future permanent ana eXte0QeQ reign
there
The whole cost of the falls on the Chinese
empire-a new possession Hong Kong, command.
ing the entrance TO the Canton River, is added to
the doninons of the British crown-four new ports
have been opened to the British commemorative
ENJOYS and officers of the conquerng power are to
be treated as the representatives OF great sove-
reign--an amnesty has been declared-and two
islands are retained as pledges until tie twenty-one
millions of dollars are paid by the Chinese. Such is
the enlarged measure of success with which the
British arms have met in this field of conquest.
He must have very little intelligence, indeed, who
cannet foresee the speedy organization of the power
of Great Britain amongst the Chinese, who do not
in themselves possess any of the constituents of
orderly system of government They will therefore
be held like the races of Hindoston, in vassalage
to the English crown, and contribute their assis-
lance in swelling its power and grandeur.
These results of the operations of Great Britain
in the East, suggest some curious reflections
speeding the influence which they might have exer-
csed on the settlement of the disputed questions
Gently set at between this country and the Br-
fish government, had the Ashburton treaty been
still under discussion. We entertain very little
doubt that had Britain occupied her present position
in the East, at the time when Lord Ashburton was
at Washington the treaty would not have been ra-
titled England will now return with undsguised
haughtiness to her characteristic attitude of domi.
nation and emboldened with these signal success
es, will look around with all her old ambitious
longngs after fields of conflict and triumph.
But whilst the grasping oligarchy of Great Britain
is extending its power and gaining fresh accessions
to its wealth and commercial prosperity in Asia,
there is an antagonistic influence at work in this
western world, and throughout Europe, which
strikes fear the hearts of the supporters of despoc
institutions It is the influence of republican prin-
ciples, operating a scale OF unexamped magni-
ude, and creating results of the most ineligible
character, known and read of all men" The
science OF government and the rights of man, are
now beginning to be properly understood. Immense
progress has been made in the enlightenment OF the
masses. Correct and liberal doctrines OF political
economy daily gaining ground The people be.
gin to feel and appreciate their strength. The go
vernment of Britain breads the growing progress Of
this reforming spirit And the press OF that country
has already assumed louder and more decided
Of inveterate hostility against the free ust,u
tons of the United States. 1, is very unlikely that
the press will be allowed 10 fight out the battle
The OF opinion will one day end in a trial Of
physical strength Some rupture will sooner or Later
take place between England and America, and the
final struggle between monarchical government ano
republican freedom will shake the civilized world -
For the result of that decisive contest the friends
liberty need entertain no fears When the Decla
ration OF Independence was given to the world, the
gates of GAIA were carried of by the emancipateo
human mind, and the ultimate overthrow of every
system and institution adverse to universal liberty
rendered certain and inevitable
|
DEMOCRATIC GENERAL COMMITTEE. The cleo.
tions for members Of the Tammanv Hall Commit.
tees OF old and young men, took place in the several
wards yesterday, as also for the ward committees