The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-20

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mander Mackenzie TO the disposition Of the
prisoners that they appear TO have examined
thirteen seamen witnesses TO prove the al.
legged muliny, (and who are therefore sup
posed innocent of any participation in it) which
examination was had, so far as the papers show,
IN the absence of the prisoners, and without
giving them any opportunity 10 cross-ex-
amlee The Witnesses or TO make any explana-
lions or defence, or to procure any testimony
In their own behalf. These officers without
even the form ola court without the obligation
OF an oath, and upon this ex parte secret in
formation, united in the opinion that the
safety OF the vessel required that the prisoners
should be put TO death How far this recon
mendation was influenced by the acts or the fears
Of Mr. Mackenzie, does not appear.
4th. That on the 1st of December, when every
thing and person on board the vessel were perfect
y quiet four days Of entire security, the three
persons were by the order of Mackenzie, hung
at the yard arm at mid day.
The allegation, in some of the papers, that it
was proved to have been the intention OF the
mutineers 10 execute their project on arriving at
ST. Thomas, is wholly destitute of any evidence.
Aud had II been their design, it was ef1ecualy
justified so far as these prisoners were con
cerned, by their confinement At ST. Thomas
any Of the crew might have been left, and the
power Of the officers of the vessel strengthened
TO any extent that was necessary.
The statement in the Intelligencer, copied
apparently from the New Y ork American, that
Spencer violated an engagement formerly made
10 resign, seems TO have been deemed necessary
TO prejudice the public mind against him, that
those who slew him might have a more favora-
bic hearing. II is untrue, he did resign, and
the Secretary of the Navy, on the recommends
ton of his commanding officer, considering the
nature and circumstances Of the offence (inebri-
atom, restored his warrant, with strong ad-
monltion and this was done without the
solicitation of any Of his friends His age
is represented in The same paper to have been
over 20. Had he lived he would have been
nineteen the 2Sth January next.
AS to the probability that such mere boy
utterly unacquainted with navigation brought
up in the interior, would seriously endeavor to Sc
the rank of boatswain's mate, and who is repre-
sened to have been employed heretofore on
board SLAYER, or to have been a pirate-an i'm
partial tribunal before which both sides will
be heard, will determine.
The Idea of the mutineers 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, contain no such information
The only account we have, given by Spen-
Ger himself, is, that ii pds all Joke If it
shall appear 10 have been the mere romance of a
needless boy, amusing himself, it is true, in a
dangerous manner, bu; still devoid of such muir
derous designs are imputed and if the exc
cution of him and two seamen against, one of
whom at least, there is not yet particle of
evldence) should prove to have been the result
of unmanly fear, of despotic :emper and
wht lily unnecessary at the time to repress
prevent mutiny-if all this can appear, it can
not be doubted that the laws will be INDICATED.
The laws of Congress prescribing he Navy re-
gulations forbid The taking of human life, even
by the sentence Of court martial, before which
all parties are heard, without the sanction of the
President Of the United States, or, if without
the United States, Of the commander of the feet
or squadron This is believed to be the first in.
stance in our history in which the law has been
vlolated-lhe first in which prsoners-not OF
the enemy, but Of our own citizens, have been
put to death in cold blood
These remarks are made not to excite preu-
Dice but to repel the att mpt to create it, and to
enable The American People to see whatmighty
| princi pies involved in this unheard- of pro-
ceeding. Let justice be done let it not be de-
MED, because one Of the victims was con.
necled with high lunctionary of Government,
| nor because another is unknown, and has not
| friend or relation on the face of the earth. And
let not wanlon opprobrium be heaped upon the
memory of the dead to justify the bloody deeds
of the living S.