Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-22

/ fany-al combine TO show the strongest and most
uroen necessity for the course pursued.
/ "Crom well Zone of the men hung had been pirate
and the other SLAYER. Doubtless II was The influence
OF these men, who were in Spencers watch, 'ha' lee
this youth to such an extremity.
"Fu particulars Of the whole case have mol ye
TRANSFERRED The foregoing are derived from an an
the nic source; but, until the case be fully before the
public, we would request q suspension OF public OPP
Mon.
(Frons re .radisonan.J
In consideration of the source whence the cnmmunl'
cation signed as emanated placedt in The hands
Of the printer without reading it. Although we give
the writer an opportunity be heard through our co
lumn vet we desire hold ourselves entirely uncom
| mt,ed On the subject for the present.
THE TRAGEDY on BOARD THE sGMERs.
The friends Of young Spencer, who was executed,
together with seamen, the ST inst, would have
been content 10 abide the investigation which the laws
of The country require such cases, and would have
trusted 10 that Justice which tribunals award 10 all
entitled 10 the protection of The Constitution and laws
of the country. Various publications have however
appeared in the New York papers, and COPIED INTO
paper OF extensive circulation al The Seat OF Govern
ment giving of the transaction, the materials
for which, il not the versions themselves, were obviously
furnished by officers who had a hand in The
bloody deed. This evident from their containing
some facts which could be known only TO those officers
but perverted, so exaggerated and interspersed
with so much surmlse, and so much downright false.
hood as to evnce the deep anxiety felt TO make sure
of the first impression tie public mind. AN awful
responsibility rests those officers and above oil on
their commander Without the least desire TO render
that responsibility hazardous than 1t now is, II Is
still deemed of simple nnd bare justice 10 the
memory Of The slain, TO say that an examination OF the
papers transmitted By Commander Mackenzie shows
these facts
ls,. Tha, acting midshipman Spencer put in
double irons on the 2oth of November, and The boat
swans mate, Samuel Cromwell, and seaman Elisha
Small, The day following a charge Of intended mu-
tiny.
ID That no disorder of mutinous character appear
ed among the for the fonr succeeding days that
the vessel going with good breezes and in good
weather towards the island Of ST. Thomas, where she
actually arrived and took in supplies on some day
between the lst and 9Th of December.
3D. That on the Both of November the opinion Of The
officers required by commander Mackenzie as 10
the disposition of the prisoners that they appear 10
have examined thirteen seamen as witnesses 10 prove
the alleged muliny land who therefore supposed
innocent OF any participation in it,) which examination
was lud so far the papers show, in the absence ot
the prisoners and without giving them any opportunity
10 coss.cxamne the witnesses or 10 make any expa'
nations or defence, 10 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 pare secret information united IN the
opinion that the safety OF the vessel required that the
prisoners should be put 10 death. How far this re-
commentator influenced by tile acts or the Tears
Of MIR. Mackenzie, does not appear.
Ath That OH the lst of December, when every thing
and person on board the vessel perfectly quiet,
after four days of entire security, the three persons
WERE by the order Of Mackenzie hung at the yard-arm
at midday.
The allegation, in some Of the papers, that it was
proved have been the intention of the mu,ineers 10
execute their project arriving at ST. Thomas, IS
wholly destitute Of any evidence And Ind it been the
design it efectuay justified far as these pri.
soncrs were concerned, by their confinement. AT st
Thomas any Of the might have been left, and the
power Of the officers of the vessel strengthened to any
extent that was necessary.
The statement in the lntegencer, copied apparently
from the New York 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
more favorable hearing 1t is untrue; he did resign,
and the Secretary Of the Navy, on the recnmmenda.
ton of his commanding officer, considering the nature
and circumstances Of the offence nebra;ion restored
his warrant, with strong admoniton; and this was
done without the solicitation OF any OF his friends Ills
age represented in The same paper to have been over
% Had he lived he would have been nineteen the
23th January next.
As 10 the probability that such boy,-utterly
unacquonted with navigaton,- brought up in the in.
terror would seriously endenvor TO seduce 10 muiiny
an old seaman who had arrived The rank of boat
swains mate and who is representedto have been en-
ployed heretofore board SLAYER or to have heen
pirate-nn impartial tribunal, before which both sides
will be heard, will determine.
The idea Of the mutineers cruising oil SANDY HOOK
10 intercept the packets 10 have been thrown in
for the special benef, of the merchants of New York
The papers, such they are contain no such 'norma.
ton.
The only account we have, given by Spencer him
self 49, that IT all joke. If shall appear to have
been the mere Of needless boy, amusing him
self it is true, in dangerous manner but still devoid oil
such mnrderous designs imputed, and # The exc.
culon Of HIM and two seamen against one OF whom at
least there is not yet particle Of evdence) should
prove have been the result of unmany ea ola des-
pa,ic temper and wholly unnecessary at the time TO
press or prevent mn!ny; a this appear, it cannot
be doubted that the laws will be vlndcaed. The laws
of Congress prescribing the Navy regulations, forbid
the taking of human HE, even by the sentence OF
court martial before which all parties heard, with
out the sanction of the President of the u s, or If
without the u. S Of the commander Of the fleet or
souadrcn This is believed TO be the first instance in
our history in which the law has been vioa;ed-the
first in which psoners-not of the enemy, but of our
own citizens, have been put 10 death in cold blood.
These remarks are made, not TO excite prejudice,
but to repe the attempt create it, and to enable the
American People to see what mighty principles are
in VOWED in this unheard Of proceeding Let justice be
done; let it be denied, because OF the victims
was connected with high funclionary of Government,
nor because another is unknown, and has not friend
or relation on the face of the earth And let not wan
ton opprobrium be heaped upon the memory Of the
dead to justify the bloody deeds Of the living. s.
TnE TRAGEDY Of BOARD the SoMEKs.-We are
authorized say that full account Of the circum.
OF this distressing case has not yet been re-
ceived at the Navy Department. The Secretary oil the
Navy has expressed opinion upon The subject, and
has taken official action in regard to it, He is wait.
ing for further accounts which he expects to receive
by the next mall An official statement will be given
AZ soon the necessary materials for forming shall
be Enthusiastically -hadisoniGn.
ONO
For L. S. Senator.
William Allen received 60 votes
Thomas Ewing "a
Blank
1t is gratifying to see Mr.. Allen-the Senator who
may be said to emhody in himself the sernes, princ
pies of the Democracy, and TO have displayed them in
their :ulles. orcere elected by such triumphant vote
OF Representatives. just returned from tie people. He