The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-17

THE CAsE OF CAPTAIN ScHRIEvER AND Mn.
HARDING, THE MArE.-I. 10 well known that there
are always two sides to q question /; and that one
story is good till another 10 heard As we have
before given all the facts the one side in rela-
tion to the above CASE now call attention to the
following details. elected at a highly respectable
meeting Of shipmasters on Monday last =
| At a large and respectable meeting of Merchants,
Shipnasters and others, convened pursuant to mo-
tee at the Shakespeare Hotel on Monday even
ing, March IA, 1872: The meeting was csliedsto
order by David I Williams, Esq and motion,
| Captain Charles Bartllng was appointed Chairman,
and WIN Poole and Captain Geo. B4rtol, Jun, So.
| cretaries.
The objects of the meeting having been bri, d '
stated, George Wilson, Esq in a lucid and forci
bic manner, urged upon the meeting the necessity
OF adopting measures Of relief towards Captain
ship Henry Clay. After which several letters were
read, together with certain atfidavits from Capt
Jvhn Eiwell, the former twner OF the ship Henry
Clay, and w. Humphrey, Captain Schrievers for
Captain SchIiever's character for nildness, Tor
bexrance, and gentlsmaniy cOudnct and also oil his
unexceptoAsble moral character.
! Alter which, ON molten, Captains Cornell, Smith
and Slanhope we're appointed committee 10 draft
resolutions expressive If the Of The M citing
and alter they had retired for that purpose, at the
request OF several gentlemen, an article that APP
PeArsd Ia one ofthe morning papers explanatory Of
Schriever and his mate, and Their present suffer
ings, was read by Mr.. Poole.
The committee appointed to draft resolutions
then returned and reported the following, which
were read and unanimously adopted.
The committee beg leave 10 re port, that they
have reflected with much care and deliberaion
upon the matter connected it'll the business ofthis
meetings and would respectfully state that they
slider the present Ill and proper time 10 place
before our cit. a statement Of the wrongs and
grievances they have borne for several years past
in silence, feeling as they do that forbesrance has
ceased to be virtue in their case, and that this
public expression Of their feelings is due to them
selves, their families, and the owners their
sels, whose property ir daily and hourly
ed for want OF proper discipline on board their
vessels the captains and other officers being de-
TERED from enforcing proper subOrdination, from
the fear Of runous and vexatous law suits await.
ing them in this city, for in no ether part oi the
United States are our masters and officers subject
ed to such Prosecu ions-at least without good and
sufficient ground Of action. Your committee com
plain-and where 10 the shipmaster or mate who
does not complaint the almost countless number
Of suits which have been instituted against Them in
the Marine Court of this city, and that upon the
most frivolous preexts-mere particular suits at
law for assault and battery. These cases have
multiplied 10 fearful ratio; suits too, which our
pslice magistrates would have promptly Dismissed
~ unworthy Of notice. had the matter been brought
before them but BY being taken before the Ma
rine Court, and civil actisn commenced, and da-
images laid at large amount, our captains, sooner
than incur the expense Of q protracted suit, have
compromised the matter at a levers Pecuniary loss
to Themselves, when there has not been shadow Of
proof to sustain the charge. Scarcely day passes
without an instance occurs, where Of this de-
serPtion are delayed until just on the eve Of the
sailing of The vessel, when the captain arrested
! without any previous notice whatever, and rather
than detain the vessel, or lose his situation, ON
which he depends for support for his family this
suit 10 also settled thereby enabling some worth.
less fellow to baton ON the hard earnings of many
| luh pnfth H. r.
\ the truth Of which statement your committee ap.
peal to our merchants and Others, who acquaiht
ed with the subject.
| Your committee are satisfied from personal OBJ
servation that many persons sailing from this port,
90 To sea Tor the express purpose Ut prov oking
assault which will make the captain or his officers
amenable 10 II action at law. They believe these
1 eases are th44esult Of cool Fermentation, urged
on by those who were they the friends Of right
and justice, would inculcate principles Of subord-
! nation among seanen towards their officers. Your
committee also state that Of the numerous disgrace.
full mutinies which have of late taken pla CO. as in
the case Of the ships Herald, and alss the Chicors
now lying in this port, they undoubtedly have had
their origin mainly in the latitude given to seamsn
TO discbey orders with imPunity. Indeed the per.
petration of these outrages have, beyond question:
caused the loss Of many fine vessel, which, from
disobedsnce Of the orders Of her officers by the
crew, has gone down with all on board, and none
left to tell the tale Only those who have been on
board vessels when in peril by storm, or shoals
and with mutinous crew, can Judge OF the tryine
and responsible situation in which her officers are
placed The committee wish to be UNDERWOOD
that they are the friends Of good order and good
laws properly administered, and that they have no
desire to screen those from punishment who are
really and truly guilty Of offending the majesty Of
the laws They ase fully persuaded that If their
fellow citizens fully understood the trying and diff
hcult situations in which ship masters re placed
they would see the absolute necessity of pronp
redress OF the grievances under which they are
now suffering.
They would respectfully solicit their fellow eiti.
zens to visit the Marine Court of oar city occa.
sionally, when trial is pending against ship mas.
ter or his officers, and observe what fearful odds
he has to contend against, and with what unerring
certainty the crew are all brought up to man to
testify against him, A. in the case Of Captain
schrisver and Mr.. Harding, the master and mate
Of the ship Henry Clay. Indeed there appears to
be-and they deeply regret to observe TIA vein
Of bitterness aad degree Of animosity direbted
against the officers Of vessels BY their crews, which
it 10 most painful to contemplate, and which has
been produced by the very causes Of which they
complain. 10 there any reason to wonder, then,
that our ship masters should experience so much
difficulty in the performance Of their duties, when
We consider the vast influence Of an evil tendency
which 10 brought to bear upon theml
In consideration Of the foregoing circumstances,
the committee beg leave to present the following
preamble and resolutions
Whersas, in late snit against Captain Schriever
and MIR. Harding, master and mate OF the ship
Henry Clay, many false and unfounded charges
have been put in circulation which, unless contra
dicted will have tendency to isjure the character
and standing, not only Of those Immediately int.
rested in the suit defendants, but also the cha.
raeisr Of shipmasters generally. And, whsrsas,o of
late years, the captains and officers oil this port
have been subjected to numerous vexatious and
sxpeniive law suits which have been entirely I'M
warranted by the facts Of the case, and utterly
groundless in their nature-and originating, in
many instances, not from those in whose names
they instituted, but by few hungry expectants
who are ever the alert to embitter the feelings
and prejudice thelminds Of the seanen or mariners
against their oees in order TO come in for share
Of the spoils.
And whereas, If this state Of things is suffered
to continue mach longer, il will Be destructive
alike OF subordnation and discipline On ship beard
prevent the enforcement Of orders, and thereby
endasger the safety of our vessels, the lives Of pas.
te.eers and Of ali on board entrusted to our care
end protection: iflf