The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-06
NEW YORK HERALD.
New York, Friday, january Q, Is4s.

The SoMERs' TRAeEpY-PowER OF NAVAL COM
MANDERs-RIGHTs OF SEAMEN.-The deeply inter
esting investigation into the tragedy enacted on
board the Somers, seems to attract the undivided
attention of the whole newspaper press of the
try-and in particular manner, the attention of
the navy and of Congress.
II is right that ii should do so. According to the
evidence already given, it is generally allowed by
impartial men that there was some ground TO
arrest Spencer and Small, and to bring them into
port for trial. butthat there not sufficient ground
for their execution-and least of all is there anv
ground or justification disclosed by the evidence for
either the arrest or the execution of Cromwell, the
tall seaman. Not single fact is connected with
Cromwell that can be construed into disobedience
OF orders or attempt at mutny-but on the contrary
the very reverse is shown by the evidence through
out.
Whatever. therefore. be the result of the Court of
Enquiry, as regards Mckenzie and his associates in
this awful business, the act-the execution-the in
vesgation must lead to the enactment of law clear
y defining mutiny, and laying down the powers of
naval commanders and officers, and the relative
personal rights of seamen and mariners Seamen
who dlsobey no order, have surely some right to
escape the yard-arm In civilized age, and in
civilized country, lynch law on the ocean will not
pass MUSTER whatever may be the necessity for such
code on the outer borders of Missouri and Arkansas
If seamen, as in the case of Cromwell, can be ar
rested and executed; merely on the ground of their
looks, size, or personal strength, without the
slightest fact indicating disobedience Of orders,
or insubordination discipline, where is the secu-
rity for any mans life against the panc-struck inn
aginaton of poetic commanders and frightened
heutenants, "who know that man is guilty by
his looks?"
In the Naval service of the United States there
are, men & mo
In the Commercial MARINE men Sc 'oss
Total U. s. mariners on the ocean, 6aI2s
Here are over 10000 men, citizens of the United
States, employed in the Naval service and CONNER
cial marine-and we suppose that no country under
heaven can Justly boast of body OF men, more
true to their countrymore faithful to their banner
or more orderly, obedient, and moral than the
great body of American seamen. If these men can
be hung up at the yard arm, at the whim, caprice,
fright, orpanc-struck Imagination of their comman-
ders, without any trial, any evidence, any fact ap-
pearIng against them-any disobedience of orders
1t is time that Congress should take up the subject
investigate the discipline of the naval and merchant
service-dene the relative rights and duties of Off
GERS and seamen, without further delay If we are
not much mistaken, the hardy mariner must have
some sort of rights guaranteed to him under the Con-
than what may be awarded to him
by species OF ocean Lynch law
HE FINANCIAL EXCITEMENT IN WALL STREET
The explosion in the New York Life and Trust |
Company has created deep and melancholy feel !
ing in Wall street-and through all the avenues of
q hpap pIo1 rJ,1, of
press endeavors to smother this feelng-but it only
breaks out In conversation and talk, with the
greater and deeper intensity. Men who never felt
alarm before, begin to fear that the whole credit
system, both financial and commercial, is at an
end-that no man can have any confidence in man
that outward responsibility of character is
only hypocrtlcal cloak to hide internal TO-
query.
The case of Nicoll, his speculations, criminali-
ties, pous pretensions, and wonderful receptions
are related and commented upon at the corner of
every street-in every counting room-in every
parour-in every dining-room abouttown. Stories
OF his lottery gamblings-his land speculations-hs
kept mstresses-his church membership -his pray
ers, peculations and pews-his remarkable capacity
for business his amenity of manners and his corrupt
and dishonest principles, all mixed up together, are
told and talked over instead of the last novel or the
new play. Fears are also expressed that further
and more awful explosions will take place.
In fact, we are only in the "begnnIng of the
end" Financial and fashionable society in this
country, who have lived for years on the credit sys-
tenn, is in the last throes of revolution, disso-
luton and extirpation. Their hypocrisy-their
pride-their secret immoral
ty-their open anogance-their public presump-
lon-have hurried them into the jaws OF uti-
mate and irredeemable destruction. They have
'lundered and robbed the banks-they have run the
States into debt and bankruptcy-they have pro-
cured law for the abolition of all debts, and the
cheating of the small traders by thousands-hey are
low engaged in the last work of evil The destruc-
ion of the honest commercial systematic overturn
ng OF real religion the spreading of infdcity by
ectures-the growth of immortality and fraud of all |
linds. in order to hide their own infamy and wick
dness by the increase of that of the age.
The last and final hope Of the republic is in the
Kidding and lower classes-and here then is a
right star Of hope, that will in time restore the
alcyon days again.
THE GOVERNORS MEssAGE-The message of Co
ernor Bouck creates some curious sensations in
Tarious quarters
The 'Piebeian" (organ of the locofocos) and the
Courier" (organ of the whigs,) both grumbe and
'row over its contents, here and there The "Tri-
'une" applies old jest to the Governor-tlus, il
Governor Bouck's head is not so long as Governor
Stewards, it is twice s.s thick. Ha ha ha why
ne devil don't you laugh!
1t would be forum ate for society and govern
nent, if we had more such thick heads as Cover
nor Bouck's-there is honesty and sound reason in
hese thick heads Your long heads have ruined
he credit and character OF the country We trust,
therefore,, that Governor Bouck has sufficient thick
hess of head to break up all selfish cques that may
ny to deceive him.
GREAT Loss OF LIGHT PROM HEAvEN.-Bishep
Hughes has published Card" declining to have
my further religious controversy with the Rev. Da-
vid Hale, because the latter is not gentleman
There is, we suppose, precedent in the career of