The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-03-01

shocking character of "the bTibed assassin
these, and variety of other equally relevant topics,
too numerous to mention"-pre sent the grounds
on which the defence OF Comman der Mckenzie Is
founded. Never had any unfortunate sufferer more
reason to exclaim, than has Comm lander Mckenzie,
" Save me from my frends!" Indeed, the defence
is fit companion to the narratlv.e. II is a most
appropriate supplement- to that remarkable document
To all that our contemporary says in relation to
the glorious achievements OF the American Navy,
most cordially respond. Does the Courier and
Enquirer really imagine, that it monopoizes all the
reverence and love for the gallanry and heroic
deeds of those American Commanders, who sue
cessfuly DISPUTED the empire of the sea with the
navy of Britain, and whose names are amongst
those which will be held in everlasting remembrance!
None yield more cheerful homage than we, to the
skill and bravery of those renowned men, who in
SO many we-contested actions, triumphed over SUI
perior numbers and force, taught even Great Bri-
tain the humliating lesson of resignation TO defeat,
and impressed on the American Navy, character
and glory, which no power but itself ever can
efface.
But this is not the question. The relative glory
and honor of the British and American Navies, is
not the point at issue. 1t is a simrle question of
justice between three American seamen, and an
American naval officer. 1t is altogether question
involving American rights and American law
question in which the interests Of fifty thousand
American seamen, their feelings, views, and con-
duct, are involved for all time to come 1t is simply
whether an American naval commander is justi-
fable or not in hanging up three men, without
trial, without any legal formality without unequivo
cal proof of guilt? And on this, the only legiti-
mate question in the case, we are not now disposed
to add anything to what we have already said. We
are perfectly willing to trust the whole affair to the
impartial and sober judgment of the honorable men
composln the Court Martial, and TO the action of
the government on the finding of the verdict.
With re spect 10 the opinions Of Messrs. Griffin
and Duer, Il that the Tribune says of them may be
very trne. But we said nothing about their opinions
We only stat ed the fact of their disappearance from
the scene of the trial.
1t is fact eminenty worthy of attention in con-
nexion with the grounds assumed by the Courier e.
Enquirer, that the defenders OF Commander Nc
Kenzie, amongst the newspaper press of this city,
have repeatedly sought to justify his conduct by
reference to British precedents. Again and again
we have been referred to the conduct of BIRTHS.
naval officers, afording strong evidence in favor
of the course adopted by the commander of the
Somers. Nay, Commander Mckenzie himself has,
and as we believe more than,oRce, sought from this
very source the means of justification and defence
But now, when the opinions OF the British journals
are found to be decidedly opposed to the conduct
of Commander Mckenzie, and when we merely
quote them, and present them the public in spirit
of strict impartial justice, assailed with tor
rents of vulgar abuse, and the calm, unbiased and
disnterested judgment of the press of Great Britain
is stigmatzed the offspring of national prejudice
and revengeful feeling. 1t is really almost past our
comprehension, and would be entirely so, were it not
for our toleraby extended experience of the Stiffness
Of the man, how the conductor of the Courier E.
Enquirer suppose that all this old outcry about
s'aliens and foreigners will answer the purpose of
argument with any man whose. intelligence is supe-
rior that of the individual who discovers such sim
guar sagacity The truth that the day has gone by
when the cry of foreigner! foreigner! foreigner
suffices for the purposes of reason and argument
Does not everybody know that we are all descen:
dants of the same Anglo-Saxon stock? that we al
own the same blood and lineage of the men who
converted the wilderness abodes of the providing
beast of prey and his red hunter into this arest do
main of extended and extending Christendom? Did
the Courier & Enquirer forget that one of the prn
cpal editors of that agreeable sheet is an English.
man-one who sucked with his mothers milk the
rankest English torysm! This old cry of "aen,
alien"-'foreigner, foreigner" is, however, abso-
lutely indispensable to the reasoning and argumen-
tative conductor o. the Courier. Sterne used to tell
his friends that if he could get nothing better he
could always make very good dinner with the and
OF Cheshire cheese, and, added the witty divine 81
am sometimes badly off for something to preach
about but then always take fling at Popery, for
which reason call Popery my Cheshire cheese :"
The outcry of "alien" is Col. Webb's "Cheshire
cheese" 1t helps him!out!of all difficulties To all
arguments-be they on lthe currency question-on
the bankrupt law-on the interests of commerce
or the rights OF the navy, he has the uniform reply
"alien, alien, unnaturalized aliensv
II is really unfortunate for Commander Mckenzie
that he has fallen into the embrace of such sv and
| injudicous friends. His position was sufficiently
painful and trying, without the efforts of these mis-
calculating defenders. Appeals to local prejudces
attempts TO excite national feeling, vtuperation and
abuse OF all who presume to express doubt of the
justice proprety of Misconduct will sadly fail Of
benefitting his cause.
Whatever may be the result of the trial before the
Court Martial we fully persuaded that the SUBJ
sequent action Of the Government will be such as
will be honorable to the nation, Just to all parties
concerned and satisfactory to all the friends of JUS.
tce and equity in this country and throughout the
| civilized world.
| The REPEAL OF THE BANKRUPT LAw-TmE VKTo.
There is great speculation in town relative to
the action OF Captain Tyler on the bankrupt law
Some say he will sign it-some that he will veto it
some that he will pocket it. The wings are in
most awful state of confusion the subject. They
hardly know whether they are on their heads or
their heels Whatever Captain Tyler may do, it is
supposed the repeal Of the law will cause perfect
explosion in the whig party in these paris Squalls
| NEW AND SPLENDID LITERARY JouRNAL.-George
p. Morris, Esq. has announced the immediate pub
LEGATION Of "The New Mirror" on an entirely novel
and original plan. 1t will be issued weekly, in &C.
tavo form, with a magnificent steel engraving in