The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-02-16

perfect accuracy, the distances OF the brig Somers
from various islands in the West Indies, will conirl-
butte more efficiently to the formation OF Just opin-
ions on many interesting and important questions
connected with the conduct of Commander Mchen-
zie, than any thing which has yet been presented to
public consideration, What is the plain and intelli-
glble fact which this map reveals! That the So
mers was thin days sail of land when that
melancholy tragedy was completed, and that on the
very morning succeeding the night in which the
bodies of the executed men were committed to the
silence of The deep, the island Of Antigua would
have been in sight, had the commander Of the So
mers so directed his course! When in connection
with this most important fact it is recolected that
during the whole time in which the prisoners were
In irons, there not single mutinous act ex-
preston on the part of any of the crew-always ex-
cepting the 'infemal looks" and mysterious
groups" which struck such terror to the hearts Of
Commander Mckenzie and Lieutenant Ganse-
voort-we think there can be but the one conclu-
sion formed by all rational and unprejudiced minds,
that there no earthly reason why the prisoners
could noth have been taken TO the port if not
to the United States. Let any disinterested man
lock calmly at the map and examine IN the same
spirit the evidence before the Court of Enquiry,
parte, it is, and i, be possible that he shall
avoid the conclusion, that the execution was pre-
cipitate and unjustfable?
II is true that the Court Of Enquiry have acquitted
Commander Mckenzie, and it is highly probable
that the Court Martial will also grant him absolu-
ton But 1t is very easy to explain all this. We
pretty confident that not of the naval Off
GERS who have sat in judgement on Commander
Mckenzie, would, ifplaced in similar circumstances,
act as he has done. A Stewart, a Jones, Downes,
or Bolton, we venture to say, would never have
condemned three men to death on such evidence
condemned them without the semblauce of a trial
condemned and executed them with such panic
struck preciptancy. Why, then, would they justify
the conduct OF Captain Mckenzie The answer is
easy-on the ground of expedency. The members
of these naval tribunals argue that if Commander
Mckenzie were found guilty Of murder, of ex-
ceeding the limits of his authority, the discipline of
the naval service would be put in jeopardy-hat the
would have less respect for their superors and
less dread for their authority, and that the officers
would feel and act ii shorn of their powers of pre-
serving subordination, and checking and crushing
attempts at mutiny. 1t is therefore urged on this
plea of expediency, that Captain Mckenzie should
be honorably acquitted. The very same mode OF
reasoning is adopted by the owners and all others
interested in the merchant service; for the influence
of the decision IN this case it is easily SEEM must
also operate there.
But at the bar of enlightened and disinterested
public opinion, Commander Mckenzie can never be
acquitted. Even before the tribunals where the
esprit du corps of his professional brethren casts
shield of projection him, his conduct is, we are
persuaded, regarded in the same aspect as that in
hto,,f h.y thoo
In judging of his conduct, however, due allowance
should be made for that apparent want of moral
courage, and that wavering judgment, which hur-
RED the officers of the Somers to conclusions,
which now so evidently appear to have been pre-
cipitate and unfounded
GRAHAM's MAGAZINE FOR MARCH-1sRARL Posi-,
SO BowERY.-There is nothing in the world like
competition, especially in literature and art 1t is
the cause of all the progress of which the tran
scendentasts tell us, and of that wonderful cheap
ness which brings newspapers like the Herald, .
and such magazines as Graham's, within the means
of all the intelligent classes This last work is
doubtless by far the cheapest and best of its kind
now published. 1t contains more matter than the
S. monthlies; ,ngravings of the very first order,
while the SIS have none; and literary contents
temporary. Graham does cash business, and he
has learned the true secret of success-a judicious
and liberal outlay of his money. He is the Only
publisher in his line who has had the foresight and
ability to employ such writers as Paulding, Cooper,
Bryant, Longfellow, Dana, Grattan, Willis, Hoff-
man, and others of the same cabre What an ar.
ray of contributors is here for single magazine
Paulding, in the number before US, makes his first
appearance in authordom since he was Secretary of
the Navy in an article equal TO the best of the ia
nous Salmdgundi" papers by him and Irving. 1t
is entitled "The End OF the World" and hits off
the old Prophet Miller and his millennium furnaces
to the life Coopers Autobiography of Pocket
Handkerchief improves with each new chapter.
1t is worthy the author of "The Spy and the The
Red Rover" though our light complexioned neigh
Dor OF the Tribune" and some others are hit rather
harder than in our benevolencc we would have bad
them. "OHr Lida," by Mrs. Stephens, is clever ;
" Conduct and Consequences" by the author OF
4" New Home, one of the best domestic tales we
ever read The Fall Of Palmyra" splendid his
torical story "The Belle of the Belfrey," one Of
Wils's inimitable sketches; and Poe's cutting
UP of our friend DR.. Ward, the millionaire, who
wrote verses in the "Amercan," under the sigma
ture of "Flaccus," perfectly scorching The poet
ry, by Bryant, Street, Cotton, and Others is excel
lent, as usual, and Grswod has done up his edtori-
al business in his customary admirable manner.
The fine steel engravings-three in number-are as
good as we get in the richest London ANIMALS
Price three dollars year.
TAHITI, (SocIETY IsLANDs) OCCUPIED BY THE
FRKNcH.-Letters from the American Consul, Mr.
Backler, to Sept. 18th, state that the French Ad-
miral, Dupett Thouras, arrived there on the 9Th,
and made a demand on the Tahtans, of the sum OF
$4,000, in reparaton for abuses, and as guaranty
of their future adherence to the treaties
1t seems they Immediately entered into negotia.
tons for the surrender of the sovereignty of the
island. -Four of the Chiefs the 9th signed paper
to that effect but the Queen had refused to sign It,