Litchfield enquirer., 1843-01-12

prisoners to be turned aft, and that no tobac- co should be allowed them when tho supply theV had upon their persons at tut 'me of their arrest should be exhausted. 1 told them that would see that they ' d every thing necessary for their comfort |; that each should have his ration that they should be abundantIy supplied with every thing neces- sary for their health and convenience. But told them that tobacco was only stimu. lant, and that, as wished their minds to be. come as quiet and tranquil us possible, l could not allow them to use it.
 The day after Spencer's tobacco was stop ped, his spirit gave way. He would sit for a long time with his face buried in his cloak. and when he raised his head his face was hathed in tears. He was touched by the kird attention of Mr. Gansevoort. He told him that he was not then in state to speak of anything, but that he would the next day tell him all-would answer any question that might be put to him.
 On Tuesday after quarters all hands were again called to witness punishment, and Waltham was punished to the extent of the law for offering three bottles of wine to Mc- Kinlev. Ithen spoke to the crew of tho ne. cessty of conforming inall particulars to the orders of the vessel which were known. I told them that every punishment inflicted on board must be made known to the Secre- tary of the Navy, and that the less they were in amount the greater would be the credit that would attach to the Commander and the crew. But the whole crew, soon found were far from tranquil. They collected in knots upon the deck seditious words were heard among them, and they assumed an in- solent and menacing tone. Some of the pet ty officers were examined and found to be true to their colors but it was the general inn pression that the vessel was far from being safe. There was reason to fear that on that very night a rescue would be attempted. obtained a variety of intelligence concerning conference among the disaffected. Iudivid- uals whom had not supposed to be implica- ted were found closely associated with sev- eral who were known to be among the dis. affected, and several times there were symp- toms that they were about to strike the blow. Mr. Wales once detected c. A. Wilson in drawing out a hand spike from it's place; and on presenting his cooked pistol at him, he on- ly offered some lame excuse. became ex- ceedingly anxious, and remained constantly on deck. At l2 o'clock the watch was called. Mckinley, Green and one or two others mis- sed their muster they could not be asleep, and why they should be absent just at that time, when they never had been before, was not easy to be seen. When they appeared, they all had some lame excuse. They prob- ably had agreed to meet at that time and to commence some act of violence. Green said he could not get aft sent him forward and ordered him to take the forward lookout for four hours. directed close watch to be kept up and distributed the others in simi ] lar manner.
 At 4 o'clock others missed their muster.- heard of this with the greatest uneasiness. Where, asked, was this to end? If the men upon bright night like this seem mu- tinous and disposed to undertake the rescue of those confined, on bad night, in storm, in the midst of utter darkness, how much greater will be the probability of a rescue :? If all suspected should be ironed, would the danger be over! What sympathy might not be felt for the prisoners These matters crowded upon my mind. l considered the imminent peril which hung over the lives of the officers and crew; thought of the seas traversed in every direction by merchant men, unarmed and defenseless 1 thought of what was due to the interests of commerce. to the safety of the lives of thousands upon the deep, to the sancity of the American Flag entrusted to my care, and to my own honor. All these considerations impressed me with the absolute necessity of .adoptne some farther means of security for the vessel which had been given to my charge.
 took counsel with the First Lieutenant, and was fortified in my purposes by finding his opinion identical with my own. In so grave case. involving so many interests and such high responsibilities, felt desirous of having the opinion of all my officers upon the matter, though not shadow of doubt re- .mained on my mind of the guilt Of the pris- oners should their execution be deemed nec essary. l did not forget that the officers were still boys, and that all the responsibility of the proceeding must rest upon tho older and higher officers. Still felt desirous to have their opinion, and accordingly address cd them the following letter:
 U. S. BRIG SoMERs, Nov 30, 1si2.
 Gentlemen: am deslrous of availing myself ot your counsel in the very responsible position m which find myself placed. You are aware of the circumstances which have resulted in the confne- | ment of Midshipman Spencer, of Boatswain's mate Cromwell and of Seaman Small and purposely | Necessarily ignorant as am, of the extent of disaf lection among the crew who have so long been tam pered with, and knowing the suspicion which attach es to some of the crew who are at large, address you and ask your united counsel as to the best course now to be pursued and call upon you to take into deliberate dispassionate consderation the conduct which will be necessary for safe con- tnpance of the remainder of our course, and to en-
 h1 with your p1n as G as meth
 ALEX SLIpELL MAcKENZIE, Commander Lieut.. GaBseV0ort, and others.
 After had written this letter, but before had sent it, at about 9 o'clock, Wilson, foil ed in his attempt to get up an outbreak at night, and feeling that he was narrowly watched and was no longer left at liberty, came forward and made some lame and worthless confession, and requested that be