The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-05-23

prove. and the honest never stoop TO notice-the
most gross and filthy calumny Every way charac-
terlstc was its tone and spirit, of the only man out
OF two hemlspheres who, 1t is to be hoped, could
have been found to write it II was an article IN
which nothing wanting to the perfect self-com-
placency which waits upon the consciousness OF
perfect infamy. The man quoted the account we
had given st himself, as mere matter OF course
Ii is said of the CRIMINAL that in contessing the
greatest offence he gives himself credit tor his can
DOR You and he seem to have come to an AMIGA
BILE understanding on his character at last
We cannot quote this article for the reasons sta
ted From the ordure OF Its abuse, we can only ex-
tract special comment on one OF the statements
in our Review to which any thing like special
denialis given
"We quote sgain from this infamous review
TO convict man in America, unless he happens TO De
negro is by no means a necessary prelude to his pun
shment A murderer whether of life, or OF character
without which life worthless has infinite chances he
has a tphite face
ckens has gone to Europe with the fullest endorse
for truth and honor that any person ever took from
the United States and course the readers OF the
reign Quarterly Review cannot doubt the OF
this picture. What say his New York friends to its
truth ?'
We will tell the editor of the " Courier and En-
quirer' what his friends say to its TRUTH which may
possibly be more satisfactory to him. All the world
has seen the account of the attempted rebellion on
board the " Somers'' American brig OF war, COM
manded by Captain Alexander Slidell Mackenzie,
made very favorable impression In this country
some short time back. 1t was alleged TO have been
headed by midshipman of the name OF Spencer.
nneteenyears OF age, with whom were said to have
been directly implicated two of the common sea-
men. 1t revealed as madly as 1t seems to have
been planned, and sort OF vague suspicion OF the
probable cooperation OF several OF the crew was
founded on the discovery of PAPER which was at
forwards described by Captain Mackenzie, in the
exculpatory narrative he submitted to the authrtes,
in these curious terms =" On this paper strange
characters were written, which proUed 10 be Creek,
with which Mr.. Spencer was familiar 1t fOrtu
nately happened that another mdshipman was on
board who understood Greek-one whose Creek as
,oeH as euery thing else he possessed, tcere WhoHy
deuo'ed 10 his country Midshipman Rogers. He
translated those characters" Upon Mr.. Rogers
explanation Qor without some reasonable suspicion
of tn" possible rising OF the crew, the whole affair
is unlntellgbe deplorable) 1t was resolved on
the sudden to hang Mr.. Spencer and his two asso-
clates men named Small and Cromwell.* Notice
was accordingly given them not the least form or
shadow of trial was gone into they were told
within an hour or two to prepare for death and at
the expiration OF that time were hanged at the yard,
arm. This done, the crew (under Orders) cheered
very Justify for the American flag, with It's stripes
and stars. 81 then said, adds Captain Mackenzie 5
narrative, that they had giuen cheers TOR their jug,
singing to his praise. ordered the hudredth psalm
TO be sung" Duly arrived at home with his dreary
news to TELL the first paper in which any thing like
autheatic account Of Captain MaCkenZle'S TRACE
dy appeared, waslh New York Courier and En-
qurer."
The selection was happy tribute to the infu.
of this base press highly illustrative OF the
unquestoned and UNREASONABLE power of that spl
rt of party with which has cursed America emf
neny characteristic of the utter absence of deca-
cy or decency which marks its influence over men
esteemed the most honorabe.t The miserable
Young man, MIR. Spencer, whom Captain Macken'
man at America, the Hon. Mr.. Spencer, Secretary
at War TO the present government OF Washington
| So connected with :" His Accidency," as the
"Courier' loves TO sty lie the President, we need no
say that Mr. Spencer had been the mark of all the
most venomous abuse that this vile pr ut could d.
| rect against him Which, indeed, it had pursued
with its most perfect hatred, Mr.. Spencer or Cap
tain TYLER" would be perhaps difficult to say
There was an article specially devoted to both some
few days before he arrival OF Captain Mackenzie,
in which " mise. able trek veriest tcreteh,
primctped poltici ~ &c imbecl," "traitor,' dis
graceful imbecilc greatest ourv," were The cho
ces epthets applied to the President OF America
and his Secretary at Wav The last man then, we
would say, with whom Captain Mackenzie should
have entered into communication on the subject o.
the dreadful events in which he had borne chief
part was the signaized by his hatred of the ia.
mily whom those events had plugged into deepes
affliction-the editor OF this Courier and Enqul.
rer.'' But we have said, he was the first. And
he has paid the iavsr back with all fitting gratitude
He has zealously defended Captain Mackenzie
throughout, and upheld him as friend.
Even this friend, therefore, we will now bring
TO Justify the only 6peClai passage In our Review,
which his advocate has dared to dispute We do
not apologize for having detained the reader with
the episode necessary 10 introduce this evidence.
because it has served at the some time to throw
valuable illustration other points OF our subject
We asserted, that TO convict man in America, un
less he was negro, necessary prelud TO his
punishment. We said that murderer, whether Of
lfe-or Of character, without which life is worth
ese-had infinite chances il he happened TO have
white face. And, asks the editor OF the "Courier"
t-sumpnantly, what say my countrymen to the truth
of that Let Captain Mackenzie answer, in de-
scripton OF the last interview ne held with the
youth he was about to hang, as given in his memo
rable narratIve:-
then turned to Spencer, and again asked him If he
had any to his friends He replied that he had
none but that he died wishing them every happiness
deserve DEATH he added, for this as well as for other
crimes My only fear u.s. that my repentance may be too
late, When asked him if he could would mention
any one whom he had particularly injured and whom he
might save obloquy he answered not for time
last said he had injured chiefly his parents and that
his death potd kill has poor mother was not till
then aware that he had a mother. | then asked him
# he would not have been guilty had he succeeded
in his designs. He replied that Il do not know what
would have become of me if l had succeeded I fear
il may yet injure my father replied, was then tao
think OF that and told him that he had succeeded
it would have injured his father much more-tha H..
,ood hare been in nature for has father not TO tn
terpose TO sare HIM AND THAT FOR THOSE WHO HAD MO-
FRIENDS u, AMERicA THERE WAS NO PUNISHMENT
WORST OF cRiMrs't
So fares the only attempt to dispute by direct
means, single statement or opinion IN the For
From the extraordinary evidence since sdduced in
justification of this before the tribunal appointed
port upon it, take passage having immediate reie
reference to this which seems too monstrous and
outrageous for belief. Upon solemn investigation to in
gu re whether a has been justly ham without
trial for suspected intention to mutiDy evidence gone
into to show that he - used TO peak coarseiy Of his
wife! We quote from the examination ofone the
nesses &c" Cromwell spoke Of his wife and spoke Of her
in very light manner Tor who had just been
ried he said he supposed some one wa. then doing up
her filings at home but he did not long he had
the berth clean when he returned The Judge doocate
suggested The proPrety Of pursuing the inquiry further
II toas dropped"
Let us supply, by the way, from the extraordi
case another notable proof the absence Of these
qualities which caused OF course SURPRISE and provo
ked no remark OF any kind Captain Mackenzie offering
himself for trial in where above all others seem
essential that his conduct should be free from the
slightest breath Of suspicion in which his first xiety
should have been that faintes color Of motive could