Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-10-17
From the ". Y Courier

|
count of tragical occurrence on board the
United States Ship, PEBBLE. Some words
iI'of an angry nature had frequently passed be-
tween two seamen, Michael Calligan ana
Thomas Smith, which were repeated on the
morning of the 23d. The language of Cal,
gqn was of such nature that Smith struck
him; whereupon the former Immediately
drew his knife and stabbed the latter to the
heart with one blow, and gave him second
in the stomach, which cansed his death in
few minutes. a few days since Calligan
arrived in Boston, and was handed over IL
the United States civil authorities, to under
go his trial for murder, founded upon the
above Incidents
The circumstances detailed above have
been published in nearly every paper in the
United States, without comment of any kind
us, they seem to require some further no.
tcc.
1t may be recollected by some of our rea-
ders, (although such tritles as murder, rape,
arson, &c, are scarcely more than nino
days wonder in this volatile and mercurlal
motropolis,) that sometime last winter the
brig Somers came into port, nsiaus one Gifts
officers aud two of its crew. BY an elabo-
rate statement published in the papers, from
G commander Mackenzie, the master OF sad
vessel, it appeared that these three persons
had been by his orders during the voyage,
pul in irons: and after painful confinement,
were, without accusation or trial, hung at the
ward arm of the Somers, by the further or
ders of Mackenzie, and their bodies cast IN
to the sea,-they, up to the very moment OF
death, protesting their innocence, and beg
| L., IL md ,,lar j
the protection of the laws of their country.
| For this act, the mother of ono OF the muir
dcred seamen, Mrs Cromwell, lodged 'ntor-
nation in legal form, before Judge Belts, OF
the United States District Court, and made
application for the arrest of Mackenzie, and
his trial by jury of his countrymcn, Tor the
murder of her son. This application was ar
gued at length before Judge Belts, by able
and eminent counsel; and that functlonary
after politely listening to the complaints and
expectations ofthc bereaved mother, through
her counsel, for justice upon the murderer OF
her son, very coolly dismissed the appllca-
ton for his arrest, and intimated that deci-
son of his brother officers upon his case,
(who were to act both as Judge and Jury,)
would be irrevocable and final
Mackenzie, according to this decision
went through the tedious and solemn farce
of long trial, by branch of the judicial
power of the country, (lhe officers OF the
navy.) which had, in the hands OF other
persons of the same class, already fully
examined his case and acquitted him of all
blame Of course. he was again acquitted
But not content with this, a large number oil
verv respectable (qu. richD persons in this
8 city. in Philade phia, Baltimore, Boston
and other places, took the most exraordl-
nary measures 10 express their coincidence
Cor The prosecuted Commander Mackenzie,
! and their admiration for his ''cool, intrepid
. bravery" and "unfinching courage in the
!, discharge OF his duty under trying circum-
f stances"-that is, in hanging three help
ness men, totterlng under the weight O..
their irons, and with pistol at their head
\ Notwithstanding that one of them was Il
b every large and powerful man." anG
another "had an internal expression in his
eve" Letters signed by hundreds of these
: sympahising and respectable individuals
were addressed to the gallant commander
tho entire expenses Of his trial were paid
= by private subscriptions SPLENDID sword,
, with hit o! wrought gold, in the form of al
eagle HcdO, w uidiDOUCH
without the Z" internal expression" ",
! presumc) were presented 10 him--a FREE
tickle, on the Tarrytown steamboat WA
rendered 10 him by the respectable pro
prietor-and last, through not least, II con
mttec Of tho Boston responsibility wro,
HIM letter requesting that he wouh,
graciously permit his portrait 10 be taker
and placed n a public institution of tn
respectable cty!--whilea loud and lament
bic ou,cry of persecution" has been kcl
up by The respectable newspapers in the.
cities, and every one who old not fall q
his knees to do homage to the ''gallan =
commander, was denounced as low q
malicious being. unfit for the associate.
of respectable people!
Now, mark the contrast 4 poor sea-
man. without friends, money Or influence
on shore, Stays man in sudden quarrcl
and in the hea, Of passion; on board vessc
Of the government, wthcu, the Jurisdiction
Of the Uuitcd States-the case being pre-
cisely similar, save IN the enormlty of the
Ectime, 10 the murders committed by the
Commander Mackenzie The SAILOR /,
gRoUGaT HOME IN IRONS, AND IMMEDIATELY
WITHOUT DEBATE OR QUESTION,
COMMITTED TO the CIVIL TRIBUNALS, TO
lUNDERGo TRIAL BY jury FOR HIS CRIME
We do Northumberland us-complan OF
this course pointed out by justice or re-
cognIzcd by law. Bat we ask the people
10 look at The PARALLEL presented he.e be-
tween the fate o! the rich, respectable and
influential Commander Mackenzie and the
poor aud frieudess seamen Calligan. We
10 not at all doubt that Call gan will re-
ceive equal and exact justice at the hands
of the United States civ il authorities in
| Bos,on-nor do we doubt that jury would
have done equal justice to the triple muir
derer, Mackenzie! But we wish 10 take
the opportunity offered BY these circum-
stances 10 point 10 the oppressive, partial
| and tvrannical working-even 10 The she'd
ding Of innocent blood with impunity-of
tha; system Of aristocralic respcctabiHty
which has gained 50 much upon us ia tbs
country during the last few years. II is
IFd y