Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-03-29

b"r. But tins seemed rather 20 inca ease
The mut inOus SplIit, and the next day
Cromwell and Small were arrested, and
;hcn eve others. Aud the Sc additional
arrests seemed, from evidence given, to
have affected others with the belief tn ~
the best way TO csc Ipe a Court Martial.
aud punishment for muIiny. was to be
come pirates, lad i. is agreed that
the persu aston Of Spencer, aud his ia
vorable position. had thrown u halo
round the free rowing liie,of pirate,
too attractive for class Of persons com
posing part cIthe crew.
between the arrest OF S encer and
his execution, the evidences Of mutinX
were unceaslag. though not so open
mere was genera diSobedieuce of or
ders,a gathering oC the crew in groupes
IN secret consu lati0n and quick changes
OF conversation when approached.
The carrying away OF the Top gal.
ant mast by violent jerk by Small,
who had Just left Cromwell, evidentlv
by design, aud wi:h the intent to throw
overheard the boy on the royal yard
that confusion and a chance for the
outbreak might thence ensus. the sim
ultaneous mastering orlhe chief ,nspi-
rators at the NUN top-mast head on
bat occasion, watching the moment for
action, TO which point was also directed
the liked and anxious gaze Of Mr. Spen-
car, The refusal OF the men 10 come ait
al first, when ordered there 10 aid in
sending up the new top gallant mas,
aud then the tumul;uru; rushing thith r
by nearly all the crew, stamping with
/ thelr lcet; an outrage made more suS III.
cious by It's happening after dark; the
rePIli'lon OF the same sedltieus conduct
on the iol owing evening, when the
crew were called ait To the main try
san sheet, with the further circumstanc e
mat the rushing aft was continued even
alter the crew had been distinctly or
deied ID return forward; the repeated
missing OF the muster without excuse OF
those named IN the Greek paper.
Against all This there is opposed lie te ,lirnony o.
several persons, adduced amongst Witnesses bot
lhey are interested, and their are on The GrceL
List
The defence then repudiaies the idea Of unneces-
sary Tear ON the part Of the officers. ard they did
not determine ON the execution until they were sa
iished That the arrests were only making the unar
resled conspiraIors, the ferocious II is ther
stated there were upon the decks implements O
wood DC, which the cOnspIraJors could use as yvea
Pons of offence at any lime. The honor of The naIor
was al stake, for the vessel SO admirably adapted
n public ship Of war, of remarkable ndapIa iior
10 The purposes OF piracy. by her form and her rapI
sailing.
| Under these circumstances what WINS the com
! mander OF the Somers TO dot lie wa, alone Gu IN,
ocean. lie could not invoke a regular court martial
lie asked The best aud only counsel within his reach
| lie made written appeal 10 his officers fer Ihei
ADVICE. Ills Officers alter examining the witnesses
and with full deliberations returned him their wrir
ien' luminous, and solemn judgment that the deal
| oi The three rnsleaders Of the muiiny was iudis
pensa6ly necessary Tar the safely Of me vessel an,
| the lives Of the faithful on board With this iuds,
| menl OF The only court within his reach his owl
| opinion concerned
The defence then quotes the results Of severe
courts martial which sustained the action. TIL
following paragraph ooncufs-
at has been Sometimes said that the Somer
might have left al ST Thomas. in the custody Of III
| Government there the prisoners who caused III
danger The rropuety Of such course may b
thought doubtful even If the brig could have reac
ed that island IN safety. An American ship.ul.war
\ - always deemed competent TO an enem
/ from without or O force not superior 10 her own
| much more she must be deemed compeIeni 10 NEE
| and gael by her own power an enemy from within
- sue - NOT capable OF maintaining her own disc -
Inc she oHgh not 10 be held worthy 10 eight hei
couni'y's bali Is. II would seem 10 be n dcrraJa
ion TO our flag for an American ship Of war To in
woke the aid Of afreign government to sustain The
discipline, or quell the instruction Of her own
crew"
The defence proceeds TO state that any afiemp
to alter the course Of the Somers TO 90 I'M,
/ 81 lhomas's. would have been a signal fur ;
rise IN The crew, because it would have been az
evidence OF lear This Is strong argument. mad
/ upon the suPposlon that the commander had nj
lowed The muliny TO break out by neglect to pun
i'h promptly The riugleaders The conclusion
well written, but not argumentative