Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-05-27
From tks Union.

Else jamestown.
Amid so much that is grateful in the reports which
have come to US from Ireland of the jamestown and
her commander, deeply regret to find the most per-
verse and understandable feature which is exposed in
the following article from the Boston POST Ii is the
only unpleasant circumstance which has met our
notice IN the whole proceedings and its appearance
is doubly odiOus on this very account. With no
other exception, Capt. Forbes seems have perform
ed his mission in a spirit worthy Of it; and We
der that he should have allowed it TO be married.
has been, by the -conceived and ill-tmed communi-
cation in which Mr. S c. Phillips degraded himself
by attempting TO degrade his country. We sincerely
hope that its publication abroad the result Of IN
adverance rather than design yet even carelessness
in such is almost beyond excuse, while delibe-
ratey to publish it is nothing short of what The
>. Boston Post - has declared it-trearhery.
The letter itself is one Of which any man should
be ashamed. 1t seizes the occasion Of general
charity to circulate partisan views, and the money
which 1t conveys ostensby for the Irish poor, be-
comes thus only heprice Of advertising in a foreign
newspaper its own shameful calumnies upon the
American government Had they appeared in a
federal journal of Massachusetts, they would have
excited establishment, either from their virutence
or tlior author but nothing can exceed te-meanness
of attaching them to great public enterprise, and
sending. them across the ocean at the expense, In
part at least, of patriots and honest MIR. Phil
lips had right TO placard his political opinions
upon the cargo of the Jamestown, and those who
furnished that cargo never intended that it should be
used for the purpose OF propagang Salem federalism
among the starving population of Ireland. The idea
Of making politics question of "6reaa bread
rs not in our own republic, without high precedent
but Mr. Phillips need fear no competitor if he shall
claim the hunor Of first introducing the doctrine TO
famine-stricken people abroad Such not the
feeling Of the democratic Congress which authorized
the Jamestown's mission, the republican Secretary
Of he Navy who placed her in charge Of Captain
Forbes, of the benevolent citizens who contributed
TO her freight an outfit without distinction either OF
religion of party; and if, therefore, such the
disposition ct DIR. Phillips, common decency required
Of him that he should keep it to HIMSELF and not
deavor to share its responsibility with those WIN
regard the whole doctrine Of his letter with utter
abhorrence.
The precise point of his complaint against the ad-
ministratiOn Is far less manifest than his general
disposition to abuse it, and part of his letter Is
doubtless the result Of ignorance. The joint rcsou-
ton Of Congress authorized the jamestown TO be sent
either public or private ship. The Depart
ment preferred to send her private ship, for rea-
sons which are given in its own letter below. Had
it embraced the other alternative, it must have taken
her from Capt. Forbes, and Offered her from ti.f
navy; it must have provided her with crew wien
its public ships were waiting in port for the want Of
men, it must have diminished her cargo by keeping
on board her armament, and providing other arrange
ments without which national vessel could proper
ly go 10 in time of war; and it would have made
The whole mission less acceptable to Great Britain by
giving to the charitable offerings Of our people The
aspect of a favor done by government. The selec-
tion of the Department was doubtless wise and met
fully the wishes Of Congress; and since it the
only one which could have left Capt. Forbes his CON-
mand, we can hardly believe that it will be very
resolutely censured, even by Mr.. Phillips. But il
Mr.. p complains of the Department for not pay ing
all the expenses Of the ship, well as furnishing
her for voyage TO citizen captain, he complains OF
it only for not violating the law. The Secretary was
not authorized TO do any than place the ship al
the disposal of Capt. Forbes, unless he saw ft to
send her public vessel: and, in the latter
case she would have been made public In her officers
as well as in her expenses.
! What really done by the Department, and al
! that was done, under the joint resolution, Will be
seen in the letters which we publish below, and
which have been obligingly furnished to us, at our
request from the public records. They will be found
all respects appropriate and courteous, well
in strict compliance with the directions of Congress
They Indicate 10 be sure, desire in the Department
to employ vigorously all the at its disposal fol
/ the purpose of procuring speedy and honorable
peace but this disposition will hardly be condemned
except among those who deem it 'unbecoming
moral or religious people 10 rejoice over American
Victories; and for the opinions Of this class Of per-
sons the Secretary Of the Navy, believe, has nc
especial reverence.