The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-14


has been now under investigation for two days.
Nor is it to be wondered al that it should excite
profound interest in this moral community. Whe-
ther consider the heinous nature of the alleged
crime, the position occupied by the accused, or the
unprotected state of these glrls, assuming, for
the present, that they innocent it Is a
case about which naturally exists much painful
anxiety.
The captains Of our packet ships have hitherto
borne high moral character, and, in common
with our fellow citizens, we respected and esteem
ed them, as class that reflected honor upon their
country. Few, we believe, if any of them, stood
higher in general estimation than the captain of
the Columbus. 1t is, therefore, with deep pain we
now advert to transaction which we were, at the
first blush, reluctant to believe, or make public.
We knew he was married man, and that his
own happiness, and that of his family, might be
blasted by premature publication Of charges that
might turn out, after ALL to be fabricated, for the
purpose of extoItlng money, as often happens, and
as has been actually alleged in this case. But, as
an organ ofopinion and public morality, we can no
longer be silent. The case has already proceeded
far enough to disclose what upon. his own add
mission, is a serious stain upon the character of
Mr.. M'Cenen as married man and a captain of
packet ship, entrusted with the protection of
female virtue. The more serious part of the
charge we will not, in the present stage Of the
proceedings, undertake to PREJUDICE No doubt
the case will undergo thorough investigation,
and the true facts will be elected But there are
one or two points already determined, which leave
the accused wholly without excuse, whatever
may be thought of the conduct of Eliza Dickson
and her sister
In the first place, upon his own showing, the
course pursued by Captain McCerren was, to say
the least of it, very disreputabe. He, married
man. with his wife in New York, and daughters
growing up around her, went, he says, to house
of Ill fame, to hold criminal intercourse with
young girl not twenty years of age. He, man
advanced in years, states he allured by this
young girl into the paths OF vice. If it be true
that she possessed such influence over him, and
that, stranger as she was, she could al at once
become versed in the locale and the mysteries of
asslgnation houses, what does the keeping OF such
company and the frequeniing Of such haunts speak
for him
We understand it is alleged that evidence can be
brought forward to damage the character Of the
Misses Dickson. This, as yet, is mere allegation
1t has not been proved But if it could 1t does not
alter the case against McCerren, except, indeed as
to the degree of crime There is, however, strong
presumptive evidence to the conrary-evdence
that shows these girls were respected in their own
country. We have in our possession letters Of in
PRODUCTION from most respectable parties in Ireland
and in Liverpool dated up to the very time OF their
sailing in which their character is spoken of in the
highest terms. Among these letters, is one ad-
dressed to Mr.. Roche, of this city, and another to
Il L
The most favorable construction that can be put
on the conduct of Mr.. McCeren is this He may
have been led to suppose (though we have no testi
mony to establish such fact,) that these girls, or
at least Eliza, gave him some encouragement, and
he found too late that he mistaken. II this hy-
pothesls be the true one, 1t would not relieve him
from misconduct, while 1t would shew that, for
man of his years and experience in sea-farng life,
he has been very slow in his observation of female
character, particularly the Irish phase it. Every
one who knows anything of Irish girls, knows that
while they are, perhaps, the most virtuous in the
creation, are lighhearted and buoyant, and
sometimes in their demeanor border on what
would be called downright levity, In this sad
country ; but which, to those who know Ireland
aud its people, is but the ebullition of good nature
and innocence. An Irish girl will even allow
man she esteems to romp with her in frolic and
mirth but " thus far shall he 60, and no further"
The moment she is made sensible OF a criminal in.
tentlon, she will resent it with all her indignation,
and the laughing girl becomes the embodiment of
the spirit OF the storm. Captain McCerren may have
been deceived, as we have said, by some unguard-
ed gayety OF this kind, though there is no evil
dence, as yet, that he has. But If he has, what
then l-why that he ought TO be ashamed of him.
self.
There is this damning aggravation in the case;
these girls were entrusted to his care. lie ought
to have been as a father to them. They perhaps,
believed he stood in that relation to the fatheress.
lie gained their confidence. They may Enough
as we have already said, we know nof)-they may
have permitted famiGarities which they considered
harmless, bSt which he interpreted otherwise, and
this may have led to the serious consequences in
which he is now involved. As the case is not
yet fully developed, we will not now pro-
nounce upon its merits. The Irish Emigration
Society have taken it up, and will leave stone
unturned to get at the whole truth. In few days,
therefore, the public may calculate upon knowing
more Of the matter than they can do at present
In the meantime, we have no hesitation in saying
that the conduct of this soi-disdnf guardian Of
female Innocence, taken at best, is highly repre-
hensibe, and all who attempt to defend him are In
directly partskers in his iniqu,y
Posi- OFFICE BLUNDERiNG We have been al
ways Of opinion that the wholesale change Of mi
nor officers in the various departments of the State
is decided error. II does not prevail in England
or other countries, and hence the laws aud adlni-
nistrative government, though not 50 good as in
this county, are better carried out When there
is a change q ministry in England the new cabi-
net never dreams of changing the subordinate
officers. For instance, the Postmaster General is
the only officer changed in that department. The
reason is very obvious TO every understanding,
even If experience did not attest it. They know
very well that II host OF new and inexperienced
clerks arc PVT nro once tney VIII bungc the busi
ness they do not understand and accordingly they
adopt the maxim Of letting well enough alone