The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-13

Some weeks since there arrived at this port two
emigrant ships, with more passengers than the
American law allows, and with vast amount OF
disease and suffering. A strong feeling Of indig-
nation was at once excited. The federal officers
took prompt measures to enforce the American
law, and the British Consul was equally prompt in
collecting the testimony for prosecution of the
guilty parties in Liverpool. Indictments were at
once presented against the masters of the Blanche
and the Otilla, and the ships SEIZED By our law,
certain space is allowed for each passenger, and
for each passenger over that limit there is penalty
Of fifty dollars against the master, and imprlson-
ment. Where the number exceeds twenty, the
ship itself is liable to forfeiture. The excess in
the case Of the Otlla was some seventy. In the
case Of the Blanche, one hundred and twenty.
The penalties have been paid in both cases, and
the President has remitted the forfeiture OF the
I ships. Now that the first outburst Of indignation
has passed away, and the country is in condition
to hear and judge we think thecourse of the Pres
ident will be justified.
Though the two ships are usually spoken of in
connection, yet they owned by different persons,
and are to be Judged individually. They are both
British ships-the Blanche is owned by ship car
penter Of New Brunswick; the Otilla by a ship
master who has invested all his earnings for years
in trade between Liverpool and New Orleans. A
forfeiture Of the ships ruins two Woodworking men,
innocent of any crime themselves. By the British
llaws all children under year are not counted,
and all under fourteen treated as half passen-
gers Our law only omits the infants, and all over
a year old, are counted as full persons. The
Otilla took her passengers according to the British
statute, counting two for one, of the children be.
tween one and fourteen years. After the ship was
fairly at sea- twelve were found concealed on
board Were these thrown out, and the British
Il rule adopted, the passengers would not exceed the
limit In the case of the Blanche, the Passenger
Factors who are licensed officers under oath and
bond, procured false and psri~red certificate Of
measurement, which passed the Custom house at
Liverpool. The passengers were received in
accordance with this certificate, and the British
law. In both cases. the owners were not in Liver
pool, and had no cognzance of the number or
board. Nor did they benefit by the excess, as thu
ships were chartered at a round sum, and not BY
the head.
The sickness on the Blanche was owing to tn,
passengers themselves, who absolutely refused tc
obey the orders Of the MASTER and chose to lie il
their filth, thus engendering the pestilence which
swept of so many The excitement in Liverpoo
is intense not against the innocent and sufferin,
owners, but against the passenger factors, an
their perjured measurer The British authorize
have commenced prosecutions against them, an
they will be severely punished.
In this country the fines have been paid. This,
ITSELF is alarge sum 9000-far more than any pro-
its on the voyage, and will be severe punishment
on the master and owners. The President ha'
under full knowledge of all these circumstances
RENTED the forfeiture of the ships and thus
from ruin, two worthy, industrious men, who's
lfe-earnings forfeited by the villany and per
Jury of others. The statement we make on tn
highest authority. Neither we, nor the grea
mass of our people, have any national antipathie
to CRAFTY, by the unnecessary punishment and ruiz
of English mechanics and ship-masters. The OBJ
ject of the law is gained by the severe fine; tn,
attention of the British authorities has been ava
kened, and we are certain that every effort will be
made to prevent the infraction of the law of both
countries