The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-20
From tss 81. Augusti,ss .ar.eisn. Gu


The hearing of this cause came n be ia hIs
his Honor Judge Bronson, of the distr court
of the United States on Monday last.
The case first taken up was for violate &
the neutrality laws OF the United STATE, aa
was based upon the Sd section of tn, art 81
1878, which reads as follows:
SEC. 8. And be IL further enacted Ihet III
any person shall, within the limits Of the JnisgG
States, hit out and arm, or attempt to fit Dat aHa
arm, or procure to be fitted out and armed, pr
snail knowingly be concerned in the fu rishirg
httlng out, or arming, Of any ship 0 vessel
win intent that such ship or vessel shall 81
employed IN the service OF any foreicr psncs
or state, or OF any colony, district or people II
cruise or commit hostties gainst the subjects,
citizens, or property Of any foreign prince or
State, or OF any colony, distric', or people with
whom the United States are at peace, or shall
issue or deliver commission within the terri
tory or jurisdiction of the United States for anv
snip or vessel, to the intent that she may be en-
ployed as aforesaid, every person so Offending
shall be deemed guilty of high misdenleanor,
and shall be fined not more than ten thousand
dollars, and imprisoned not more than three
years and every such ship or vessel, wi h her
tackle, apparel and furniture, together with all
mate rails, arms ammunition and stores, which
may have been procured for the building and
equipment thereof, shall be forfeited one.h half
to the use of the informer, aud the other half
to the use Of the United States.
The counsel for the United States, Geo. w.
Call, esq, opened the c1se for the government.
and claimed the forfeiture and condemnation Of
the vessel, on the ground that she was fitted ont
with intent to be employed in the service Of Ger.
tain disloyal Inhabitants or people of the Island
of Cuba against the government Of Spain, with
which the United States were at peace; and relied
upon the evidence heretofore taken, showing
that the Pampero left New Orleans on the 81
August with General Lopez and his military
forces, and landed theuI in Cuba on the 1T,
August, with the intention to wage a war with
the government Of Span-that she subsequent
" went to the st. Johns river. and took on board
armed forces and arms for Cuba, to co operate
with Lopez, &c.
That the facts indicated an intent AMI n fur.
therance OF that intent, and that she was for
felt 3D. ..... ~. ..E0o
Messrs. Putnam and Mcintosh appeared on
behalf of the claimant, Mr.. L. J. Sigur, and
made ingenious and able arguments in defence
of the vessel, and urged in opposition to the ar
gument OF the U. 5. attorney, that the object
OF the law of 1918 was to prevent one bellige-
rent power making use Of our ports to fit out
criise against and carry on hostilities against
another power with whom we were at peace,
That il was not intended to refer to vessels EN-.
plOvcd in mere transport service. .=.
They further contended that, as the libe1
charged that the Pampero was intended tobe
employed IN the service of certain dsloyal
Of the Island Of Cuba, it was incum.
bent upon the United States to show that there
were disioyal Inhabitants there, of which ther.
was no evidence IN the case, nor in point of fact,
that consequently. if no dislov.l inhabitants OK.
listed, an intent could not be inferred.
They further contended that the act reouire]
that the employment should be in the service cf
some "prInce, state, colony, district, or people"
and that there was no prince, state, colony, dis
trct or people in the Island of Cuba, in whose
service she could be employed against the Queen
of Spain--that people" as used in the act. is
generic term, and means unity or body orgar
'zed, and not individuals or persons.
They further contendei that il was not
proved that the Pampcro was in any sense Of TIE
term an armed vessel, or in any manner fitted
out to cruise or commit hostilites no sbips. car
non, ports, grenades, boarding pixies, or other
similar munitions OF naval warfare, having been
found, or proved to have been on board Of her.
That her serv ces or employment was mere
conld acc'ue under such act
Mr. Call, U. 5. attorney, in teply-reviewed tie
various points raised by the defence, and with
much force and tact pressed the condemnation
of the vessel. The cause was submitted 10 TIE
court on "Wednesday, and we learn is still under
Amusement:
On Thnr-day, the case Of Fontane and Pert
against the Pampero for salvage: she having. as
is alleged, run on the Florida Keys on her way
to Jacksonville and having been got off by tie
hoe'Iants. Parties not being prepared. the en-.
was postponed to Tuesday next Mr.. Fraser fr
libellanIs and Messrs. Putnam and Mcintosh
for claimant. Secur and Mr. Call, U. $. attorney,
for The United States.
On Friday the case Of the United States
againstone Cannon and sundry boxes Of ammuni-
ton, saddles, &c seized on board the schooner Of
Capt Thompson, ard charged as being mum.
tons Of war landed from the pampero. came up.
Mr. Gail, U. ). attorney; for the U. A., and Gen.
Feden for the claimant. Col. II. r. Titns. The
libellant' failed to identify the property, ana
the libel was dismissed.