Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-04
DECISION IN A DoRRITE CASE.

The United States Circuit Court for the District
of Rhode Island were engaged several days last
week in the case of John S. Dispeau vs.. John ~
Ot,tey, This was an action Of trespass and arrest
and out of the troubles in that State in 1872 Mr.
Dispeau an active member Of the Dorr party, and
was arrested in Pawtucket while the State was under
martial law by the defendant acting commander Of
corps Of military stationed at the aboyename place
The complainant was under for the space Of about
an hour not reated, and the only object in bring
ing the suit to have been to test the validity Of the
acts Of the Government while suppressng the Dorrte
movement Of 1872 The has been ten years
court and brought to close Friday by the jury
rendering verdict for the defendant The decision in
the looked for with considerable interest by
partesn the State sm the peculiar of the circum
stances and the tedousness which has marked its pro-
gress since its commencement The verdict was special
and given for the defendant the ground that he acted
in good faith and under orders from his superior officer
The costs in the case which the plaintiff has pay
estimated at S., 800 or $4,000.
The steamer Cherokee, taking the place of the
Crescent CITY, gone into dock for repairs, sailed on
Saturday for Havana The underwriters of the city
of New York refused to insure freight in her the
Government forbade any officer of the navy com
handing her, or any mails to be transported by her
She sailed under the command of Capt. Baxter,
late Of the Eldorado She carefully stripped by the
Executive of every evidence of her nationality before she
left this port that Government might in way be
compromised by the mercenary rashness Of her prope
tors who preferred to take the chances Of being able to
provoke hostities between this Government and SPAIN
with the consequential advantages of such rupture
rather than employ any other person than Mr. Smith
purser of her. XII
The indulgence of this obsnacy the part Of Messrs
Law Co., we need hardly say is rather expensive,
Traders would hardly to send freight in bottom
which they could not get Insurance. and passengers would
not wish to travel in ship from which our Government
had felt compelled to withdraw its protection The Chero-
kee took but passenger Frenchman, for Havana,
and him they engaged to carry free of expense to New
Orleans if they were not permitted to land him.
Now, every one that this, mere mercantile
operation is not profitable. As private merchant liza
Bile to all the contingencies Of trade and equal compe
ton Messrs Law Co. would net have hesitated to dis
pense with the services Of Mr. Smith, to have provided
for him. if necessary, in other way, rather than in
cur loss Of many times his salary in running muck
with the Cuban authorities. But unhappiy Messrs Law
Co. do not come within the category Of merchants upon
whom the natural laws of trade permitted to take
their proper effect Their ships not the fruits of
commercial enterprise; they Government pets The
people, in the penitude Of their benefcence contribute
about $500 year to the support of this line, which
makes its proprietors of ample dividends whether
they have any passengers or not,
Nev York Epepaag Post