Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-21
A CASE OF OPPRESSION.

low are to be relied on they present case 81 az
grzyated oppression, and, what makes u worse the
of relief is so distant that even the proptest
succor from home will be great while IN Teaching
the sufferers Whatever the nature OF the laws es-
tablished by Holland for the regulation OF her
colonial possessions we presume her colonial courts
to be competent for the trial OF such cases, ana II
competent one would think two acquittals ought to
have discharged the accused strangers Irregular
ties, we know are prone to exist under proconsuar
Governments, and justice, under distant colonial
rule is often found to be deaf as well blind, and
that consideration adds weight to the very circum-
stantial statements copied from the Singapore
Britsh) paper. Having no consul or commercial
agent at present in Java, our Government may have
no official information on the subject of these OPP
pressiye proceedings but we do not doubt that the
newspaper report alone of such case of injustice
will be sufficient to induce immediate inquiry into
it, if it have not already been done. Immediate it
ought to be, for we should suppose that close con-
fnement in Java prison would be to foreigners
life worth years purchase With much Difference,
we should say that this seems clear case for the
application of President PIERoE's Inaugural deca-
ration in regard to the protection of American cit
zens abroad This is assuming the facts to be truly
stated. We might indeed indulge the hope that
they are not so stated in regard to some of the cir
cumstances but the fact of continued incarceration
after the trial and acquittal Of the accused is SO
positive and reiterated that there hardly be q
doubt of it. .ssgse
Case e. Mr. ttosoa, of the american schooner Fl;r:
SINGAPORE FREE PRESS OF MARCH ls
Amongst Java extracts will be found one referring
TO the of Mr. Gibson, the owner of the American
schooner Flirt and his chief mate These persons IT
will be recollected brought to Batavia from Palem
bang far back February, 1852 by one of H. n Ms
steamers accused of having endeavored to ncte the Sui
of Jamb to dsaection towards the Netherland Gov
ernment The court of justice which inquired into the
charge found that there not sufficient grounds for
their further detention butnevertheess they have been
detained prisoners up to the present time They
lately again put upon their trial. the proceedings extend
ing several days. and the public prosecutor demand
iHg the nficon Of the eyerest penalties yet they were
absolved from the guilt imputed to them. 1t
may be thought that they would obtain that liberty
of which the decision of the court virtually found they
had been deprived for upwards of year. but they have
further probation to undergo and have been again re-
manded to prison. until the Supreme Court shall have
passed the in review. As find with courts, at
least with English courts that the greater their author
ty the greater their deliberations the accused may
haps deem themselves fortunate if after two years
they find themselves at last free from the tolls in which
they have been involved by the laws delay" AS SUBJ
refusal of the Dutch Government to permit the appoint
of consus in the Netherlands India possessions of
the protection and assistance which they derive from these
fnctionaries in other it strange
that the attention of the American Government in general
prompt to vndicate the rights of its citizens, has not
been drawn to this CASE and adopted by it for
procuring the release of Mr. Gibson and his mate If they
guilty. it is proper that they should be punished but
it is highly Objectionable that the proceedings against
them should be protracted indefinitely that, even if
ultimately acquitted, the imprisonment they will have
Yln6arn in have haan ntcian
ment for the offence imputed to them The fact that the
regulations of the Dutch Government deprive foreigners
charged with offences in their Indian possessions of the
assistance which they have to in other
tries under similar circumstances ought to render that
Government particularly anxious that justice should be-
administered in such with promptude and mercy
We trust therefore, that may be taken to bring
these exceedingly proracted proceedings against Mr.
Gibson and his fellow prisoner speedy termination,
and should they be found innocent that adequate
pensaton viii be made them for the suerngs and loss
which they have been subjected to. The Government
may not have it in its power to accelerate the action of
the tribunals but if it finds that the prisoners again
and again acquitted mercfuly interpose to arrest
the too exuberant zeal Of its law officers who would seem
determined not to rest satisfied until they have procured
verdict of guilty against the accused We publish the
extract referred to:
The Java Bode of the I'd contains the following para
graph respecting the proceedings against Mr. Gibson the
American citizen, who has been long detained in Gus
tody at Batavia
Yesterday the Court Of Justice here gave judgment
in the affair of Gibson the commander, and Graham,
chief mate, Of the American schooner Fir Both were
accused Of high treason consisting of having melted the
Sultan Of Jambi to rebel against the Dutch Government
through of letter written by the first to that
prince which to be carried by the other but in which
he prevented by the police at Balembang The pub
lie prosecutor demanded that the said should be
exposed beneath the gaows for the space Of hour i'm
prsoned for twelve years in the house of correction and
thereafter condemned perpetual Punishment from the
Neherlsnd India possessions and deprivation of all civil
rights The Court Of Justice, by its sentence, acquitted
these of the charges against Them but ordered
that they should remain in custody until the case had
been reviewed by the Supreme Court Of Justice for Meth
erland India
Another Java paper says:
BY advces from Batavia learn that the long
pending of Capt Gibson, Of the American schooner
Frt charged with high treason terminated the oath
utimo after eight days trial The sentence will be pro-
nounoed in open court Friday, the 9th Of March The
general opinion is that he will be acquitted by the Coun
Gil Of Justice Notwithstanding that tire Fiscal has de-
manded twelve years Imprisonment after standing two
hours under the gallows This last part according to
the Dutch law is considered the punishment after
death"
Mr.. MASON, of Iowa, the newly-appointed Com
missioner of Patents has arrived in Washington and
entered on the duties of his office.
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