The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-21
CAPT. GIBsON'S CASE.

A friend has sent US from Europe the annex
ed translation of an article in PEcho Uni
UersGt of the Hague, the only paper in Holland
published in the French language. We are
sorry to learn that the Dutch Government
manfests no disposition to repair the Injuries
inflicted On Capt. Gibson by their Indian Bata-
Wan authorities. 1t is stated that the Govern
or General of Dutch India took an unfair ad-
vantage of certain papers of Capt Gibson
which fell into his hands, but that Capt Gibson
is unwilling to initiate that example by avail
ing himself of the important documents which
were by mistake placed in his possession: he
thinks his case strong enough without any such
resort He supposed the documents had been
advisedly transmitted to him, and he made the
disposition of them as mentioned.
From rEcho Universal ttho Hague.) Aug. %, 1854.
Some statements having appeared in certain
journals (Drtcb) in relation to the sojourn of
the American Capt. Gibson in the Netherlands
we believe it is in our power to complete or
rather to rectify those statements by some ad-
ditional particulars, which ought to be upques-
toned in view Of the source from whence they
emanate. 1t is known that Mr.. Gibson was
declared guilty of high treason by tribunal
In Dutch India, in consequence of certain rela-
tons with the Sultan of Jsmbee prince of the
Island Of Sumatra and condemned to twelve
years. Imprisonment
During his preliminary incarceration land 8
few days previous TO the time fixed for the car
rying of his sentence into execution) be succeed
cd. in escaping, disguised as Dutch officer;
ship reccived him on board, and after time
ne returned to bis compatriots of South Caro-
lima. The American press was filed with the
account of his adventures and even meetings
were held to hear from his own mouth some
e L. -, St,o II
ago, and from oil parties there arose general
demand for redress Of his wrongs" In the
month of June last the Washington rress pro-
mulgated some of the particulars Of cores
pondence between the Federal Government
and that of the Netherlands; and this an
nouncement was accompanied in one by re-
port of a numerous meeting that lad taken
place. lat Pendleton, S. Cd which, after listen
ing with eager attention to a discourse deliver
cd by MIR. Gibson, voted unanimously series
of resolutions strongly sustaining his reclama-
ticn for damages through the General Govern
mont, and expressing at the same time the
most energetic Indignation that dishonOr should
have been cast upon the American flag in tho
person of South Carolinian.D
Four weeks had barely elapsed since the
time of that meeting, when Capt. Gibson ar
rived at the Hague as special agent of bis Gov
eminent, and bearing dispatches from the Cab
met at Washington to the United States Charge
dAfaires. Mr.. Belmont Immediately demand
ed of this Government one hundred thousand
dollars (25O, 900 forins) to be paid to Mr. Glib
BON; and, furthermore, the restitution of GER
tain private articles, documents, and so forth,
which had been voluntarily given up by the
American Captain to the authorities at Bata-
via. MIR. Belmont laid additional stress upon
his demand, in view of the fact that the Judi
ciary is not Independent in Netherlands India,
as the Government can dismiss or change the
judges at pleasure; also, viewing the proceed
ings of the case, it was evident that tho Court
at Batavia had been strongly il fuenced by the
Executive; and, furthermore, that Mr.. Gibson
had constantly denied, and continues to deny,
that no was the author of the document upon
which the charge against him was founded,
this document being s1etter written in the
high Malay and in Arabic characters, which
Mr.. Gibson sfhrms not to have known at the
time of the date of the letter, nor did he order
it to be written.
This Government, through Mr.. Van Hall,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs opposed the
demand for indemnity, but expressed willing
ness to restore the papers and personal proper
ty of Mr.. Gibson. He received in consequence,
through the channel of the American Legation,
q package of papers; but, instead of his own
private documents the package contained all
the original pieces connected with his case, in
GLIDING the famous reasonable letter " upon
which the charge was founded; ALSO reports