New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-29
MEETING OF THE LAW INSTITUTE.

INVESTIGATION INTO TIE CONDUCT OF THE
CREW OF THE ARCTIC.
A meeting of the Law Institute was held yesterday
morning at the rooms Of the Law Library. JosEPH
BLUNT was elected President pro tenn. After the
reading of the minutes and the ballotings for new
members,
Mr. BLUNT said. That in relation to the loss OF the
Arctic, be considered some action should be taken,
the part of this body with reference TO the alleged
misconduct of the crew on that occasion. A great
deal Of feeling had been excited in tue public
mind throughout 4he whole country on this sub.
ject, aud sDce that time another incident Of ship
wreck resulting in the loss Of several hundred lives
almost within sight of NewYork had occurred
which he thought rendered il still more imperative
that action should be taken for the security Of
passengers Oh sea-voyages. He did not think that
the Board Of Underwriters could be relied upon in
this matter Ii did seem 10 be their duty TO look
after "those that persisted in the CUTTER Their
province seemed to appertain more to the preserya
ton of the property and be therefore thought that it
peculiarly became this body to cay that legal inves
eeton should be had with regard to the conduct Of
the sailors on board of that vessel. He had been
Informed by an officer of the Navy, who came on
board of the Europa when she brought portion OF the
passengers and crew who were rescued from the Arc
tic that he convinced from the information that
he received that deliberate plan formed TO lower
one end of of the boats partly down for the pur
pose Of splitting out the women who placed in it
BY Capt Luce in order that there might be room for
the crew. Now if that were the case, there was no
question but that the United States Court had
right to investigate this matter Ii wac very clear
thai the first port into which persons after hav
il committed crime at sea had jurisdiction over the
parties II this al all true, there were grounds
Ter investg ation of the highest weight. The pltiful
excuse alleged by part of the crew-that their lives
were as dear TO them as anothers-w0uld justify any
suspicons of such mon. They were bound to remlin
at their posts. Where courage was necessary in the
| performance of duty cowardice was crime. 1t
| not only moral il was legal crime. soldier hy
ing from his post might be legally put to death If
Dittict Attorney should shrink from the performance
| of bis duty frcm fear of death he was i'm
| peachable and if convicted, was forever dis
qualified from all Offices of honor or profit.
These sailors and officers were bound to peril their
lives if necessary for the safety OF t9ese on BOARD
II he'd been decided where sailors combined together
for the purpose Of throwing over passengers from an
overloaded boat, the sailor was bound TO peru
his life for the preservation of passengers IN greater
| decree than passengers were for one another, ana
n ey were punished by Imprisonment Ii did seem to
| him that there was another ground on which they
| might be made amenable. BY one OF the United
States statutes passed IN lS2O II was declared InaI
arv person obsiructpg the escape of another from
| wreck was punishable by imprisonment Tor Ten
wears This obstruction might be as ehectua oy
| taking away the boats as IN any other way Az
| all events, inquiry ought TO DC hsai ,hls
onobt 10 be nveste ated and il did seem to him that
il was their place, sworn to the performance
Of their duty in the exercise of their profession, that
il their duty to do something Ia lne mattel e
| therefore thought that it highly desirable that
two or three members of the profession should be ep-
ronted committee TO confer with the United States
district. Attorney, and TO aid him in the invesga-
| tion of this matter, that hereafter men might be
impelled by fear to the discharge of their duty,
,hey could be by no other consideration, that they
might feel that they would rather meet the mercy OF
God in the brave discharge OF their duty, than Inc
iustice of man when they basey hrank from its per
| formance He would, therefore, make motion that
a resolution of such import be adopted, and COM
| mttee appointed.
cd ~ a
was mentioned the resolution should lie over till they
| had made their report.
The President understood that a meeting was
held and that Mr.. Butler was Chairman, but nothing
had been Done and time was passing; those who
were 10 be examined as witnesses were dnpersing'
Mr.. DRESSER opposed the subject entirely. Az .ne
former meeting the Bar refused to ac IN rae premises
an the ground that not the duty oil the Bar as
Bar or this Society az o Society, to act as a Com
mittee of Safety He did not think that they were
authorize 10 form Themselves into any such COM
mittee. A., ....;,. os
the Board of Underwriters that he was fully satshed
that nothing could would be done by thel oouy
toward The safety Of passengers. In 1881 oeing
deeply moved at the loss OF the Mexico ana Dr,oi,
he himself took steps toward placing lue o9a's
on both sides Of the Hook. The Underwrtere ior
long time refused 10 have anything to do win tns
business on the ground that their duty was TO attend
only TO saving property. He succeeded IN getting
.ubscrintiops from them only after stating tha' II
tbey would not subscribe be would 20 TO the women
Of New. York, get from them the amount neeessai,,
ord then ppbsh the refusal of the Underwriters 10
cnnt,ibute. Mr.. Blunt spoke OF the inefheeney oil
the life boats furnished by the United States. oHs
NJ them he said had upset three times ia gong "
=. xbile n was welt known that lite-boat pro-
rcrly constructed could not upset no ms'ter now
heavy the sea might be. -, ,o.o,u,ior
MIR TRACY was decidedly in favor Of the resos,oG
bpt he Thought il would appear IN stronger shape
=" i"U motion to postpone negstived. s,s
A member OF the Bar, whose name we di ia, NOT
learn said that he perfectly sgreed wSa ~ tno
sbonld investigate this matter. II ha. Ian now LOT
two months and NOT the slightest motion had oees
made until now. ...-o-oa :, tina
Other members expressed Their coneu,,ea'T ,s..sd
views Of the President and the resolution was r.
Messrs Joseph Blunt Hiram Ketchum ana "a, -,
Van Worst were appointed COMMITTEES 70 t Jva'i -
with the U. S. Dstrict-Attorney, and 70 ala nin ~
the investigation Of this matter.