The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-10
THE INTERCEPTED EXPEDITION TO MICA
RAGUA.

The steamer Northern Light, Of the Nicara
qua line, was seized at New York on Monday.
december oath, by the United States authori-
ties, on charge of being engaged in violating
the neutrality laws, by having on board soldiers
and munitions of war destined for Nicarapua
She attempted to escape whilst three United
States officers were on board of her to prevent
her sailing, but was overtaken by two revenue
cutters, and carried back to the CITY. One who
had witnessed her departure says that he saw
some three hundred and fifty "young and able
bodied " men, huddled together upon the up
per deck. They were of all ages, from seven
teen to twenty-five years. the majority clad in
the poorest manner, ragged and dirty, indulg
ing In every variety Of language and in copious
draughts of liquor. Certainly, for persons en-
igrating to a foreign State for the purpose of
exercising industrial avocations, they we're very
poorly supplied, and badly selected Between
them and their friends on shore, continual
conversation and shouting was maintained, in
language OF vague and mystical character.
When the Captain arrived with the Custom
House clearance, the Marshal served upon him
the process Of the United States Circuit Court,
and ordered him not to leave the wharf. He
declared that he knew nothing of the matter /;
and Joseph l.. White, Esq, Agent of tho Tran.
sit Company, said that the vessel could not le
gaily be detained by such warrant, and should
sail promptly at the hour appointed.
subsequently, United States District Attor-
ney McKeon read q despatch from the United
States Attorney Generals office, stating that
the President had authorized Captain Bigelow
to detain any vessel on Mr.. McKeon's advice.
lie was, however, insultingly defed by the pas
sengers, the mob on the wharf, and by Mr..
White HIMSELF and the steamer departed. A
blank shot from the revenue cutter soon at
traeted her attention, however; and a second.
with round shot, taking effect in her rigging,
caused her to stop, and to lower her flag. A
second cutter then arrived, and with the two
she returned to the wharf Mr.. McKeon re-
turned to his office after despatching the cut
ter and found Mr.. Horace +. Clark, counsel for
the Transit Company, who inquired as to the
amount OF bonds that would be taken TO free
the steamer from the libel. The reply was.
No bonds could be taken until he 1.-THE Dis.
trlct Attorney was satisfied that there was no
illegality in the transaction, and rot then with.
out the sanction of the President"
On Tuesday, Messrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt
and Joseph L. White appeared before United
States Commissioner Morton, and gave security
in the sum of 100000 for the steamer "North-
ern Light" whereupon District Attorney Nc
Keen formally released the steamer from the
libel which he had filed the day previous. Cap
tain Tinkelpaugh and Mr.. Fowler, the chief en-.
gineer, were held to bail, the former in $50, 900
and the latter in $4,000. Warrants of arrest
we're issued against Parker II. French, the re-
puted Nicaragua Minister, George B. Hall,
Louis Schlessinger T. B. Farnsworth, Mr.. Dill.
bingham, and Mr.. Male, editor of III Mcard-
quense, charged with setting on foot military
expedition against the State of Nicaragua, with
which the United States are at peace. These
persons were all arrested, except Mr.. Schless-
niger, who made his escape.
Mr.. White subsequently apoogiZed to Mr.
McKeon, and professed to rejoice at what had
been done, stating that there were on board
many desperadoes without tickets of which he
knew nothing at the time of the steamers de-
parture. But the United States officers assert
that, although these people had no tickets,
private arrangement existed between Mr.. Par
ker II. French and Mr.. Joseph l.. White, By
which the former agreed to pay $50 or $25
head for each male passenger to Nicaragua.
The Northern Light" was permitted to sail
for Nicaragua about midnight of Wednesday,
without the men, and under stipulation from
the owners that two deputy marshals shall pro-
coed with her to San Juan, and that if articles
of war are found on board, hiddsa under the
coal, they shall be returned to the United States
under the charge Of those officers Two Gov.
eminent VESSELS accompanied her down the
harbor, to prevent the embarkation of any more
passengers.
In communication to Parker H. French,
December 2lst, the Secretary of State says:
am directed by him the President to
reply to your communication, that he has not
yet seen reasons for establishing diplomatic in
tercourse with the persons who now claim to
exercise political power i'm the State of N;oa
rsgua."
We will here add, firstly, that ample evil
dence is furnished by the New York papers,