New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-20

Conway, of the Liverpool packet-ship Switzerland
CHARGED with rape by Jane Haggard, one Of his
emgrant passengers on recent trip, seem 10 de-
mand the especial attention of the commercial
public. We have nothing to say as TO the credl'
bility of the accuser or the cupability OF the &C.
cused. so far as any conflict of testimony exists:
We confne our structures to the state OF facts al
uitted to exist BY the defense. Here is an Amerl-
can captain, habituaIy employed in the transporta-
ton of emigrant passengers, who has hardiy SET
sail with large humber of them from LlverpOOi
before he proceeds to select the most attractive
young weman from the Storage and, with no more
ceremony than butcher would employ in selecting
lamb from his flock for the shambles, transfers
her to his cabin and bis BERTH which she shares
with him through the voyage. We have put en-
tirely out ofthe question her sworn testimony that
this was effected by violence and Outrsge-we do
not care even to insist on the truth of her state
ment that the criminal intercourse which
commenced in violation was continued by means
of repeated and solemn asseveratOns that
he would marry her SO soon as they should reach
their port-we rest on the undenied and undenlabe
fact that the guilty intercourse was matter OF
conspicuous notoriety throughout the ship; and we
ask the rejecting to consider these questions
l. Is it at all probable in view of all the clrcum'
stances. that this was the first, the fifth, or even
The twentieth like ofense against law, morality, and
public decency on the part of this captain 2. Would
any captain be likely to commit himself 80 openly
publicly, in the eyes of his crew and passengers IL
he did not know, or at least suppose, that men
occupying bis position were in the habit of taking
similar liberties with their unprotected female
passenaers? g. What must be the influence OF such
conduct in the captain the behavior of his mates
and seamen toward female passengers OF lower
grade of intellect and education than Jane aggard'
a. What must be its influence on the department Of
the male passeDgers-often depraved and reckless
mep-toward the young women compelled to live
and sleep in the same crowded steeragei And ..
What must be the moral character of the owners
and cbarterers of passenger ships who employ such
captains as this Conway to command them'
A very great improvement has recently been
wrought in the reception and treatment of emf
grant passengers on reaching this port. So signal
is the reform effected by the Emgrant Commission
and the Castle Garden depot that New-YOrk,
which till recently was the worst place at which
an immigrant could be landed on the American
coast, is low the best. The Castle Garden depot
has saved tens Of thousands of immigrants from s.
TO $50 each, which but for it would have been
wrested from them BY the runners, strikers and
groRsbop boarding houses which still disgrace the
First Ward; ithss saved thousands ofyOung women
from outrage, seduction, and life Of shame it has
saved to industry, respectability and usefulness
thousands of men who in its absence would have
been lurei away into q course beginning in de-
bauchery and robbery and ending in villainy and
infamy. But it is not enough to preserve immi.
grants from robbery and ruin after they shall have
landed; they must be protected also against ruin
On shipboard. The captain of an emigrant ship is
the natural guardian and protector Of the fendless
young women committed to his charge; let law
be promptly enacted to punish every fragrant
breach Of this grave trust as felony.