New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-02-01
The Philadelphia also brings lOl passengers.


1t will be remembered that at a mass meeting held
in Mobile, few days ago. a resolution was adopted
appointing a committee to prepare charges and
specifications against Commodore Paulding, TO be
forwarded to the Secretary of the Navy. The com
mittee consisted Of Messrs. +. B. Shepard, G. j.
McRae and VIM. F. Cleveland, who have drawn up
and sent to Washington the charges and specifca-
tions below, accompanied by the following note:
To The Hon Secretary Of tlt Nary
SIR Enclosed you will find the proceedings Of the
people of the city of Mobile, in public meeting on
Monday 25th of January, 1885, at which resolutions
were adopted demanding an investigation of the con-
duct of Commodore Hiram Paulding, of the United
States Navy, on the sth of December, 1857, in the
har6or of San Juan del Norte, in Central America.
The committee, for reasons which they do not
deem necessary to state, have to request that the
Hon Secretary will SO constitute the Court which is
to try the said Hiram Pauding, by the appointment
Of equal number of naval officers natives of South
portions of this Union, that exact justice may be
insured without prejudice to this section.
The undersigned now become the prosecutors in
this trial, and have subscribed to the charges and
- ~ - +. B. SHEPARD,
G. J. McRAE,
WIN. F. CLEVELAND.
CHARGE /. Violation of the Constitution Of the
United States.
Specification l. In this, that the said Commodore
Hiram Paulding, on the Sth day OF December, 1851
did invade the territory of the Republic of Nicara-
gua and then and there did capture and make priso-
ners OF certain persons organized military force
and claiming TO be the army of said Republic thereby
committing act of without the consent OF the
Congress Of the United States.
Specification 2. That the said Commodore Hiram
Paulding of the United States Navy, did on the day
and date aforesaid, seize and unlawully retain the
commissary, quartermaster, ordnance, medical and
other stores belonging to said military force, and
treat them in all respects prizes of and thiI
without the sanction or authority of the Congress
| the United States
| CHARGE 2. Conduct unbecoming an officer and
| gentleman.
Specification l. That the said Commodore Hiram
Paulding, of the United States Navy, demanded the
surrender of said military force in manner and Ian
gnage derogatory to the character of officer ant
| gentleman.
Specification 2. That after said surrender of sait
military force to his orders, guard was for seye
raj hours placed over the property within the encamp
ment lately occupied by said military force and whel
plumber and intoxicated state, to prevent the robber
aad plundering OF said property by sailors and othe
persons.
Specification g. That the said Captain H. Pault
ing, Of the United States Navy did, after the unlav
u seizure OF said property assume to dispose of it
it were his own, and this without having it subjecte
to the judgment OF prize court of competent juri
diction.
Specification L. That after the surrender of sal
military force and the seizure of its property the sal
Com. II. Pauding, of the United States Navy, wro
several dispatches to the Hon. the Secretary of I'll
Navy of the United States in which he used langual
and epthets derogatory to him as gentleman an
unworthy of an officer of the United States Navy
and also in a b0astful and unOffcer-like manner a
sumed to himself and command the credit of skill az
courage in the execution Of the unlawful act of Il
Sth of December.
CHARGE s. Conduct unworthy of an Americs
J citizen.
Specification /. That the said Com H. Pauldin
Of the United States Navy did, in the presence Of
l itch
said military force, and by the manner in which d
act was done well by the act ITSELF afforded
pretext for the future interference of Great Britain
/ Central America, thus eontrayening the declar
, policy OF the American people.
Specification q That while in the act of forciI
said surrender and making said seizure he receiv
and permitted to remain on board his flagship for Il
time beng-the United States steamer Fulton-CaI
Ornmany, and other officers of H. B. NJ. naval force
Specification 3. The conduct of said Hiram Pat
ding in presence OF the English, the old enemies
the American Union and opponents of slavery, as
exists in the Southern portion of said Union, al
while under the guns Of the British forces in the hs
J, Dor of San Juan, made exhibition entirely at va
anee with the conduct of other officers OF the Anne
= can Navy on former occasions.
Speci ifeation H. That the said Hiram Paulding
the United States Navy, committed an unpardonat
assault the character of the service in which he
- engaged, when he proclaimed to the world throu
y the Secretary of the Navy and President Bnchana
that Gen. William Walker and his command we
II pratcal, and Immediately thereafter received 81
Walker into bis cabin and at his table, aud persona
placed the pirate on his parole of honor.