The Washington union., 1858-02-06
From the Mobile Register.
LETTER 10 THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

LEI LEN ~ crAhEIAhl Of IHE NAVY.
SIR Enclosed you will find the proceedings of the
people OF the city of Mobile in public meeting Mon
day. 25th of January, 1885, ut which resolutions were
adopted demanding an investigation of the conduct OF
Commodore Hiram Pauding of the United States navy
the sth day of December 1857 in the harbor of San
Juan del Norte, in Central America
The committee, for which they do not deem
necessary to state have to request the honorable Secre
ary will constitute the court which try the said Hi
Paulding by the appointment OF an equal number OF
naval officers natives of southern portions Of this Union
that exact justice may be insured without prejudice to
this section.
The undersigned become the prosecutors In this
trial and have subscribed TO the charges specifications
herein contained.
F.B SHEPARD
c. J. McRAE.
VIM f. CLEVELAND.
TO the Hon SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
of the United States
Capyes and specifications preferred against Mram Puuduo
conaraodre ef The United STATES nsy By The citizens Of Mo-
bile nashng assembled he 25M day of Janurrv 1883
CHARGE l. Violation of the constitution OF the United
States.
SPECIFICATION In this, that the said Commodore Hiram,
Pauldng, on the 9th day of December 1857 did invade
the territory of the republic Of Nicaragua and then and
there did capture and make prisoners certain persons
organized military force and claiming to be the army
OF said republic thereby committing act war with
out the consent of the Congress Of the United States
Specification e. That the said Commodore Hiram Pand-
y, date
aforesaid seize and unlawfny detain the commssary
quartermaster ordnance. medical and other stores be-
longing to said military force and treat them in ali re-
spects as prizes OF warand this without the sanction
authority of the Congress of the United States
CHARGE 2. Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gen
tleman
Specification l. That the said Commodore Hiram Puuld
ing of the United States navy demanded the surrender
OF said military force in manner and language derogatory
to the character Of an officer and gentleman
SPECIFICATION g. That after said surrender of said military
force to his orders guard for hours placed
the property within the encampment lately occupied
by said military force and when said guard WAS placed it
Inefficient owing to s number and intoxicated state
to prevent the robbery and plunderng of said property
by sailors and other persons
SPECIFICATION 3. That the said Captain H Paulding of
the United States navy did, after the unlawful seizure OF
said property to dispose of it if it were his
this without having it subjected the Judgment
of prize court of competent Jurisdiction.
Specification A. That after the surrender of said military
force and the seizure Of its property the said Com
Pauding OF the United States navy wrote several de-
spatches to the honorable the Secretary the Navy
the United States in which he used language and epi-
thets derogatory to him gentleman and unworthy of
officer of the United States navy and also in a
boastful and unoticerlke manner assumed to himself
and command the credit Of skill and courage In the
cuton of the unlawful act Of the sth December.
CHARGE g. Conduct unworthy of an American citizen.
Specification l. That the said Com H. Paulding of the
United States navy did in the presence Of British naval
force make said capture and seizure of said military force
ana ny the manner IN which the act was done, well
by the act itself afforded preext for the future inter
ference of Great Britain in Central America thus contra
vening the declared policy Of the American people.
Specification q That while in the act of forcing said
surrender and making said seizure, he received per
mted to remain on board his flag ship for the time be-
ng--the United States steamer Fulton Capt Ornmany
and other officers of H. b. Ms naval forces
Specification 3. The conduct of said Hiram Pauding in
presence Of the English the old enemies of the American
Union and opponents OF slavery exists in the south
portion Of said union and while under the guns Of
the British forces in the harbor Of San JUAN made an
hibon entirely at variance with the conduct Of other
officers of the American navy on former occasions
Specification A. That the said Hiram Paulding of the
United States navy, committed unpardonabe assault
the character Of the service in which he IL engaged
when he proclaimed to the world through the Secretary
of the Navy and President Buchanan that General Viii
liam Walker and his command piratica and mme-
diaely thereafter received said Walker into his cabin and
at his table and personally placed the pirate his parole
of honor.