Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-12
L. Il. SHEPARD.
G. j. MCRAE.
VIM. +. CLEVELAND.
w on, TILL NArv

Charges and specifications preferred against Hiram
Padding, Commodore Of the United States Nary byI
the citizens Of Mobile IN meeting assembled on the 25th
day Of January 1858:
CHARGE l. Violation of the constitution of the Uni
ted States
Specification l. In this that the said Commodore
Hiram Paulding the 9Th day of December, 1851 did
invade the territory of the republic of Nicaragua and
then and there did capture and make prisoners 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
Pauldng of the United States navy, did, on the day
and date aforesaid, SEIZE and unlawfuy detan the
msSary, quartermaster ordnance medical, and other
stores belonging to said military force and then treat
them in all respects prizes Of war-and this without
the sanction or authority of the Congress of the United
States
CHARGE 2 Conduct unbecoming an officer and gen
teman.
Specification l. That the said Commodore Hiram
Pauldng Of the United States navy demanded the sur
render OF said military force in manner and language
derOgaOry to the character of an officer and gentleman
Specification 2. That, after said surrender of said
military force to his ORDERS guard for several
hours placed over the property within the encampment
lately occupied by said military force and when said
guard placed it Inefficient owing to its number
and intoxicated state to prevent the robbery and plum
derng of said property by sailors and other persons
II.
Of the United States navy did, after the unlawful seiz-
urc OF said property assume to dispose of
his Own-and this without having it subjected to the
Judgment of prize court of competent jurisdiction.
Specification 4. That, after the surrender of said mil
ary force and the seizure of its property the said Com
II. Paulding of the United States navy wrote several
dispatches to the honorable the Secretary of the Navy
OF the United States, in which he used language and ep
lthes derOGatOry to him q gentleman and unworthy
OF an officer of the United States navy and Also in
bOastul and unoficer-ke manner, assumed to himself
and command the credit of skill and courage in the
cUtiOn of the unlawful act of the 9Th December.
CHARGE 3. Conduct unworthy of an American cti
zen.
Specification /. That the said Com H. Paulding, o.
the United States navy did, in the presence of British
naval force make said capture and seizure of said militia
y force, and by the in which the act was done
as well as by the act ITSELF afford preeXt for the FIJI
ture interference of Great Britain in Central America
thus cOntravenng the declared policy Of the American
people.
Specification 2 That while in the act Of forcing saiC
surrender and making said seizure he received and per
mted to remain on board his flagship for the time be
ng-the United States steamer Fulton-Capt. Oma
ny, aud other officers of H. B. M s naval forces.
SPECIFICATION 3. The conduct of said Hiram Paulding
presence of the English the old enemies of the Amer
Union and opponents of slavery as it exists in tn
Southern portion of said Union, and while under tn
guns OF the British forces in the harbor of San Juan
made exhibition entirely at variance with the con
duct OF other officers Of the American navy on forme
occasions.
Specification 4. That the said Hiram Padding Of tn
United States navy, committed an objectionable assault
on the character OF the service in which he is
when he proclaimed to the world through the Secretar
of the Navy and President Buchanan, that Gen. Wi
liam Walker and his command were pratcal, and in
medlatey received said Walker into his cabin and at hi
table, and personally placed the pirate his parole
honor