Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-15
TR,aI oF TuE PBIvATEERsuAN'
OPINIONS or TIE FEDERAL JUDGES ANo I'l
VERDICT.

TRIAL. oF TuE PIsIyATEERsuAN'
OPINIONS or TIE FEDERAL JUDGES ANo TUE
VERDICT.
The case of Wm. smith, charged with the
crime OF piracy on the high seas alleged 10
have been committed while cruising under letters
of Inaruue issued Dv authority of the Contede-
rate Statas. was brought to a close in The United
states orcuif court OF Philspepha, on the 2''n
ulumo
| The court room Was deusaIv crowded. lt being
/ understood that the Jury would receive insUnt-
/ iions rom the Judges Judgr Grler addressed
( the jury and said The defendant, Wln.
/ smith. whom vou have in charge. islndicted 10,
| the crime Of piracy. LThs court then proceeded
TO definition of the crime, so as 20 enable ;he
4 iury 90 apply the testimony to the case. &c..
! Ii rs briefly defined AS a robbery on the higu
sea Is Wheaton I53D As the sea belongs TO
no nation. but TO all nations, and as me onenSe
/ Is usual lv committed without The particular lhu-
niaip, jurisdiction of any nation 1t IS an otfense
! aUaiu,t the law OF nations, and may be punished
/ bv aDvpat-oa whether committed by natives OF
1 fIreigncr-. Pirates or robbers on the ocean are
eallrl " i5sts, blsHaat geaer's.' But every ma
/ ION has The CIeuse and the punishment denIlsd
/ bg their own municipal laws.
Of the several acts Of Congress on TINS sub
( 7cf r.e need only refer TO the third section Of
-ha net of the 18th of Nay, 1870, as the one
"a hith defines the oH5use as charged in the IN
1.s..-paur Be- Is as follows fC6Uu here read
~. .a.+iou1
Fyr-t. the ofieuse is robbery crime defined
E.. t ,-1-l.lau law as atba f.loni0us and violent
-el-n4 ar amy money or goods from the person
ur another. .aIs putting him no fear
The epltl=t tgiguious has reference to the in
tsutiou. which must 5r amino f5raadi,' for the
'"As' -t.-,.... .-..-1. -;.f,,,.,
Ao .'o, .-o ~,. ',,l,Is3
a7e "a ''l''' O' 'ii "-C '.' 1.,-
SuSH'--9 pa, -'o.l .,,-,l Cot
'S- 'o- io"2,'5 - Iii Ngr ,osl
~ ios''"'', az ~ ~ ,..gz,,, ,ro-
'.g @ NM " .-,f-, p, ~, -,.l,s-
.1' ny -t-iI r-,i.7s ,r ea-+ia IN tbe tieli
a.''u -, d, ,..sssI and -+s },3iro >
{ ''' =. .Ts
t> aglArI lH ,D5 az ..-,-.,,;.-.l .., ,l.s
4..'' 'uS
aN' ~, -,.-;-,-,... g,.i;..l, J ras,I NOT
''' o'i'' .-. ~, ~ ,.l snr,ea-s
e., ..t.I..l..f In f,r- Fl NJ 80 rest
n .,-- ---,rl eel ,,f defendant gss-s-
! e- ia -. ..-, +, .,,,,,.;cri-r
'' .- .' 'l - at-. ,t,.,..- ,.r,.,ar+,- f,sr.
- ,.I. Fl. IL .-.-..-..- 4Ifs bi5,, seas vet K
.I' '''..i ~. - e., r,rosac,,tiou
'o No'-' So -, I,qr-ons arf-
{ ing under 74ch authority are nor 5l-ly q" 'i.'.
and cannot be- punished as suen .i7 IS '1','o.
true Tor plracy hs-s been oenneG oP',''-,'--
ol or near ile sea Wl'9oH. aS'n..,t i..., -Ai
prince or State. 90 Iian Aoi. i''i-
Those having sael s-iLaoIl5F are I'A,1t a-
enemies o. aa G41I-5 7-;,.s tbnTIol
'I ols- "'i- ii.-' a., -. '.a-,-.lir,o. p,
.'Iz as ''' l,-i4 M, he trests :. pi-
'l i'e'.'''' 'l,1ll'' 80 ..,,.I,., cor,r5ss.,,
.a' "'2 ~ -. .i,'. .-o,-.r,,nlsr,t bad
.-'. 'l's'' .l'ror-ic5lrad 70 h. states IN
-. '-,. ---.;on. F},,r Fl does nor fol-
.e5 - -.r -,,sri-,.o~s WHO NAV
l'" '.1 ..- h.. ,,,,-r6.s ,f rebeliior, ar
49,. -...-.,-,,;,,rt ~, ,,,,-a,pnsut of
.f..t. -, o;tiz.,- ar sybiec-s
t....7,s 5.., fagfs a seuagat. uu3 independent
.,,.-,.f..- .ba y-4st f,r5ilv al The sovereign
~t,-as
sre.as..,r r.b..lfiau NAV be termed d Ieso.
ir,.,-,. 1,l. ,ut1 # has become such, it has uo
,.,gf,, -, b. -..srz.al .ss 2 member 0i the tam
srsrso ~, ri-rf, or rpiov the privileges.
,.,,,et71ef,t 10 .,.grFs-,lltv. HNhcu civil naf
,,.~,. \, n f,r.i.t rafiau. ar jn our own. and
80, ,..,. ,,s~.f... ,r,ft.r tl,a oIi rsfsl}ishetI
..,,...,,..., ana .,+z-ts iis.If fpt8 a distinct
-,.,rsrnr,sgt H. raeris ID the United States
must view such contested government as ID is
viewed bv the legislative and executive depart
fpegfs of the government Of the United siaEes
E,verg- Government is bound, by the law o. sed
presergsfiou. to suppress usuTerJiou, and the
fact that BE number aud power OF tie insurgents
WAY 5e eIaat as TO carry Vn a eiFA "aI
against t1e-l legitimate sovereign 'lA NOT en-
title them 20 DE eousLaeIea Slale' Inc 'so'
that eYh war ezists i'' ,3e purpose or ny
pressing a reDellion' Is Gohei09i.s eFi'eille 'nat
5he goYernmeht Q! the tlitea 7'sles 's;s 70
acknoW.adse 'HeH Ii2l' % 1e oolal0I-sl =
execute rlie laws o.. tic United States, eau view
those ia rebellion against them in no other light
than traitors t0 their country and those who
assume bv thcir authority a right TO pmndsr The
Dropertv OF our citizens on tie high seas a.
nlr..te, .ll robbers
,ti.l. f. ,,sl..s.-y, M, the nresapt ,o-
49,. -. ,,.5,. -e-,,,s III ,,,,.gti,rs
L:F -. ~, -, mn r. {isCl,ssior -
.t.-.-. ~ ...---.5 .- ~ rsf1f.. r.. so,,Iis,5.
5 -Is,-,-.l-s -+, ,3-,l r, snec,,Isfi1,o tIeo-.ts
- .5f;+;.sT 41,.,s,,rp.s On 49,. Inns sfitrtiopal
ann, -lrt;53 ~ This one nation or M arv
of the States composing It, to DESTROY the Con
stitutiou and Union because they are dispieas,d
at the result OF an election. The right to seeed.
is not to be found in the Constitution, either IN
its letter or its spirit If so, il world be fel0 ID
So Il is o government and constitution ordained
bv the people of the whole United STATES for all
time. not a mere temporary compact of indepeud-
euce and sovereign c0nfederacies.
Judge the tree by its fruits, and we see the re-
suits OF his miserable political heresy in the
rrasert situation &. err country we need not