The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-20
A Growing uufraxt,

The Charleston Courier, of Saturday last,
gives The following account OF the captu re of
the brig Sarah Saffron Wilmington for
Liyerpooi-by the L. ). steam trigate Wa
bash. Captain Samuel Mercer:
The brig = 'rah Starr was and is the pro-
perty OF a British subject, by fair purchase tor
good ConsIdera ton, and with a sale concluded
tties led and executed throughout with strict
ana scfupulous compliance with ali the laws
II the case. She is, anc was, by all possible
Constructions OF laW-AmeriCa al and British
British vessel, and without title of inter
sst or claim on ner in any other owner than il
British supiect.
She WAS sailing under provisional register
granted according to law, and IS by law q
British vessel, the property of British sub
rect, and had all papers Oh board at the time
# her capture required by the Mere hants'
shipping Act OF lsJI.
The papers relating to the transfer have
4esn examined since her capture by an attor-
Gey III this city, and have been found legal
anu correct In every particular.
The owner has received the following report
0t the capture OF the vessel
" We were towed over the bar at smith vile
by ina Stsam-tug Equator, at SIN A. NJ. on
SATURDAY, the "a of August ana when ABOUT
twenty Giles from the Bar We're fallen III
With aad brought TO by gun from the L. ).
steam frlgate Naoasn, at four l.. M. and
boarded by Az officer and papers partially
AHMED. The captain aud paper were then
tbree hours ana a hall, The captain was ia
formed that his vessel was seized, and prize
crew placed on board OF her, retaining the
cook and Il boy. After sCIAa persuasion the
captain was allowed 10 remain OF board lis
vessel.
The frigate, when at Il distance hoisted
BRUSH CUlors, and we in re- ponse holsted our
ensisn, the BRUSH CUlors, when very shortly
sitter the lrgate pulled down the British and
ho.sted The United States ensign. L asked the
captain OF The irlgate why he hOIs ed English
colOrs He SAID II was 10 uec0y US OFT shOTe,
fearing we might 20 back. ! repIie:, that
Il there had neen the whole United States
~ uadrUn lii The immediate vicinity OF the bar
/ should have had no hesitation IL going out,
rs l did not know, or Tor one moment THINK,
tnat q British vessel was Liable 10 SECURE by
an American !naEot- war when engaged III
legitimate trade.
The captain OF the fIigate ordered the
prize crew 10 take the vessel 10 New YORK
with discretionary power to STOP 1T Hampton
RoacS.
The frigate the same night al Il O'Clock
ran square on 10 Frying Pan ShoAis, and IL
took tH0 hours TO get Gor oil and clear II
there had been much sea on, she would have
been total wreck IL a very short time. /
wish, II possible, TO prevent any part OF the
cargo beng disposed OF Iii the United States,
ana would sooner cell il Ut one halt the price
II Europe, under the circumstances. Some
Of the officers OF the trigace Judge she was 100
tar off shore 10 come under the liability OF
seizure IL consequence OF biock-de, ana 1old
the captain thai ne ought not 70 nave logged
her 10 ne did ii such and such latitude and
Longitude on the high seas"
We beg the reader 70 review carefully what
has been stated above. de Will scarcely be-
heye, on one or on haSty readIug, that cap
tain of The L. ). Navy, claiming allegiance
~ and Lawrence ana Decatur, and SINCE their
uaY, by Tatuall ana lAgranam and Hart
steue--a captain OF senior rank, near tho head
ct the active list OF the L. :. Navy, and com
II, Of IN # II
steamers il thar servlce-lt Will scarcely be
believed, we say. even on 4 second aGd i care
TAI parusal, that uch u commander has cone
what IS here reported.
10 meet this surprise and she ptiGisrn, we
rclteIate our assurance and assertion.
The Sarah Starr, although delayed some
days by sickness Of "A officer, sal led from and
out of the port OF Wilmington. n q duly
and lawfully cleared and IeyUltei, IS above
suited, or The thirteenth day Of the fifteen
days OF grace allowed from the notice OF
blockade, which notice was given on The 10Th
July.
The evidence is painfully overwhelming
that Samuel Mercer, T. 5. n, HIS done what
we considered impossi5le-he has added 4 new
stigma TO g fiag which LinC0lIism had nearly
made al abomiuatlon and an offence 10 all
GhTistendom.
While pretending exclusive and exalted al
lagiance 10 the United States nag, and while
in command OF Il large steamer, ayowedly fer
asserting and protecting that flag, he, Samuel
Mercer, cowGrdly and traudu identity, and era
yenly usurped and abused the British flag to
decoy merchant brig OF some 27U tons
After valIantly capturing this merchant
brig, which was and will be proved 10 have
been genuine British brig, IN all incidents,
conditions and privileges, and entitled to pas
sage even according 10 Lincoln laws OF block
3da-atter achieving this valiant feat Samuel
Mercer, either directly or indirectly, by his
own hand or by dictation to some subordinate,
fraudnlently altered the record, az 10 en-
Ias IA of ja4,A st- bn
time Of capture.
For what purpose the double ou,cage was
com fuitted, we need not inquire tt present
That the facts are as We have stated them,
neither more nor less is just as true as it is
that LiucOlnism is inCom panbie with decency
and gentilIty as with American Repub lican-
ism-that Samuel NJ arcer was once an orphan
boy, tostered and nourished, and educated IN
this good city Of Charleston, and that
Samuel Mercer is now the synonym Of in
temy.