The New York herald., 1862-01-26
The Blockade.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.
nor~-o H. VI. nuA.-

Before Hon. Judge Belts.
JAN. 25.-Tne United 81 ate Schooner Jane Campbell
and Cdrgo-This cause was resumed this morning Mr.
Charles Edwards concluded his argument making some
severe comments the of the capture urging
he release Of the vessel and cargo matter justice as
well as law.
Mr. Stewart L. woodford, Assistant United States Dis
'rct Attorney then summed up in behalf Of the govern
ment and the naval captors. He began by remarking
that there not in this cause there had been in
Others any dispute the existence and positive en-
cheney Of the blockade of Beaufort and the North Caro
lima coast The testimony all concurs in demonstrating
alike the vigorous OF that blockade and the
knowledge Of it's existence on the part Of the owner
ter and Of the captured vessel The inquiry herein
thus becomes q single one;-was the voyage of the
schooner Jane Campbell which she captured. un-
deraken with the purpose Of evading and violating this
established blockadeS There can be mo question
Ss:n Ss: 'sas tc,spt,v e nssn. ~ss Illegal nad
capture and necessitate condemnation. Mr.. Wood
ford then remarked upon tho character and rules
well as the Court TO st all tho evidence adduced and by
the aid Of common we'll tho rules of law get
At the real facts unhampered by the exactng require
ments Of the common law courts He asked the Court
TO examine all the circumstances Of this voyage
cordng to these rules Of the prize law feeling
that but conclusion could be reacheda judgment of
condemnation. The first point suggested s where was
this vessel capturedY About miles Beaufort bar
Her ostensbe and declared voyage, according to beth
her papers and her masters oath was for Cuba. The
learned advocate for the vessel viii hardly argue that
Beaufort lay on her route TO Havana Hence sprang the
necessity for excusng her being where she
first excuse made in the claimants Is that the
master knew little Of navigation Of the North Caro-
lima coast and hence ran in this direction because IA
miliar with the Gulf Stream and this coast Such gno-
must have been known to the owner who sailed
with this very master from the same Beaufort for
Liverpool, and still remained board upon this very
voyage. Had qualifications for the alleged voyage to Cuba
been needed the would certainly have been pro-
vided with either mate or master possessing them But
the master just suited for the actual to tho
North Carolina coast The claimants aege Of
weather the Of being where they were. Mr. w.
endeavoed to refute this referring the logbook of
the vessel which, as he argued showed storms which
would so drive them from their He then
ined the suggestion of the masters Illness and
commented tho fact that while the mate who kept the
log had felt his duty to note down that such and
such day the steward had the rheumatism he had not
once mentioned the illness Of the master The sickness
of the master Is fact always put upon the log This
mates careful memory of the stewards aches, coupled
with his unsaorIike fogetfuncss OF his captains Illness
throws, at the least grave suspicion this part Of the
defence But the claimant declares that his vessel was
injured by storm and accident with shattered rigging
and foued centre board that she was compelled 70 seek
trict Attorney again referred TO the log, and argued
from the fact that mention Of these acci-
cur il was after the 10th Of December, when
the log ends. The capture made on the 18th. Ho
eontended that even II these accidents did thus
just before her capture rendering absolutely necessary
for TO seek tho blockadng squadron still they did not
relieve her guilt Her voyage up to that time free
from accidental noted in her log-and to
that time its for Beaufort and not for Havana
II, in her attempted wrong, tempest and mishap befe
her compelling her TO sock, for safety Of life, tho very
port which, to that hour she had sought for ga she
hardly thereby hope for safety from seizure and
domination Mr. woodford next commented on the charac
ter Of her cargo we'll suited to the Carolina trade
ssting Of salt, thread clothes and the like He claimed
that the many adduced each fitted to the point
where excupation needed while they evidenced the
shrswdness and fertility Of the owners mind, also de-
monstratsd the true character Of her voyage He
cuded BY brief roply to Mr.. Edwards comments on
the conduct Of the captors urging that complaints
that matters for tho consideration Of the
proper departments rather than the Court. Mr.. Wood
ford spoke for hour and half and at the conclusion
Of his remarks the Court took the papers and reserved its
decision.