Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-19
The Chesapeake Case.


Ia another column Wil be found an account Of the
escape of Captain D. U. B.ziIa. 4th TeIGSRegiment
b. jumping from the cars while being conveyed from
Johnson's Island to Point Lookout. Captain B. has
reached this city in safety and has furnished with
copy of the Morning Telegraph, published at 81. john
n. B., of the 18th March, containing the judgment o.
Justice Richie in the of the cApto of The steamer
Chesapeake The great length the decision prevents
our presenting it to our readers at this time.
Il will be remembered that in December last tie
steamer Chesapeake, while on its way from New York
to Portland was seized by party Of fifteen Coniede
rates Who board passengers and who having
oVerpuwered the crew, compelled, by want Of
coal to seek barber within the British provinoss-
While nearing the port OF ST. John, and within British
waters the csptors oVerhAuled by United States
vessel and taken prisoners into that port. Here
disturbance occurred between the United States Ccerp
the local police and the populace, which resulted in the
rescue and escape of the Coniederates. Subsequently
three of the ConfedeTass arrested and put in jail
charged with felony and piracy, at the instance of the
United States Consul. 1t was upon an application to
have their liberty restored TO them under the privilege
of the writ of hG5saS corpus that the judgment of JUS
tce Rtehie, favorable to the application, was passed
This Is one of the ablest as well as most important
judgments ever rendered by Judge in this Province
Is admitted all hands, and that it is strictly impair
{ al can be seen by the sad havoc which His Honor
makes OF the proceedings OF all the officers OF Govern
msnt and Justice concerned IN IT, From His Exceency
down to the Police Magistrate, tripping up the Ameri-
eau Consul en- PEASANT, AID as if Tor amusement His
Honor shows nearly every step taken by all thtse
officials has been Improperly taken The United States
Government had no right to require the prisoners to be
l.. ii. ~
with authority make the demand the Requsition to
the LeutsI AIT Governor illegally framed; the
Lieutenant Governor had right to entertain the Ie
QUESTION HIS Excelencys Warrant was "bad; the
the proceedings before The Police Magistrate from the
moment Of receiving the hst deposition made BY Cap
tain WletS until the hour the sent to priscr
both events incusive, we're, NTH slight exceptions it,
regulAr-in short tbs whole affair was mass of blum
deIs from beginning TO end. THE legal gentle man"
Who draws up HIS ExcellenCYs law papers must, by
this time, feel somewhat chagrned rpresentat
OF the United States Government, doubt, expe
riences sensation of deep modification he reflects
upon the pondArous blow aimed at his lofty pretensions
while Mr.. Gilbert chewing alernatey the cud Of sweet
and bitter fancy, consoles himself with the thought that
if he has erred II was in excellent company.
There is one feature in this judgment which, we trust
the reckless among will lay TO heart that Is the
emphasis which the learned Judge places upon the i'm
proper conduct of those who engage in wnlke demon
STATIONS against nation With which at peace
thity thousand in all 10 arms in the Federal
army wsgng war upon the Southern Conf deracy whom
Great Britain has recognized belligerent power,
But this fact forms for those who left this
port to prey upon the shipping Of the Federal States
and then returned here expecting 10 receive the sympa
thy CT their conntrymeE their If these paIes
desire to engage in Warike ope atoms agains. the
Northern aes let them at once go South where they
will hnd field large enough to satisfy the most vault
log ambition. But, if they wish to remain in New
Brunswick, they must obey our laws, all other loyal
subjects do. At present. Messrs leoins, Mckinney aud
Seey may to feel dread Of being Yankee
land 20 stand their trial for Piracy but they must
pos that the viola ion OF or own laws the viola ion at
least of the Foreign Enlistment Act is go unpublished
Two ofthe three respectable but the
third ar Is destined to to bad end. For Gu,
part cannot understand why he has not already
Te-arresed in conformity wi Imperial instructions
since he has been several times in the city within
the las. few days We advise this party if be wishes
to save himself from the Penitentiary to leave the
country as soon as possible and If the other sre
really earnest in the desire to the Southern Con-
federacy in arms they had better 10 the direction
Of the SOuh iastGater Wenow offer no opinion as TO
whether their seizure of the chesapeake was in &C
cordance with the laws Of not; but simIl y
say that their zeal fer the South exceeds their love
iSr rev Brunswick they ought to make their home in
the former caantry, $3.50. T. 800. rr i
Is Is said that the man Mcdonald, New Yorker
who originated the Chesapeake" capture has been az
rested Maine, but We fear the news is too good to be
true. We should heartily Dice to know that the au
thor Of this trouble was in the hands of those amonu
whom he learned such tricks and stratagems to be-
deslt with as they see 6t.
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