New-York daily tribune., 1866-03-31
THE CHHLIAN PRIvATEER.
Gsvsrnnsns-Ferfei,ur OF the Vessel
Claimed-Interesting Points OF Law
Fsr,her Testimony-C Case Adjourned
. Honday,

The case Of the alleged Chilian prvateer Me-
feor up in the United States District Court be-
fore Judge Belts. yesterday.
Mr. Sidney Webster opened this behalf Of
Che Government reviewing at length the course
Of legislation to MAINTAIN the neutrality Of our Govern.
nent and to enforce the discharge Of its duties an
neutral, from 1894 down.
He read specially the act Of 1879 against which il
was claimed the Meteor had offended. He claimed
that this section forfeited and intended 10 forfeit
the vessel where any one owners or Others fitted 1t
out for the purpose OF cruising against nation with
which the United States were at peace. 1t was not
necessary that the vessel should be armed before seizures
its words were fitting out or rming in the disuncton
not conjunction, and quoted in support of his
views These rules might be harsh but they were law.
aud the remedy was not an appeal 70 the Court but 20
the Congress Further. we had had sad experience in
fhe Anglo Rebel cruisers of the worthessness Of any
law merely preventing the arring Of the vessel The
only thing necessary 10 forfeit her fitting out Of
the vessel with the intent that she should act as
cruiser either armed OF unarmed in the between
Spain and Chill Whether she was armed or not was
circumstance only TO be considered by the Court in
considering the question Of intent
he Illustrated the case Of various slave cases
Happily for the honor OF the United States there were
1ew cases arising under this third section OF the men,
0ay act but those the counsel quoted and discussed
He compared the English foreign enlistment law with
our oWp and discussed at length the case Of the
Alexandra az Illustrating that difference. quoting Mr.
Adsmss letters on the remarkable rulings Of the Judge
IN that cause and argued that the severe terms In
which those rulings had been spoken Of had been called
out BY the effort 70 interpoiae the idea Of armne as
0ecessary to the fitting out and being equivalent 10 IL
And fnrtber that ii impossible TO cite that case as
authority IL being doubtful what had been decided on
ehe trial and on motion for trial the Court having
been divided. s
There had been no expression Of sympathy in these pro-
ceedngs against the Meteor but merely effort tof
she duf,es OF the United States neutral vessel The
evidence be believed Of the furnishing and equipping Of
tbs vessel with the intent that she should be used S
cruising against the Government of Spain would be
conclusive
willisrn Jarvis was called and sworn and testified
] am deputy attached to the Marshals Office uncer
his orders arrested the steamer Meteor on the 2d of
January; she then getting ready 10 20 10 sea;
Mr. Robert b. Forbes on b0kd her when arrested
her; Mr. Forbes said he was sorry he had missed his
"trip 70 the Earrows.
To Mr.. Evsrts-Ths Meteor lay close to the Wall.st
5erry; don't know for how long previous to my at
taching her; went with me 20 show the ship;
1r. Craig told mo where she
Re-d'rect-I went on board at 70 80 TO D. m; the
crew we're oil on board; steam was up and they
tatng IN the chains ready 20 haul her out Of the dock
Ihomss III. Sease was next called and testified: an
IN Assistant Deputy. Marshal; have been on board
she Meteor a. shipkeeper; i know the captain and
mate Of the vessel since have been In possession the
captain has asked leave 10 withdraw ammunition from
the ship.
(hr Evarts objected to any declarations Of tie cap
tsio since the stizare).
q Did you sse any arms ammunition on board
a. saw 81 boxes Of shot; did not know there were
any Ards Oh board
Cfbe Court having sfterward ruled that the captain
"s'sneph mEls bs aenjt.eD ID" w'iless e0ntin. !