Daily National Intelligencer

NEW ORLEANS, SEPT.

The eighteen men composing the crew of the privateer captured by captain Loomis, and who are charged with piracy, were lodged in jail on the day before yesterday. It is reported that several distinguished members of the bar are charged to defend them, and have already taken some steps to get them out by writs of habeas corpus.

A paper of yesterday publishes the reasons which the privateers-men alledge in their defence, as follows:

"The vessel in which they cruized is said to be owned by Mr. John Lafitte; she had been lately commissioned at Galvestown, by the independent government of Texas, and general Long is said to have known and approved of her equipment. A few days out, they acknowledge they captured a Spanish vessel, but deny having maltreated the passengers; on the contrary, they put them in safety on board of the brig Hero, capt. Giraudel. They deny having assailed the revenue cutters; and declare that captain Loomis, having approached under Mexican colors and opened his fire on them, they thought themselves justified in returning it, until the cutters hoisted American colors, when they immediately ceased their fire and surrendered. These men say that none of the crew of the privateer were killed or wounded, and that there was but one man wounded on board of the revenue cutters."

The public are not to take for granted every thing that will be said and published, either in behalf or against those men charged with piracy. Whatever may be said or published will neither render their case worse nor make it better, in the eyes of those citizens who shall be called upon, on their oaths, to judge on proofs, and not on newspaper publications.

We do not, by any means, wish to find out guilty men. But if these who stand accused of a crime rigorously punished by all civilized nations, are convicted, we believe that the interest and happiness of our state and of the Union at large, require that they should be treated with all the severity of the law.

Here follow their names, as they are entered on the jailor's book.—Courier.

John Desfargues, captain.
Robert Johnson, 1st lieutenant.
John T'richart, 2d lieutenant.
Peter Morel,
Charles Dickenson
Louis Pierre,
Gervin Conchal,
John M. Gee,
Louis Philip,
John Gousins,
Ephraim Tompkins,
Isaac Tibbets,
Thomas Thompson
Laurence Pagas,
Joseph Valbert, negro.
Jean Raynor, negro.
Julian Sedonner,
Wm. M'Clure.