The North Carolina Standard

From the Pennsylvanian.

SLIDELL MACKENZIE.

At the instance of several gentlemen of this city, a subscription paper has been placed upon the table at the Exchange, for the purpose of raising a sufficient fund to purchase a sword, to be presented to Commander A. S. Mackenzie, as a token of the approbation felt by the citizens of Philadelphia in regard to his conduct in the affair of the mutiny on board the Somers. In order to render the contribution as general as possible, so that many may be enabled to participate, each subscription is limited to a dollar, and no doubt can be entertained that the requisite amount will soon be made up, or we are greatly mistaken in the feeling entertained in reference to this matter.

A token of respect would be peculiarly appropriate from the mercantile portion of the community. Had the mutineers of the Somers been successful, the blow would have fallen heavily upon our commerce, in addition to the disgrace inflicted upon the country at large, by having one of its national vessels, commanded and manned by an officer and sailors from the service, converted into a pirate and sailing under the black flag of robbery and murder.

The ladies of Baltimore, it will be remembered, are about to present a pair of splendid epaulettes to Captain Mackenzie, and it is said that the merchants of New York intend to defray the heavy expenses to which he has been subjected since his return.

It may perhaps be thought by some that the occasion is too sad for compliment, and that the discharge of a melancholy duty scarcely seems to admit of such tributes as those to which we refer; but it should not be forgotten that, although Capt. Mackenzie has been honorably acquitted by a Court Martial, a continued effort is made to crush him by the weight of popular odium—that there are unceasing exertions to create the darkest prejudices against him; so that, although acquitted by a court, he may not be acquitted in public estimation, but may be blasted in reputation and be thus subjected to worse punishment than could be inflicted by any tribunal. It is clear, even yet, that he has a potent enemy to contend with, and annoyances, apparently emanating from the unpunished mutineers themselves, but probably prompted by those who do not appear, are continually thrown in his way.

Under such circumstances as these, it therefore appears to be both proper and necessary that steps should be taken to show that the public approve of the course pursued by Slidell Mackenzie, and will not suffer him to be borne down by feelings of revengeful malignity.