20 F. Cas. 522 | D. Pa. | 1805
Many observations have been made not applicable to tbe true point of this case. I will not determine, in this indirect way, any thing respecting the voyage in which this vessel was engaged, as to its lawfulness or impropriety: nor will I decide how far the crew were bound to obey any orders, which' might have been given for defence, against attacks by belligerent cruizers. They had no right to suppose, or anticipate, that such orders would be given. When such questions come directly before me, and I find it necessary to decide them, I will meet and determine them, without hesitation, so far as my duty and judgment permit and enable me.
The sole question now is, “Was there or was there not, a lawful cause for ejecting Relf from the ship?’’ If Relf has any cause of action for false imprisonment, or cruelty of treatment, for which damages are sought, he must go before another tribunal; so must it be with Manuel Peter, who seems however to have acquiesced; and I hear of no charge from him. Seamen ought to know that it does not lay with them, to interfere between the officers of a ship and any mariner they (the officers or any of them in command) choose to confine, or punish for disorderly conduct. If it is done immoderately, the law affords redress to the party injured. Instead of interfering to prevent, they are bound to" assist the master to constrain, imprison, and bring to justice, any disobedient, mutinous and rebellious mariner. When any charge of a criminal nature is alleged, I am, and always have been, ready to examine into it, and pursue the proper measures. The officers of ships are amenable for improper conduct: but if they are not supported in the lawful exercise of their authority, there will be an end of all discipline, and no vessel will with security navigate the ocean. I am always inclined to support their authority, though I have been too frequently called on to protect seamen against their oppression. A case in Espi-nasse, determined in the king’s bench, in England, is produced to shew that a seaman is justifiable in leaving a ship, if obliged so to do, by continued cruelty and oppression. I have, under the clear and direct injunctions of the maritime laws, and in the spirit of that case, often compelled the payment of wages for the voyage, when such circumstances were in proof. But it does not apply in this case. I am of opinion here, that the captain was justifiable in discharging the mariner Relf, and refusing to receive him on board again. It is true that a mariner having committed a fault, and repenting, must be again received on board, on tender of amends. These amends cannot exceed what the law contemplates to be forfeited, where forfeiture is inflicted, i. e. his wages and property on board. Beyond these a sailor has nothing. “Lex non cogit ad impos-sibilia.” If he offers himself, or returns to duty, it must be on tender of reasonable amends. If he be received on the motion of the captain, or without terms, he is reinstated in his claims, and pardoned for his offences. But in every experiment, Relf shewed every sign of a continued, refractory, dangerous and mutinous temper; and not one of repentance and amendment; he was therefore lawfully discharged; — the safety and peace of the ship required it. It was in the option of the captain to forgive other offenders, and continue to reject the services of Relf: and to refuse payment of wages after the time of his being ejected from the duty of the ship. The wages due before that time must be paid, deducting any payments or legal set off, claimed by the captain or owners. This is not a forfeiture of all wages or property of the sailor on board, but a legal cause to refuse payment after his discharge, though the claim is for the wages during the voyage, which I am in the habit of decreeing. where no lawful cause for discharge appears. There are authorities which go the length of forfeiting all wages due, in very aggravated cases, where no compromise or re-acceptance of service has occurred. In the case before me 1 should not have hesitated to determine that Relf was forgiven and reinstated in his claims, by being received on board after his first atrocious mis-behaviour. But his subsequent continuance in the rebellious and highly dangerous spirit which prompted his former misconduct, evidences his not having returned to the ship on the terms the law re’quires, to wit, repentance and amendment. Whatever effect the re-acceptance of service may have to the time he re-entered on board, the subsequent misbehaviour evidences the mala mens, and justifies his expulsion from the ship.