Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-10
Joha w. Psnco, acting Surgeon Navy.
NJ. {. Attwood, Purser u. S. Navy.
j. l.. Norris, Lieut.. NAVY.
Memorial of the officers OF the United States


treat, that rules and regulations be estab
lisiled by an act of Congress, wherein
the duties of marine officers, when atloat,
may be clearly and distinctly defined,
and rights and privileges protected.
The undersigned regret the necessity
under which they conceive themselves
bound, by their duty TO the service and
themselves, ofentreating the Hon. Senate
and House of Representatives, as the guar
dians and protectors of their rights, to ex
anime the decision ola court martial held
at Mahon, on capt. Oliver Ii. Perry, of the
navy, under the charges of outraging the
rights, feelings and person OF the COM
manding officer of marines, of the u. S.
frlgate Java, and pray that the protection
OF their rights and persons be guaranteed
by some special act of Congress or that
the rules and regulations for the bettergo-
ve-nment of the navy, be more strictly
carried into execution.
John Hall, G. NJ. NJ.
III. Is. breckenridge, Capt. Marines.
W'n. Hall, Capt. Marines.
in. L. Kuhn, 1t. u. S. Marines.
Henry Oicott, lst 1t. Marines.
Francis b. White, LIST 1t. Marines.
ia. Harris, lst Ii. Marines.
R. 4. Auchnuty, I'd 1t. Marines.
Christopher Ford, 1t Marines.
Port Mahon, Jan. IL. 1877.
US ship Washington,
PORT MahOn, 4th May, 1917.
DIR have The honor TO transmit here
with All atfeSted copy of a letter written
to me bv the captains and commanders
OF the squadron.
fully concur with those gentlemen i'm
opinion, and shall believe it to be nv du-
ty TO comply with their request, so far as
to permit the officers complained of to
return to the United States, as soon as it
can be done without injury TO the public
service.
have the honor to be,
Very respectfully, sir,
Your obt humble servant,
|. CHAUNCEY.
To the hon. REM. W. Crowninshield,
Secretary of the Navy, Washing ton
Port Mahon, 18th May, 1917.
Strive, the undersigned captains and
commanders, serving in the squadron nm
der your orders. have heard with deep re-
greet that many Of the lieuicnanis and o.
ther commissioned officers belonging to
The vessels under our respective com
mands, have forwarded to the Hon. the
Senate OF the u. States memorial which
III our opinion is calculated to excite dis
affection and insubordinationin the navy
and bring into contempt service hereto
fore distinguished for its reputation, order
and good government.
The undersigned wish TO be distinctly
understood thatit is not against petitioning
the legislature for redress ofreal wrongs.
that we now protest, but against the man
ner, time and object of the memorislists,
which, IT truly represented TO us, Is as fol-
lows They complain that they have
been oppressed, and require that the 3Oth
article of an act for the better government
of the navy, should be revised and so a.
meDded as TO designate particularly the
punishment OF offenders, and it is believ-
ed that they even go So far as to threaten
that should their imaginary grievances
not be redressed, they will resort to their
arms for protection. 1t is alsounderstood
that the memorialists have presumed TO
reflect on the members oftwo courts mar
tIal, composed ofofficers Of long standing
III the navy; that Their meetings have been
held with apparent secrecy, and The me-
mortal studIously withheld from their com
manders, who would readily sanction any
measure having Tor its object the good of
the service. 1t cannot he denied that il
Is tie bounden duty of officers, more es-
peclally when on foreign station, 10 cul-
tIyaie towards each other the most per-
feet harmony and good will, hut il is the
opinion of the Undersigned, that the con
duct of the memOrlalists il calculated 10
have contrary effect. The undersign-
ed are therefore impelled by sacred du-
ty we owe our country and ourselves, TO
request that YOU will be pleased toremove
all those officers from under our respect
i've commands, as soon as the public SER
vice will admit Of the same, as we cannot
but consider the signers ofthe memorial
as having forfeited all claims to ourconfi-
dencP, and their example as euhanperinp
the vessels entrusted to our charge.
We have the honor to be, very respect
fully, sir. your obedient servants,
(Signed)
WI. NJ. CRANE,
IN. ORDE CREIGHTON,
GEO. w. ROGERS,
THOS. GAMBLE,
J. !. NICHOLSON,
EDM. p. KENNEDY.
A true copy of the original OH file,
Attest,
j. WATSON, Com. Clerk.
T.. s.. ship Washington,
Port aIahon, 5th Nay, 1917.
10 Isaac Channcey. Esq. com
mOdOTe aud commander ip
chief of the naval forces OF
the U. s. in the Mediterra-
mean. hc.
DY. Shaw
,s'RNDFRs his seryicesasa PHYSICIAN & SURGEON
10 the Inhabitants Of Richmond and iis vicluity-