Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-09-11
COMMODORE BARRON.

newspapers winch 1t IS difficult 10 anayze
with all the patience which truth requires
Among these is an attack in the National Ga
zette of the 9Th inst. upon the claims of Com
modore James Barron. We feel al n loss 10
say, whether the bdrJariiy which tliciatc, GER
tam passages oft, or the SopkiStry in which
they are arrayed. is most calculated TO eX-
cite our indignation.
The Gazette urges two principal objections
to the calling Of Com b. imtp seryicc---the one.
the unfortunate affair of the Chesapeake; the
other, the unfortunate du.l, which deprived
his country ofthe gallant Dtcatur,
AS to the first, it urges the :. mortfying and
disparaging" nature ofthe Transaction that
| he was proved aud adjudGcd to be wanting
IN the emergency, If not in courage, in fore
sight, decision and f-possession-in qualities
essential to the character OF good naval
COMMUNICATIVE she was dissraced aud
disabled before the American people by be-
ing suspended for term !" that upon &c the |
expiration OF the term, he might be commise-
rated but that " no one had Il right to ex-
pcct or exact that it should be forgotten either
by the people or the government, when he
claimed the restoration of that trust, to which
he had been found in one momentous instance.
| fatally Inadequate"
| Now, is it true will any discreet man say
1t is so, that Com. b. has forfeited by that a f
fair the confidence of his country I? With all
the excitement which it produced at the time,
was not many an honorable man impressed
with the conviction, that the sentence of the
court martial was hard one Scan too the
sentence of the court, and what does it amount
to !! To the fixing upon him an INCAPABLE of
fence 1t charges him with an error of iudg-
ment. Admitting that error of Judgment to
have been Justly imputed to him, has he not
sufficiently atoned for it Z? 1t ought not to be
| forgotten that he has borne all, which that
court directed to be inflicted. The sentence
in all its rgor has been executed upon him.
For hye years was he suspended from his paw
and his command-driven by this sentence in
to lingering exile from his native country in
pursuit OF the means necessary for the support
of his family. Is not this some, nav ample a.
tenement for the error of his Judgment" IL,
then, even this sentence, given uuder the pow
ertnl excitement of the moment, does not fix
| upon him the want of " decision and self-pos-
sesslon,of those qualities which are essential to
the character of i good commander" if Com.
Il. by the unbiased testimony of men, who
are nthe navy and who are out of il, possesses
the qualities of brave and accomplished off
Ger; if that sentence has been fulfilled aud
his arhitrated offence thus atoncd for by what |
| right does any man take upon himself to en-
large the sentence of punishment, and pass
upon Com. Ii. an eternal os:racism?
|. Com-B. has submitted TO the law. lie stl |
holds the commission, which the court deem |
ed him worthy to retain-he demands to be
employed. Commodore Decatur did not |
himself say, he was disqualified by the Che
sapcake Notwithstanding grounds, which, |
however mistaken, were frankly maintained
by him Mt the hazard OF life
| But, says the n. Gazette, he has fought n
Duel het-is been :. the nstrumen; ofan irrepa-
raele and incalculable loss to his country''-he
has by sending challenge violated the tlws
! ot the land."--" Com. B. could not now be
rehabuitated" (pedlntic aiiectation) 50 without
an implied condemnation of Decatur with
out the appearance of sighting the loss OF that
eminent officer. For this, we apprehend,
the feelings OF the nation are not yet prepared"
we apprehend, they are prepared for any
act of justice. No man can feet profornder
sense OF gratitude for the services Of Decatur
or regret for his untimcIy loss, than many of
those who SICKLE for justice to Com. Bar
ron; but they are not prepared to sacrifice him
even TO the lamented shade of Decatur.-If
Decatur has charged Barron wrongfally with
The Pernambuco conversation, for instance ::
with not returning to his country during the
late war shall the President, who NAV be sa-
tsfied OF the existence Of these errors, still
refuse justice to his adversary? Is it any re-
proach to the greatest man to say, that he has
erred : Are we sure that Com. Decatur him.
self, had he been spared to his country. would
not have admitted himselft TO have been nlista-
ken?
But is II because one of the greatest orna-
ments OF the navy fell in this duel, that his
adversary deserved to be'cashiered? Now, what
does TINS argument amount to Why that
= the brightest ornaments OF the navy may
give loose to their rcsentments against other
oilicers for the officer who dares to notice the
insult and is SO unfortunate as to say his adj
veFsary, must be Immediately cashered.-De-
catur himself would have beenth first TO have
scorned such a principle and flown TO il for
impunty.
But in regard TO the mere fact of the d,l-
ei, the cause of religion, and of public order
and interest, could not be overlooked"-W
then Suppose Barron had persisted in the
duel instead OF Decatur would Mr.. Walsh
nave cashiered Decatur ?-When the officer.
/, OF the navy and the army can he deferred
from fighting ducls, then punish thcm-B Blu
, why begin with Barron Why not hay,
begun with others who fought before him =
q why single him ont as an example? Cal
? you this, justice? Is the N Gazette sure tba
, 1t IS only regard TO public order" which
= dictates this odious singing out of an unrortu
nate man AT all events, tie President q
- the U. >. has already gone TOO far-he ha
substantially told Barron that if he clears him
self OF the charges made against hin mot tn,
attack OF the Chesapeake, or ,he duel he shal
he called into service
! One word more as TO those charges-s Il
It the decision OF the late Court Martial what
II ever 1t may be, we ought, all to aCduiesrc y
" Indeed this tame acquiescence may suit TN
u obseqmous Mr.. Walsh not those, who Wi
e Judge for themselves. Prove TO us, that court
u OF enquiry may not err that the evidenc
y does bear out their sentence land that ths sen