Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-10-21
THE NAVY.

We copy from the Baltimore Patriot, the
following notice of the two articles that APP
peared in the " Heraist' and s. Beacon" on
Monday last, on the subject of the Mission To
Key West-happy 10 find, from the explana-
lion given by this writer, that the views of the
Secretary Of the Navy, in the appointaent of
this mission, are susceptible of a different in
depreciation from that warranted from the
announcement in the National Intelligencer
Norfolk Beacon.
Communicated for the Baltimore Pariot.I
KEY WESTON the subject of the Mis-
sion TO Key West, consisting of Com. Rodg-
ers and some of the most experienced sur
geons in the navy, there would appear TO be
some misrepresentation, Judging from the tone
of certain communications in the Norfolk pa
pers received by yesterdays steam boat. In
these communications this measure of the
Navy Department, is considered as reHec-
ton on Com. Porter, and on the surgeons al
ready on that station. So far from this I'M
putatiOn being well founded, the reverse of
that suppostion is undoubtedly true. The
misrepresentation appears To consist in the fact
that at the time this precautionary measure
was adopted, the Department had every rca-
son TO apprehend that Com. Porter was total
ly Frustrated, even to the verge of dissolution.
Nay, there was too much ground To fear, that
the next arrival would announce To- the nation,
in the death of Com. Porter, the loss uf one
of her most valiant land distinguished com
manders. The government could not know
when and where the ravages of disease and
death might be arrested. They were bound
to presume the worst and take measures &C
cOrdIngly. Suppose, as We had too much rea-
son 10 fear, Porter had fallen sacrifice 10 his
ardent devotion aud perserarancs-that our
surgeons too, some of whom had narrowly es-
capped, had been Frustrated by the foil disease
of'he climate, and the Secretary of the Ma
Wy had folded his arms, !istlcssly awaiting the
course of events That ieouIG hare been
! said hsn {?
| The public WIS waiting with tremuloui
b, anxiety, the fate of the gallant Porter and his
brave companions, and looking with impa-
tience for the Department To adopt mrasures
to rescue those who might still survive. Some
| thing was expected TO he done, and under tht
well grounded apprehrnsions that Porter wa:
either not living, or at the point of death, il
was determined that his particular friend
Com. Rodgers, should go and rescue and res
tore him to his country, ii alive, and at the
same time make such arrangements in
case of his death ar extreme Illness rs would
best comport with the public interests. 1t can
not be doubted that if it had been kno,on that
Porter had recovered and Our ships on their
way home, the measures which have been a.
u"P'cu "ouiu uo' nave oeeh ta.Ncn. i OF tie
expediency and necessity of this measure ol
the secretary, we are TO look Ia the circum-
stances as they existed at The time it was re-
| solved upon, not 10 10 those which time ha:
since evolved. The most simple amongs
us can discern the right conclusion after tn,
problem has been worked before oar eyes
AID every thing has trauspired To demonstrate
| the result.
| The high estimation in which every on,
knows Porter is held by the Government
and the personal regard felt for hun by all al
the Commissioners, is sufficient guarantee
that nothing would be done 10 initiate against
his fame or his happiness.
ERIE nF THE N,uY-