Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-15

Ncn""n certainly cannot be ignorant who the
author u. :" aud has no objection 10 my referring
You 10 linn for the desired information.
Yours, respectfully,
GEORGE ROBERTSON. Jr.n
As there appeared TO be still r,ysfer;ous
policy IN keeping back. the name of the author
mat my rank seems TO forbid my penetrating.
cannot suppose twill be deemed am act of RIM;
gym me, on the eve Of departure for cruise of
three years in Tie Pacific Ocean, TO avail nv
scn before my fellow citizens, of the very flat
terlng testimonial confer red upon me By my late
commander, when parted from him at ;,,ev
West. - NY
DO fnilJustice TO the regret that Mr. Ro-
ncrtson has expressed in a previous letter. ct
having been Instrumental in giving publicity
u the deep INJURY that was mcditatcd against
nc; and am sincerely grateful to the enlight
ehed Justice OF my country, and 10 nv MANY.
Very many, worthy associates in the service far
'he respect and feeling with which, | have rea
son to believe, my vindication has been re-
ceived.
BEN ERLEY KENYON.
FRIGATE u. STATES,
ia"liion Roads, Dec. !, 1893.
& SEA CULI-, PosT Rooms.
august Ii, 1923.
s'SIR: With assurances that if will eyer ,C
ford me pleasure to be associated with Won on
duty, please to accept my best wishes for spce
u9 ~ PeassiAt PasSaSc,' and happy sight of
your friends.
Very respectfully,
foar obcdent servant,
DAVID PORTER,
ItisiInpossibie to read the first charge withou,
perccvng that 1t conveys, and was intended IN
convey, the lnputation, that the testimonial of
capt. Porter's appreciation, referred TO in that
publication, was counterfeit and forced. and
'hat had as basely, as falsely, attempted to
sustain sinking reputation by means which
should nave brought me to pillory. | have.
however, the satisiacton 10 know, that attcmpts,
made TO convey the same reproach, by means
OF certificates circulated among the officers of
the navy, have failed of their effect. Those
| who knew me believed it was irn,ossihlc
those who d,d not, generously withheld their
faith, till the facts could be enquiIed into.
what are these facts, proved by CAPTAIN
Porter himself! These very expressions. !, ii!,
out The addition, dinnution, Or trausposii!c!3, ys
a single syllable, admitted by himself 10
haze been contained in his letter to me of ij,.i
date. And though il be true, that other "a ris
OF the lettcrwere omitted III the publication. he
mas testified before you, that they had no ccn-
nectlon with, and III no manner modified ex-
| planned, or limited, the clause which was n,,L-
ished, but related exclusively 10 matters of IN,
" and service, which he admits it would have
been improper to publish. And on his own
|
| dwindleS down TO the offence of having publish;
cd 'as a fsttc'," what was oaIy she crs,uci Of
a letter." iftIis were true, in point of fact, /
appeal to every honorable and lust mind. if;f mo
not an outrage Oh all proprcty, that the feelings
and honesty of Il junior officer should be o.
| posed, on the solemn and deliberate accusation
| OF an officer Of Captain Porters rank, to so
| gross an iinputaton, on 20 better ground than
| thathe had called the passage letter, instead
/ a. an q D<t If n loft gl,,{o F.,
| cquirocation was entirely unwarranted. Ihayc
called upon Captain Porter as a witness. TO saw
when and where have, at any time, described
| this extract Gas lctter.n By his own an
swers, no acquits me even of this mistake; for he
refers TO the publication in the Herald, in which
You will perceive that have not called il a let
ter, but a "testimonial''in my favor
| In his examination, he has indeed atiamnted
10 impair the virtue of this testimonial when bc
| could not deny its words. If could feel nm
manly gratiil-:tion in the modification of Can
tain Porter, bis examination on this, and MANY
other matters, would afford the abundant satis
faction. ] could point TO your records. and
shew how often, and how Intellectually. un;Ier
the authority of the Court, he was required IN
give distinct reply to the simple question.
'wheher he sincerely meant, what in these OK.
prcss'ons he wrote" would slew, that was
constrained 10 invoke the authority Of the court
to enforce his answer; and ] would remind YOU
oy what mortHying means lac had escaped lis
eXcrton. But triumph not in lis uortiiica-
tion. respect his rank, and the naval service
In spite OF his unnicritcd persecution renero-
Der hs mcritorIous actions, and will r;rrc ON
| that account, nothing against him of which 4
man oil honor can complain. But NAV be pcr-
r!!led 10 say, that by his own confession these
complimentary words were o1irin42Ey. e.y1f,ti.
io"siy bestowed; and if it were even true. that
on the next day, purchased their coptiax-
nnce, at the price Of an Apology at hasf had
no reason TO doubt, that they were continued as
sincerely as they had been at first granted by
one, who ''wishcd to make me his friend, . and
| who, in the adjustment of triiiing and morrcn-
tary misunderstanding, ''which he never wish
ed to hear ofagain," gave Inc the right hand OF
reconciliation and good will.
But the short and unfortunate publication OF
TIC 18th December, has other sins TO answer
for. The passage, cas- there appears to be still
a mysterious policy in Keeping back the name
Of the author, lllat my want OF rank seems TO
forbid my penetrating" has been seized on, as
The foundation Of the second specification Of the
second charge.
Gentlemen. pray your attention TO the nina.
scoiogy Of this specification. / nav certainlv
say of his, tina. il is ''mys!e1to1isD WHIT doc.
II moan' Ifany thing. certainly TO convey fine
idea, Chat might have received personal sat;s.
faction from Captain Porter, If had asked il.
Dut may he mistaken; for this Is r,1arde,lIv OK.
pressed by the terms, when no such difficulty
was known 10 eXist.n If such be its rncaoinc
however, 1t IS for this court TO determine. bot,
I TAR II COMFORTS with the discipline OF the Navy
70 bring junior officer 10 2 c2r-f r-,-~t;,l e,