Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-07-13

own declarations to Capt. Sinclair, on his ar
rival at Norfork, from Savannah. He inquired
aud was told by Capt. Sinclair, the unhap-
plnrss this attack had occasiOncd To the and
my connections. His own words speak more
snoDgIy than any comments lean offer. "Y on
know me well enough to know, Sinclair, that
II man treads on my toes, l will retaliNte
ninety nine fold" When assured that l had
never troG>.rn on his toes, that 4 had neve
entertained ar expressed AN unfriendly seni-
n,ent towards him, and that the editor Of the
paper had publicly acquitted me Of all partci-
patton in the communication, he did indeed
condescend tn say, that he would be glad to
fnd that had notintended to injure him. But
with what sentiment was it accompanied p
With any expression of regret at the pain his
libel had G .en me With any offer of atone.
| ment, any promise Of rescuing me from the
reYroach which his publication had fixed Oh
me? No, no, sirs In this, as in many other
parts Of the transaction, was again exposed
10 that whitening contempt, that proud con-
tnmely, which own, feel more keenly, than
all his other wrongs. (" II he should be satisfied,
that had not been to blame, the matter might
Stop, or end where il was" And even this
wonderful condescenson, that, i'll was proved
10 be entirely free Of blame, I" the matter might
end" without PREPARATION, without any contra
dction OfShis SANDER, without even an apology
or explanation even this was too much TO
b. Internationally granted to one SO low and
| Insignificant as a lieutenant in the American
navy. He must not be chofedn' IL pre-
sumed TO question the justice or authority of
the anonymous attack, If dared 10 complain,
or presumed to medxle in An affair in which
my reputation was SO deeply implicated, that
might " chdfe Capt Porter" and then even
The privilege of AFFECT acquescence in my
own infamy was too much 10 be allowed me
then, the matter was not" to end" but new fires
we're to be lighted, new punshmenis to be in
iiIcted; and, perhaps the prosecution menaced
IN the Georgian publication was To be com
menced. That this language and conduct would
not be endured by any gentleman in privat.
life, no one can doubt. Ii remains to be as
certained, II the honor and discipline OF the
service give II tmpuniiy, when applied by ore
OF the highest officers in the navy 10 his
inferior.
But grant me few more minutes of your
patience, airs, before quit this publication.-
On comparing that publication with the STRIFE
lures in the Georgian, you will discover that
the oniyJuct stated in the former, contradicted
Thy the Georgian, is, that son the arrival of
ne Wtazel, at Thompson's Island, Comno-
dore Porter despatched her with her prize to
Havannah." The Georgian asserts un the |
contrary, and asserts truly, that she WAS
detained at Thompson's Island, until the ex
plantations of the Captain General, could be
had" And solicit the particular attention of
the court 10 thus circumstance, because the
structures IN the Georgian ascrbe statement of
facts, and comments To the Herald which
were never made there, and exist only in the
Georgian, itself, and makes these imputed
facts and comments the apology for the libel.
But this is not all. No one could infer any
thing prejudicial, either to Governor Wives, or
Captain Porter, from the facts complained of
as being misstated. Captain Porter, himself,
was not able to do it, but by changing the
phraseoIogy of the Herald, at the very
moment, when, in his publication in the
Georgian processes to quote il and it was only
by suppressing in his publication an entire
aud important paragraph of the Herald,
that he was able to draw the extravagant
inference, prpjudicial to himsefol Governor
Wives.
Thus, in the Herald, the expressions are,
F" in addition tn the above, we learn that on the
arrival of the Weazel, at Thompson's Island,
Commodore Porter despatched her, with her
prize to Havana, sOith a friendly communication
10 the Governor Of Cuba, Informing him Of the
circumstances Of the capture, and referring the
examination, as to the legality of the proceed
ings of the Segunda GaIIlego to him" SiIs,
there is nothing here " about damning proofs"
and the friendly " communication from Cap |
tain Porter, 10 the Captain General of Cuba,
informing him Of the circumstances of the |
capture !" words well selected 10 protect Cap |
tain Porter from any possible suspicion Of
having blindly submitted the legality of the
capture to foreign Governor. But, in the |
Georgian, the expressions are calculated to
convey the idea, that direct inputation, by
way OF comment, on the proofs had been made |
by tho Herald, and the paragraph shelving that
Captain Porter had not submitted thi. matter
blindly to Governor Wives is entirely suppress
sed. The words of the Georgian, are, =" yet
Notwithstanding these damnipg proofs, ICON
tinues the artcle,) Commodore Porter des- |
patched the Weazel, to,ih her prize, TO Huuana,
leaving it to the Captain General to decide as
to the proceedings of the Segunda GaIliego."
But to resume the narrative. The publica-
ton made on the 24th If October did not
produce the effect had anticipated. The
mild and courteous appeal had there made
to the candor and justice Of my assailant, was
disregarded and condemned IL then was due
TO myself to vindicate my reputation from the
structures Of the Georgian and on the 9th
November, performed that duty, by "a publ
cation in the Herald. That Captain Porter
had found no cause for complaint in il, is sui.
fcient proof ofits moderation. In the propos-
al made to me after my arrest, he distinctly
admits, that it afforded none and the court
will find IN several of its passages, some room,
perhaps,to censure my lorbearaDce, but GER
ta'niy none TO rebuke my insOence. A sin
gle passage, which beg leave TO cite, will
evInce, that even the outrage he had commit.
ted, had not so irritated my temper as to in
duce me 10 withhold declaration, which,