Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-02

disc lose affecting the d.ares, in,crcs,s of the navy !;
$ il's "l,ci of these remarks 10 eadea,o, Ia ui,an
va Jn To eap'c' t,,' Il the charges against
u. II. " r" " mt prorsd' ahd The cent a,lirdce ed
b'm Ia be 3" fully acquinc"," the Secrriat, Of the
May w""itl award To him sone satisfaction agains
MS prosecution ~ obedience 10 the articles Of the
"a'y whch lac Is sworn To support, and in conformi
WIN hai sentiment OF DUTY h thought had
called upon l,im tn institute FIRM AND PROMPT
.nPn"l ,n'" SUCH DISPUTES as that between Com
T. and L.. krunon'
Encouraged liy his declaration, and fortified Inv
III" 18th arioi war for The government of the navy
u. k"nn"n preferred formal charges against Com
r. IS the author Of the Georgia libel, and did not
entertain a doubt they would be as F." PROMPTLY
received u, the Secretary ard as " rIRsLY" acted
upon as Com. P's charges had been against him.
But mark the difference, WITHOUT nm acknowletlg-
meni even, OF their RECEIPT ~ the Department, he
had the mort hcaiion To see Com. p sail with his
squadron Tor the w. Indies, and the first dngs he
eceves about lis charges from the Secretary, are in
tin' ls""r communicating his 90 fall acauilal''
TuRts WEEKS AFTER THE FINDING OF THE
SENTENCE, and concluding with these words, IL
rs not the intention of The Department order the
arrest aud trial OF Com. Porter upon The charge
preferred against him bv YOU"
In The same letter the Secretary says very plainly
he does not intend Id publish the proce edings Of L.
rs couri-ior, says he, " there are matters IN the
Trial and the defence which are not approved
but you are at liberty To publish the sentence
fully Acquiring you, as it is the intention of the
department ~ do.
publish no more, and the positive order to Ii. K to
resume his former station by opportunity tina, vas
10 offer ~ a few DAYS; completely deprived HIM of
the RIGHT TO publish the proceedings and was in.
tended Com. =. and siihe all further en- :
quiry about his conduct
Now, with all due Difference to the Secretary,
(who has been judge If there be any matter IN
The ti'idt he did not approve Of il his duty To
point Il out that any court he may hereafter convene
may not commiti similar And If there be any
matter in the defence in like manner, he did not
approve, candcr should have induced him TO name il,
as II deiracis from the honor al" full acquitia 10y
the court for the accused be told by the Secretary
IN communicating it, that his defence as not approred
OF. To bestow this censure remark upon the de-
fence at all, the Secretary has right prec edent
To govern him-as we'll might he have told Ii. X .
with what looks gestures he shall resent an insult
IN what language he shall defend himself against
an anonymous attack and against prosecution grow
ing out OF Il affecting his reputation both private and
professional lf the court, TO whom the defence was
addressed and before crowded aude nee saw moth
Sg to dsappTove il is difficult conceive with what
proprie'y the SECRETARY undertakes cersure it for
his remark 10 Lt kennoa can mean nothing less
In every view at The subject the letter OF the Srcre-
tary rs hn extraordinary ouc-not only FOR its extra
judicial decision upon " matters" not AT all relevant
to he appellate power lie vas exercising over the
proceedings and sentence Of The CONT but becaus-
as first act of his administration, IL tends TO es-
pnuse aud conf m TINT deIesablc doctrine usurpet
by his predecessors aud for which the omnpotence
OF public indignation consigned them To reluctant
ahdication the doctrine Of absolute uoirer Inv The
commanders their officers and Of nun.rs sisranc
aud passive obedience by The latter under any system
&" usage or treatment the former may think proper 10
adopt doctrine directly IA the face OF establish ed
laws, repugnant To natural righissuhvcrsive of the
genius of our free institutions and of he best prnci
pies of discipline, and abhorrenti TO every sentime
OF manly and vItuous feeling. The creed is this you
90 must implicitly bow 10 The rule Of Your cornuadr-
- deES-Ii you repel their conduct towards YOU IN
- manner they think improper or disrespeciIu YOU
g viii he arrested and brought trial for lift YOU
" are acquitted you must he satsfied--ihe Depart
" n'ent will take measures against your prosrcu-
" tor for failing to prove his charges, nor will any
I" complaint or charges hp you agnnst him in conse-
" quence of u, he attended TO His character is The
50 property OF the couDtry-in the keeping of the De-
g parment and is identified with its dignity and
" honor-you are an obscure subordinate, the mere
" pupil OF our patronage and houniy and not ex
" peci that Tho acts OF high officers can he subject TO
" your imprima'nr, or thai they for any cause can
- he made the Sport Of your caprice resentment"
IL VIII not deirac from The merits OF the Hero or
iiaraso who has the happiness 10 he The first TO
enjos fhe advantages Of his ofical rule, uudrr
Is Ie victim Of IL is in every respect, Of Years
aud literary fame, his equal. The record OF the
cour' VII shew that 'he most liberal and envable
testimonials of IL. Kenuon's character were given hy
the President and three Of the members, who took
great pleasure in declaring he had sailed under their
command and that they had kauwa him from his boy
food upwardsand thar in all the relations of priyaIe
life, soc,a ard professional, he had constantly sus
tanned The character Of a without reproarh and
'n officer without suspicion. And yet, such an eff
Ger aud IN hundred Others who a,iOrR the register OF
the navy and give assurance To the nation oil its high
are TO he checked in their aspirinss after
fame by rule OF official power which sirs ms an
incubus upon the" youthful energies, and denies 10
them the privileges guaranteed by laws which they
are s'vcrn TO respect and support. Perish The
navy, rather than such monster should be enrrav-
cd upon the escutcheOD Of iis fame ! rather Than .
principle should he established odous in its con-
cepion and desoluting in It's consequences as would
~ al in.sle t.s,, ,I,o
lives and donors and characters Of their officers
npon whom they may tread with proud disdan " a.
upon the humble worm HAT heseIs Them in their
{ atEs and pass reckless Of his agoni-s"
The occasion calls for signal instance of an
Iehenson and alarm for The character Of ynunp off.
and the stability and honor Of the nayy-anJ the
constitutional guardians OF The country, now in
Congress, would not find the subject unwor nv iheir
sober and serious attention. b, lore they aci upon
the bill now before them 70 create aciuliyals and
higher dignities in The navy, let Them call Tor the
proceedings OF The late court MARTIAL the Secretary s
letter on the subject to 1t. Krnnou, aud they will soc
how much more emphalicsly they are called npon
to restrain aAd ciTcunscrihe the authority of the
present ranks tian to extend and increase ihem-how
much more reason they wiilhave TO reach captains first
10 respect the laws and treat eUtenans as they de-
serve, than 20 make ADMIHALs who NAV siill further
conieuD the ordinances of the service md the trbts
oil suhaiterns, treat c5pi1iHs IN iurn, they were
wont iO serve those who were their interiors
10 the Vice President 9nd Chief Justice Of the "
S.he subject is addressed with great force and bv fe
regard they feel for iser young and gallant sons ypoo
whose prot ssonal fame in the navy uiey look Ion
consolation IN their declining yeats.--Tc Mir. Ran.
dOph ~ Congress, by The tender solciiide he fec
Tor the rising hcpes of an adopted son. Who has las
dedicated hS life to this branch of The public SER
Fces-To MIR. Cambreeng 10y tie remembrance NJ
hroihers wrongs TO Gen. Taylor Of the Senate
Ivy the love he bears Distinguished uephev wbc
lives IN the proud mcmurials Of Erie ,lvctory-To Mr.
I"inai-Mr Floyd and Mr.. Stevenson, those william
sentineis of the laws and the constitution and TO ever,
member OF Congress who has renuve or friend
IN the navy aud who feels one scnte ~ OF regard fni
theirs or iis couniry's honor.-Upon them, | wonlt
call TO SAFE the navy from the contamination of Sc
wlde spread aud fatal an example as The usresrrain