Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-18
LIEU L. kENNON'S TRIAL
tCCNTTNUED.)

LIEU L. kENNON'S TRIAL
(coNTINUED.)
know, sirs how the lofty temper of my pros
1cutor affects 10 treat this matter. l know he
he2cs t. OBSCURE II he does not entirely conceal
its true csractery and to,cscape not only pun
ss'ihsnt, but even scrutiny, By representing this
prosecution a. one in which the discipline and
suboriination OF tine navy are conccraed srs,
deeply, fatally, concernel; and in the decision
yod may pronounce to-day, (pardon me, srs,
but dare say ii mere, aud woulI, if neediui
Soy ii IN the lace of the whole nation,) on the
decision yon may pronounce iii the case of an
obscure Lieutenant, my hang greater consc-
qucicos tlaa meet the cye possibly the future
character Oh the navy, AMI the destinies of this
nation insap,rloly connected with it. Do not
ALLOW yourselves, sirs, to think, that this is the
Language of i i latcI pride, Or distempcrcl vaui-
y. That error may be fatal. need mon
It1r to instruct me new nniinp0rtant iii myself
am. Had ii not b2en SO, this prosecution
woull have never been. But know too, that
Fictitious circumstances sometimes give value
To things most inii:gmicant know that Incl
dents, iii the n,civcs mimportant, from their
coincidence with other facts, from the moral
Combinations with which They chance 10 be as
sociated, have produced elects which, presume
tuous folly hal pronounced impossible. hy
Ill amber attracts tie gaze VI Tie curious. a
toad, found living in block of marble, has eli
cited profound speclatons from the naturalist
liad- geoioSists. a wanton, though harmless
iasuit TO parental feelings, achieved what long
Continued AMI varied tyraI,nies could not effect
1t rousei resistance a.d overthrow an empire
lie has read history with little instruction, who
las not discovered that power owes its over.
throw more frequently 10 tue waIitonl.css OF its
exercise, IN some individual case, than To the
pressure OF Its general administration. In my
person, an experiment has been made, which,
III established Is precedent, leaves nothing sa-
cred, nottiia; worthy of preservation to the ju-
Nor officers OF the navy. have thus invoIun-
tlrily become identified with question of the
dee pest interest to the navy itself. Ihavc pro-
ducrd it Dy my indiscreon. will not betray
it by my fears. You, sirs, know will not mis-
take the language of conscious light, for the in
soicat and poiullnt expressions OF restless IN
SuDorIInation.
Allow me to say sirs, for the occasion re-
qurcs, and will excuse it'll that my natural tenn
per Is as little prone to Contention and strife,
perhaps somewhat more'fac.le and complying
esen with eIaals, than is usually found IN per-
SONS of my age a..i station. From my BIO, hood
uu;ii the present hour, haye grown under the
naval flag. The testimonial which this Court
has del guei 10 afford me Dy their evidence, per-
mus me 10 say, and TO say proudly, that have
never di,honored 1t, by one act of insubordna-
ton, the smallest departure from duty.
have Always SCOHtsu al inc dreams,
ceivous notions OF equality and independence
IN the naval service. a spirit of criticism on
tia ori.rs of supcrIJrs, disposition To challenge
authority, ami 10 question command, have al
ways believed The Dtiie oil service, a. the DESTROY
CT III ali discipline Donot, for moment, wrong
me much AS To believe, that any personal con-
siicratiol will ever tempt me To advocate pre-
tensions so mischicvous, maintain doctrne
Sd rinous. Ihc ground imy conn Jlaiutis that
i'll ms person, ali respect for discipline has been
tnroYn oil; an1 that offence has been com.
united by Captain Porter, which threatens dam
gsr 10 the service, if sanctioned ami justified h.
al:.o w.io ai1lc can rcotraIn and punish it.
Da iiis delicate subject, important TO us
all, dcsii To oc5tjTy on ilc one moments alien
iiyI. Vision iils coldesccuded 10 draw in
ssruction frJ5l i.iftucy. Philosophy has deign-
c IL ir.,y its profJaaicst truths from the most
arttc All familiar facts. The pritue of child
bod has prJiuccI the most profound s2ecua-
Jions Oh the structure of languages and tic ior-
,nalioa aai development Of iic.ss. From the
fall OF an apple, Ncyton's meiitatiyc mind de-
tcctoi the principle ofgraYiai0n, and exposed
II mortal eve the secret coansels OF the Most
IIigh When H. launched Into tne void immense,
tIc countless worlds, which whGc! III harnon-
~, concord round his throne. Possibly, your
instructed intelligence on mdttets OF dccipline,
viii. DOT refuse to hear the crulc IDEAS OF an Oh
scurc subaiicrn.
S5irs, the case before you can, and will, be
viewed by tile ConIlSa sense of mankind hi no
other light but captain i'll the navy,
throwing Oh all the Insignia OF his rank, aud
coltc ming al TIC Equations oil the service,
has put oa the mask vi an anonymous lib Her,
AMI wlntonly, grossly, unjas,ly, assalled the
character Of ms ,nfcI When convinced of
his injustice, he has aggravated the wrong by
coalisnslious temper, winch deemed the injured
party too low Tor rcparaiion--tJo humble for
reIress. Tao Inferior could not challenge,
without violation Of the laws fthe service, and
establishing precelout dangerous to pine.
IIe coul not appeal to codrt martial, because
ic had no such evidence as would prove ms au-
thorshiJ; AID ifbe had, there was too mach rea-
zsn, from past events, to fear he might not OBJ
lain the redress he sought. la this situation,
3or the vInlication of his own fame, he meets
his assailaut OH his selected ground, aud Jnsti-
hes bimsclfin the public prints, in terms which
all wiil admit are much more moderate auIch
tened, than might be expected from private
individual to another. This leads to Que out
rage after anoth r; until at last, his superior
throws of partially his disguise, arrests him at
he most critical moment Ut RS professional ca
reer, and against his own express Judgment Of