Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-06
DOMESTIC.
Chancellor Sar5oni's Obinio,

DE the HTSt page ol inns Gay = udZtUe We
nresent tn our readers the decision, with the
ChancellOr's Opinion, in the suit of Lieut..
WEAVER, of the Navy, against Messrs. Whit
ney, Tbbits, Hoyt, aud Capt. Dekoven. On
this subject we have no remarks of our own
10 make, as the public will draw their own
conclusions. Having, however, been furnished
with statement written by 1t. Weaver to one
of the Navy Commissioners, Justice requires
of us to notice the contents Of an official com
munication, which the complainant in the case
assures ms he is prepared to prove.
The statement before us commences with
ex expressions of an acuteness of feeling which
can he easily imagined by an honorable man.
Lit. w. seems fully aware of the weight which
the Chancelor's "pinon will have upon the
public mind, and the injury which may result
10 him from the harsh terms made use OF in his
decision. He then proceeds to state,
That the reason why 1t. Weaver left the
Franklin, was, that Com. Stewart had promis-
ed him the first Lleu,enancy; a superior pow
er however declared il inadmissible, on account
OF the application of senior Lieutenanis for the
situation. Being unable ~ fulfil his engagement
with L.. Weaver, and to avoid the indecacy
.0f retainsn ny him on board in subordinate ca
pacity, the Commodore, Mt Lit. Weaver's re-
quest, allowed him TO engage in the merchant
srrvicr, with promise, that If he went into the
IdCtuC ocedD. tldt Tie Silnulu nave ms friendly
colnirnnnce and protection, and that he might
meet him at Juan Fernandez, and receive the
advantage ofhis convoy, with the other ships
from \. York. the Canton and Post Captain ::
the latter commanded by 1t. Baldwin, ofihe
Navy, which vessels ayailed them selves of the
same Convoy offered Ia the America, Oh board
Of which LIT. w. was employed, but which he
did not use. With this privilege, and the prof
fered Kindness of Com. Stewart in cnnpany
with Mr. VIM Porter, of this city, the plan
was submitted 10 Mr.. Tibbits. and it was a.
greed, that the America should be loaded with
Hour and provisions, mo conira6and of ,car,)
Mr.. w. to take the management of the shin
and carg" for one -fnnrth of the profits This.
he states, Is what officers permitted to do
every day he closed the contract, and pat
his initials to Tie agreement. That the con
tract, IN the present shape, was kept hack I'M
al the night before the America sailed when
the whole of the parties WERE assembled nj the
house nf w. TihhIts, when the present con-
tract was produced. 1t. w. strpnuuusly Oh
lected tn the Insertion uf Com. Stewards
name. In reply. il is stated, the parties all
answered " there is nothing here stated that
can i;jure Com. Stewart i r has EXPRESSED
tn us ne would do every thing consistent with
his dn'y-he has made these promisrs-Nhat
yOu subscribe dues not bind Stewart" It. w.
yielded, and affixed his name, observing that
h" would sooner perish than iniure Com
Strwart-and here Mr. Weaver remarks, that
the insinuaton of the Chancellor that Com
madorc Stewart WAS 10 reapa profit from Mr.
WIS privat" and personal services, is totally
ground'ess-that he is an honorable man. and
Lit w. freely exnnerateS him from any pecu-
mary interest in this transaction.
Lieutenant w. observes that the laws ro,
the government Sf the navy have been his
constant guide, and that he has never violat
ed these laws-That it was for personal scr,i-
ces that he received COMPENSATION an board
the America, and the term bribe does no,
amply to him. He goes on 10 state, that the
u. =. stores were shipped on board che Amer
lea some time before the signing uf the con-
tract and by orders from government Tina;
the contract is dated back the 9Th Of August.
ana that 1t was not seen or signed by him un-
I'll the evening Of The third of October. the
night before he sailed 1t. w. acquits him
sell OF any intention 70 act incorrectly and
bitterly lainrnts the shape in which the tran.
sac;lon Is placed before the public and homes.
with innocence on his side. to make it appear,
that the terms of the Chancellor do not an
ply 4" him : and that the community, ere
long, will view the subject differently from
the Chancellor: that The remembrance of
thirteen years OF honorable service, and not
trifle of blood shed in the service of his
country, are MOI 10 ne rnacrd by his unsus-
pecting transactions with men of business
and, that the stain attempted TO be cast upon
his honor, will he wiped away.
Lieutenant w. concludes his letter with
expressing wish fur, and in fact. counting an
investigation of his conduct. IN. y. Gaz.
PORTER'S SQUADRON
The u. s. ship John Adams, and the Sea
Gull arrived ut St. Barls, on the 4h inst. rom
Norfolk, and sailed on the SIh for ST. Chris
t0phers-O officers and crew all well The Sy.
rem at New York has brought many letters
from ihem. a letter from an officer dated
the Cd, says" After rather bnisierUus pas
sage. we have arrived, all well Of St. Baris-
th" Commudnre is yet undetermined whether
TO anchor, as his only object in touching here
appears tO he to Join the Sea Gull and obtain
Information resp citing Colombia and Spanish
Priratcers and Pirates He will, of course,
be- go'rrurd very much by such information
as he may obtain. He Intends To give the
West Indirs good examination before he
gets 10 ThomPson's Island"
1t was not without reluctance, says the Phi
ladelpha National Gazette, that we admitted
ihr history nfthe revolving transactions reIat-
ed i'm the fnlIoty cnu,D u,icnfio, A .,t,,