Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-07-09


lhe result OF the trial is a matter of perfect in
difference To me-" Here, then, it is avowet
that my arrest and prosecution were deter
n'ned on, not to punish the for past offence,
but to prevent anticipated transs ressions. An
this is not all: he distinctly acknowledge
mat this prosecution, productive Of SO muc
personal Inconvenience 10 the court, as well a
myself, and 50 much expense to the nation
this prosecutions, which has detained squad
ron Tor two months inactive in port, and lief
the trade it was intended To protect defence
less and uDguarded, has been instituted fron
no sense ofpuLIic duty---no regard to the pub
he Sood-but for considerations altogether per
sonal and these tsersonal considerations ar.
themselves Sd unmportant, that the result u
him.
If Captain Porter's Judgment has been Sc
led astIay by his feelings, as not to perceiy.
how unwise, and injurious 10 himself this de.
claration is, ought not to be surprized tina,
ne Imagined the arrest Of an officer on the
eve of departure" on three years. cruise in
the Pacific. and his detention IN this country,
was the wisest plan tn prevent abusive publ
cations by him 10 the American newspapers.
In the Pacific there are no presses, if should
have had time and disposition to employ them.
On examining the charges, YOU will per.
celve that the guilt imputed TO me CONSISTS,
mol SD much IN the acts said to have been
committed, as IN the motives with which thew
We're performed. The fsIsehOod, the MALICE.
inc baseness ut my Intentions, rather than
my measures themselves, seem TO have ex-
cited the resentment of my accuser; and these
terms have been literally applied, to give point
ana Character To each accusation TO these
matters, then, your attention will chiefly b.,
drawn, because these inputations are common
.sl a hnr al
solIcitOus to acquit myself The acts them
selves shall not rxcape observation and com
nent. T~ determine ON the mott, es by which
l was influenced, in the acts imputed to m Z.
the court must inform itself Of the crcum-
stances Under which they were performed =
ana Tile most correct mode of doing this
will be to trace back the transactions 10
place themselves in imagination, (God forbid
they should be SD in reality,) in similar sit,ia.
ZION and, TO decide ON the baseness, the
malice, or the pr0hity of my motives, by tn.
opinlDn they will form of the feelings which
these circumstances ought to have inspired
An historical statement Of the transactions
which led 10 this trial with such comments as
each may suggrsD will. therefore, form the
proper prelude 10 The detailed answers which
propose To give to each charge and speciG-
Gallon. Bat IL will require me 10 notice them
In The order Of time, and rot 10 the arrange
nlent in this prosecution.
On the 9th Of October last was published. in
Savannah, an anonymous libel, n hcb y as
traduced by name, and every reproach heap
ed ON me, which was likely to wound NV
feelings, or To ruin my fame. Nothing was
held sacred. Neither my private depo, tmeni,
my personal temper, nor my professional
Conduct ESCAPED. Ignorance, vanity dis
position Inlschievous, and suspicious, TN
fam u
were distinctly imputed to me. In NV pro-
iessonal life, was charged with Insult 10 The
nag OF a foreign nation, cruelty TO prisoners,
breach OF positive orders, and repeated acts o.
Decentralization. For one Of those acts of in
subordination, was openly menaced with IL
prosecution. As to another, ii was said had
escaped punishment only by dIsgrac.ful IA
pOlogy. Every means were used To give poini
To the sting, and vruIence 10 the wosnd il
was intended TO inf1ict. TO render il irremedi
able, public newspaper was the vehicle by
which 1t was conveyed and my name, taini
ed with my infamy, came first To the ear OF
thousands whose eyes will never witness the
| tardy, but certain aniidOte which do NOT dps
pair yet to obtain.
That libel IS upon your records ;and mus,
respectfully ask your patient inspection of it.,
as the iimiis ut NY defence do not allow tina (
minute criticism OH il, which nv feelings
prompt me 10 bestow. To say nothing, then,
oil lis general tone of haughty superiUrty-ot
arrogant dlctation-of co0Tident reproof: pass
ing over us cutting rosy, It's bitter sarcasm.
the mOriifying insinuations, which those upIy
can properly appreciate who have been VIC
uIBs OF similar OutraSes emitting the marked
character of angry and revengefuI passions
which 1t bears; ask leave Ia cite some par.
tcular passages for the special attention Of the
court.
:" Some statements have gone the rounds
OF the papers, relative TO the detention, and
Subsequent discharge, of the Spanish sclooD.
er Segunda GalliegO to one Of which, Lieut.
Com. kennon, Of the United States navy, has
giuen The sanction Of his name aud to which
Is appended paragraph dcroid Of truth, and
tns,nuations calculated 1O produce in the
minds OF others impressions highly prejudcial
to the conduct and character Of General
Wives, and 10 the independent judgment and
| decision Of the commander Of the Aneri
can naval forces in the West Indies and Gull
| Of Mexico" The notifies Of Lieut.. Kenn,,
| in giving publicity to his stateint Mt the wr;ter
of these remarks believes he is ACQUAINTED
with. Mischief however ,oeak, may SONS.
| times sling but he trusts thai, in This. f,,d
this IS not the first ins;ance,l il has failed ,f;ts
object" Indeed, il is known To the wr;,.r
OF this, that, Notwithstanding the reasons as.
slSned by L,eutemant Renuon, for the deteo-
ilon OF the Seguoda Gailiego, land he sought
Jor dah he could find, he only vsnturcd To ex
press hls hope 10 his commanding officer that
MS Conduct, In OBTAINING her for further exa-
n,nal'on,' might be approved and il was not
I'LL alter lac had perused the letter Of the com.
mander OF the squadron to The Captain Gene
raj that he ,entured an opinion that our courts
might condemn bel" " II bis object was
fueTeIJ, In Dtuls I'm ~. fb world hxt IA