Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-07
NoRFoLK, April /, 1924.
CASE OF THE AMERICA.

= The following queries winch appeared III the nc
publican Sentinel of New-York, about the time OF
the Franklins sailing for the Pacific, e"d the sub
Joined letters then published. in explanations by the
National Intelliscnccr and copied into the Beacon
Of ed Oct. 1874, mey shed some Important light
upon the transaction between 1t. Weaver, OF the
Navy, and Mcssrs. Whitney, Tahbits, Hoyt. aud
Dekoven OF NewYor the announcement of which
was hid before readers yesterday, in the manly
and able exposition of its merits, rather dement's,
furnished by the opinion OF CHANCELLOR Sanford, II,
the case lately depending between the parties All the
Chancery Court of that State.
The character Of the Navy, we repeat, is deep
~ implicated by this transaction as it now stands
before the public, and we trust that those who ale
charged w:,h the guardianship of the national ho-
nor, will feel that they are mpcriousy called upon
probe it the quick, That justice may be done TO
all parties. As the warm friends o! the Navy, 're
be silent upon this subject, which in the light
that it is presented to odiously deforms the
noble and dgnit:cd portrait of the Naval c!arac-
ter heretofore reflected by its gallan. and magnan-
nous deeds, which it has been pride and plea
sure so often to revive TO courtrymcn. II tho
opinion of Judge Sanford be well founded, we may
truly cxcain, EheW /! mnt,;t,S Ob do Beacon.
Fran, he ". Y. Republican, Sentinel, Oct. 1921.
THE NAVY.
We stand pledged to notice this establishments
Tha, pledge shall be redeemed at an early day.
We have suspended our remarks on the subject, be-
cause We found the feelings and anxiety of pa
irons almost exclusively ensrosscd with the proceed
ings OF the Convention.
Our attention is attracted to the Navv lat this mo-
meni, from sincere desire to obtain. il possible,
correct information upon point which, if we are
much mistaken, 1t will be found necessary sooner
or later, for those ,cto hots he naich po,, deck
TO explain to the nation.
Is it, or is it not true, that the ship America has
sailed for Rio de Jane, 10, having board an OIL
Ger of the United States Navy, and four hundred
barrels ofporh. any other provisions, marked for
the u. States ship (7tD Franklin? Is the Amclica
chartered by the government as Il store ship.
II the government wanted store ship, why did
they not advertise foc one, and thus afford an OPP
portunity for competition among the merchants
Is it intended that the America shall derive any
advantages. other than fair mercantile freight,
from the circumstances Of having few barrels OF
provisions for the supply Of the franklin
1fyoa, what are the advantages she is thus to de-
rive: Are they granted by the authority of the Pre-
silent' the Secretary of the Navy? Or do they
emanatc from any particular officer or officers p
And who?
Is she to proceed from Rio to Lima? Or any O.
Their blockaded port in The Pacific?
Are there any other ship or ships fitted or fitting
for sea, similarly situated with the America
These arc plain questions, involving important
principles. We most devoutly hope some friend Ia
the present naval establishment will take the trou-
bic to answer them III satisfactory manner ii they
susceptible of such answers. We will only add
rumor is afoat, with her thousand tongues, busly
engaged in circulating what appears to us must be
idle and slanderous tales.
Our object is TO elicit the truth, as Republican
Sentinels, we have Il duty perform. That du-
ty, on the present, as every other occasion, shall
be faithfully and independently performed.