Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-15

or ever had one ''tcrun;" from me. i have
never shrunh from the consequences of any act
OF my life, and do not now. have made apollo
gics, perhaps, more than once, but freely and
} voluntarily; under the conviction of my feelings
that was wrong, and under circumstances in
which no honest and honorable man would lave
been unwilling to tender them. But, if any
person to whom have ever made one in my
} life, has done me the Injustice TO think 1t was
,or,tnS, from me, or given reluctantly, now re-
cal it.'
do not fear that any one will perceive in
tins comment, any sentiment which it may not
beft gentleman TO feel, and to utter
Sirs, feel that have unnecessarily occupied
you in this matter. Refer to Capt. Porter,s
proposition TO me, after my arrest, and you will
ind his own declaration, that he was tffa and
before my arrest, satisfied with my publication Of
the 10th November. But, as it is necessary 10
the purpose which L have in view, to expose that
naughty and contumclious spirit Which has oy-
ertec itselfin so many degrading forms to op-
press me, beg leave to-cxanne the p,ete1ts
found IN that publication Of the 9Th September,
for this libel III the Georgian.
You will perceive, sirs, that the nub,cot;on
IN the Herald consists fthree parts !; the FIRST,
the usual notice of the arrival of the schooner
WcaZci, the length of the voyage state of her
crew, &C.; the second, the account of The cam
tnrc of the Spanish schooner Gallicco; the
third, the additional remarks made bv the
printer, on has own authority, and not nine as
to the despatch of that vessel To Havana.
and her liberation. As To the first and second
the Georgian finds no cause of complaint. In
dcnd 1t w"nld have been singular he had, for
the hfst relates to matters in which Capt. Por-
ter had no concerns and, to the second if
the facts had been incorrectly stated, it would
be folly u im2utc to me n-ttice GraiaN Cunt
Porter, in publishing them as, hc now admits
these ce'Y facts, without the addition or omission
of one, had been stated to hi.sc!f in my official
report OF the transaction. The sinof that publ
cation IS, by the Georgian, charged only on the
third part.
gentleman SO nice in all matters concern
ing his own feelings, and So fastidious of his own
honor, must be supposed to feel and know what
IS due TO those of other gentlemen; and, after
reading the virulent abuse lcvcllcd at me by
the Georgian, You would necessarily Imagine
that the passages complained of in the pu5lica-
ton OF the Herald, must have contained imputa-
tons OF SO gross character on the personal
worth, or professional character Of Capt Porter.
| requiring such prompt refutation, as not to al.
low HIM to make previous inquiry how far they
had been authorized by me, or to demand any
H explanation, though he was bound directly to
Norfolk, where L was, and where the facts
: could be ascertained concusively. Yet srs.
1t IS distinctly IN proof, that in Norfolk, This
!. publication excited no suspicious, produced
no doubts preudical TO Captain Porter; MOI
has any human being been yet found (saye Cant
Porter hiinself) with perception keen enough
TO detect therein any reflection whatever or
him. And boldly challenge any man, howe.
yer fastldious and critical, TO find in the whole
Puohcation, one expression, or one insinuation
prejudciai to HIM as man, or an officer The
offence is to be found oIly in that lofty temper
that hauty spirit, which arrogates to itself moro
homage than royalty claims, or. imperial power
ever yet, IN amy nation, not utterly base, ha.
dared to claim. For even the Iibeller,s nice
and sensitive tact, can object nothing more. n
use his own words, sirs, than s'nsinnalions cal
cuiated TO Proiuco Impressions highly prejud
cal to the conduct and character of Goycrn3,
wives, and the independent Judgement and de-
olson OF the commander of the American nava
torcesi" and left the conduct ofthe captain &C
neral, and the commander fthe squadron, sub
Jectto do'tbts arising from the
contained in the closing paragraph.
And has it come to this? Arc the yonneer or
iicers IN the American navy reduced TO so de
graded condition? Are they held so uttcrl,
vile and worthless, that, to atone this pai,
crime of doubts and iusinuations, (ayc, sirs. in
sou ltioDs 50 remote that none but diseased pride
can perceive them y against a foreign Goverpo,
and ''the independent Judgment and decision'
OF a commanding officer their private feelings
their personal character, their professional re-
Putation, without guilt, wtIiout inquiry, may be
assaled in the public prints? Way more, srs,
are they TO be SO umblcd and PROSTATE before
those new divinities, 'tle independent iudg-
ment and decision Of commander in ch;ef,r
that, if we dare to complain of this wantop ga-
crfcc of our character and feelings, our very
complaints arc TO be considered as blasphemic 2,
against tue offended dcitics, which are to be ex-
patel by new infections and greater punish
i meDts say no.hiag, sirs, of Cur country, and
OF IFS highest magistrate. In England, in
France, i'll every country in Europe, where let
ters prevail, and thc human mind IS not entirely
enslavcd, 'the independent judgement and de-
ciso3" of The commander in chief, though the
diadcm sparkle OF his brow, submits not merely
to ''doubts" and ''iasinua;ions,, but often TO d-
rect rebuIsc.
If VIC are TO be reduced TO th;s, If all that is
sac I'd to US as men, valuable as citizens, priz
cd rs officers, may wantonIy and recklessly be
sacrificed, rather than tie ''independent ildg-
mont and dccisonn of a commander OF the A.
mcrIcan sqadron shall be exposed to the posi-
bic mI5interprctatiOn inferfiblc from doubts and
nsinuatioas. i'll public print, tellus so plainly,
5y y5Jr decision to day, and at least give US
! the opportunity Of knowing, whether Won and
our country expect us TO lay aside our feelings
as men, our pride, our manhood, our instructive
sense, OF self protection, that we may thereby
qualify ourselves better fight her naval battles
and 10 sustain her flag? Tell us this, sirs to day,
!, and we will cndeaVor to forget that J,awrence
and Perry, and Decatur, ever lived VIC will
: endeavor to Danish from our remembrance the
; Guerrcr, the Macedonian, The Java, tie Eper-
J vicr, Erie, aud Chanpnin for these rccoec-
tons viii only iesyH our b1scness when VIC dare
not emulate tie hcroism which they record
, But it can never be. This Court will not con-