Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-06-15

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,
MESSAGE
From The President Of The United States, trans
mifting areporf ortte Secretary ofthe Nary.
accompanied ioith the Proceedings oTn Court
Martial iaiety heidot Norfolk, for the trial
Of Lieut. Bererty Kennon, RENDERED in ODE
dience 10 a resolution ofihe House Of Repre-.
.seniafiUes, oCthe s5th April, 1891
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,:
herewith transmit TO the House of Repre-
sentatives report Of the Secretary of the Ma
w together with the proceedings Of court
martial, lately held at Norfolk, for the trial of
Lieut. Beverly KeDnon, rs reqnestedhy Il re-
solution of the House, bearing date the s5th
Of April 1894.
Nay Ia, 1924. JAMES MONROE.
Navy Department, May IS, 1894.
SIR :. In obedience 10 Il resolution Of the
House of Representatives, of the 23i Of April
last, calling for the proceedings Of court
martial lately held at Norfolk, for the trial Of
Lieut. Beverly Kennop, of the United States
Navy, have The honor to transmit, herewith,
copy of the proceedings of said court, with
copies OF the communications which have
passed on the subject Of publishing the same.
with the highest respect, | am, sir,
I our Obedient servant,
sAML L. SOUTHARD.
The President of the United States
Washington. March 81, 1924.
DEAR SIR: received, tins morning, let
ter from friend in Virginia, upon the sub
Iect OF the late arrest and trial of Beverly
heDnon, lieutenant in the naval service of
the United States. The object of this letter
was to call my attention to decision which
1t is understood your Department hasmade,
that the proceedings Of this frini are not 10 be
published, and no copy Of ftem Furnished
My motive in addressing this letter to You
is, to inquire whether the proceedings of This
court martial have been officially received bv
you, and whether any decision has vet bees
made as to the proprety of Withholding them
from the public. Ifso, the extent of the de-
cislon, and thu reasons forit. l ask this in
formation AS Representative from Virginia.
lmany OF whose citizens feel deep interest il,
the sublecf,l and under persuasion that there
IS no improperly 10 my doing so. Should
there be, you will frankly te.l me so, and with
hold it.
With sentiments OF esteem and respect. I
am, &c. ANDREW STEVENSON.
S.SoUTHARD ESQ.,
Secretary OF the Navy
Navy Department, sIarch 90, 1872.
SIR: have recen ed your letter dated the
day before yesterday, and cheerfully answer
the inquiries made in it.
The proceedings of the court martial in the
case or Lieut.. b. Kennon were received 6t,,be
23th February Immediately commenced
the examination of them, and proceeded as
rapidly as other official duties would, at the
time, permit. They filed, probably, six qures
OF paper, and was not able to finish them
Tor several days. The sentence fully acquit-
ted Lieut.. Kennon, and was approved.
Tn the 18Th of This month I an,In..J q
him copy Of the sentence and approval.
with permission TO publish If, and information
that L intended to do so. Five DAYS apo
sent q copy to the Editors of the N. Intelli
sencer, and requested them to insert il in their
paper, and perceive that it appears there in
yesterdays paper.
In my letter to Lieut.. Kennon l said {" am
graiihed that this sentence enables me to
restore you to the station which you held. be
lore your arrest. You will proceed as a pas
senger in the Peacock, and resume that s,a
ton on meeting the frigate u. States.n
lpresume the letter from your friend was
written before the course taken by the De-
partment was known, and was occasioncd by
the delay In approving and FORMULATING tie
senfence-a delay which | sincerely repret
but which could not avoid.
Ifyour inquiry was designed to extend. moi,
only to the result of the trial. hut tn tbe
whole proceedings of the court martial. il is
proper Tor me TO state, that they have not
been published. 1t is not the custom of This
Department TO publish the proceedings of
courts martial; except in very particular ca.
| SEES; and, If this were not so, there are circum-
stances attending this case, which, in nv oni-
Mon, render 1t ndiscreet and improper for
The Department to make the publication.
Much, perhaps all, Of the difficulties in I.ieut.
kennon's case, arose from improper articles in
the newspapers, which ought not to have
been made by the parties, as officers. Had
| the facts been within my knowledge and con-
troll early enough, should not have permit
ted events to take the course they did but.
alter was informed, L was not able to stop
Them before inc trial, without producing a
greater evil. The trial has now taken place.
Lieut.. kennon has been fully acquitted and
bonorably restored To the station he held be-
fore his arrest Further proceedings, and
further exposure before the public, il seems
TO me, can be of no sefvice To him. unless if
might possibly eveniuate IN the qualifications
Of personal feelings, which it would be no
credit to him, before this nation, To cherish.
There must, in some way, be period mn, I'm
J the public alterations of our naval officers in
] this as well as in other cases, unless ,ve arc
| disposed to break down both the discipIine of
the service and the affections of the nation
for the navy. There can be- no period better
| for the purpose than The present and so far
rs depends on this Department, it win no,v mo
done. Orders have heretofore been rive, 90
prevent resort TO newspapers TO exhibi,
charges, and inIure each others reoutatioo
and these orders will be rigidly enforced n
one officer be guilty Of improper conduct IN.
wards anothpr. or fDYufds fhe n,,tt:.