Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-15
LIEUT.. KENNON,S TRIAL
(coNTINUEp.)

(coNrINUEp.)
The newspaper found me about the 10Th q,
October, in Norfolk, reposing after the fatiaues
and privatons of my service against the pirates:
reposinS, as had fondly hoped, in the esteem
and confidence of the society in which was un.
conscious OF having forfeited by any act unwor-
thy OF my profession. Had il not reused me
from my reposc, l must have been more or less
than man. Forget, if You can, sirs, that this
cruel attack cnanatcd from the accuser, who
now, by the most uDheard of perYerson of law
and teeing hopes to punish, by your sentence,
hun whom lie had attempted to destroy by his
libel.
Forget that the author Of this anonymous in
VectYe against the character and honor of an
ohcer, was, himself, an officer, high in rank and
Plblic confidence, whose example was, there
fore, more influential, and should have been
more circun1spect; forget, too, for the present,
that, to the ordinary claims which had on him
lor for6earancc, was superadded, the hitherto
sacred title OF recent service, under his imme-
date command: above all, forget that the hand
that performed this torturing anatomy of my
character, but few short weeks before, at the
last moment lii which we held either personal or
professional intercourse, had been extended In
Kindness towards ME, AMI had been but shortly
before employed in indicting a testimonial ex-
Prcssive OF his professional confidence and per-
sonai esteem forget all this for it is calculated
10 disturb the serenity of your Judgment; and
feeling may award that acquittal, which wish
to owe only to your coolest delibcraton. Too
soon shall be compelled again to present this
matter to your notice, when, after vindicating
myself, shall turn on my pursuer.
Judge, then, sirs, of this libel; without any of
these aggrayations, and as though its author
was yet unknown. What feelings should it
have inspired! What course should have pur-
sued! ShoulI have acquiesccd under this
harsh disc 'ine, and kissed the rod of nv I'M
provoked chasiiseInent' Ought TO have sum-
rnoned to my aid the lessons of stoicism, which
leach An indifference they cannot communicate.
Or sought In the pure fountain of christian
truth, the blessed waters which purify our fall
len nature of all its passions and its resentments
own, to you, even while extol its virtues,
dad not wish to leave my lacerated body in the
healing stream. Tried by the precepts of rei-
g'on, am seif-condeinncd, though not reform
ed. Grant, however, had acquicsccd, as
tamely as stoicis:n or religion would have re
commended. Had done nothing towards eli
ther vindication or redress, what would, what
ought the world to have inferred. Could any
conclusions have been drawn, but that consci-
Gus turpitude had closed my lips, and blanched
the purple current of my heart? Imagine sirs,
had thus, by my silence, sealed my own dis
honor, imagine that among the many Youthful
and generous, and gallant spirits, yet destined,
hope, to give new lustre to our naval renowp,
and again to bear our star-spangled banner
triumphant over every lake and every ocean,
destined to do so if their towering spirits be not
dcbased iDtoServility;) imagine, sr5, one ofthese
VINO feit my communion and opprobriu,n on the
service, had brought me to a court martial for
the very baseness of that silence ITSELF imarine.
sirs, you are now assembled TO pronounce upon
that charge | appeal to your conscious man
hood, your generous pride. [ ask of these by
whom should be most priced, that high tone OF
feeling, which themselves have so much coniri-
buted to create AMI adorn, what would be your
sentence And if, on such charge, your
generous Indignation, di5t,aining all intercourse
VITA one 50 yi,c ana base, would have cashiered
me with ignoniny, will you inputc to me as a
crime, that did not maintain the indifference
for which you would have punished me? did
not ac1uicscc took measures to assert nv
fame. applied to the elitor of the newspaper
for the author of the libel. To suspend public
opinion, and to give my caluminator, himself.
the opportunity of correcting the wrongs his in
justice had done me, published in the Norfolk
Herald, piece iii the following words
"To THE PUBLIC.
i" 1t was my intention to have replied. in u,is
paper, to an anonymous publication which APP
pcarcd few days since. against me, in the Sa-
vannah Georgian; but circumstances have de-
FerHinei INC 10 ueier u, 10 give inc author. an
opportunity ofrecanting, on seeing the obscrya-
tons made on the subject, IN the Herald, Of
MonIay last.n
THIS publication, aggravated as my feelings
nov are by subsequent wrongs, now repre-.
head for too much moderation; but no one will
condemn it for too much violence.
Justification for this attack on my feelinr;
and reputation, the Court will perceive there
was nono, literally none. For, by that fatality
which has constrained my accuser to refute, 5,
his own evidence, his own accusations, this We.
fy prosecution proves the wanton Injustice O
this libel, aud takes from it all apology. I ar
charged, in IT, with numbers and shocking per
eonal and professional offences, prcUiousIy com
rnittoI. Yet Capt. Porter has not ventUrcd tt
make one oftl,cse imputed offences subject O
accusation; but has confined his charges cxcla-
sively to matters sVbseqtent to the libel, anc
produced by the libel useC
On my departure from Thompson's Island, a
bout the 18th August, by Capt. Porter's owl
declarations, we separated in entire anity.
say nothing, at this time, Of his complimentar,
note. But, by his own declaration, on oath, be
fore this Court, be &C sincerely wished to maxi
ono his 1renj;" and l " bore with me his kim