Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-21

days charges will be preferred, you will be arrest
ed, and Court Martial summoned for your trial.
am, very respectfully, SIR, your obedent ser
want, SANIL. l.. SOUTHLAND.
Capt. DAVID PORTER, u. S. Navy.
WAsHINGroN, MAY, 3oth, 1928.
Sin: Late on Saturday night Che 2Sth) re-
ceived from your messenger, your communication
ofthat date, informing that the Court of Enqui-
ry had closed its examination into the matters sub
mitted TO it, and made report to the Department;
also apprizing me of the intentions Of the Execu-
tive with regard TO me.
Ignorant, as am, of the report of the Court,
can form no idea of the nature of the charges in
tended to be preferred against rue, the motives
OF the Executive. or the object of the notification
have the honor, therefore, TO ask OF you the ne
cessary Information to enable me to prepare for my
defence.
With great respect, yonr very obedient servt.
ID. PORTER.
Hon. SAMI. /. Southland,
Secretary Of the Mary.
WAsHINGToN, JUNE 2. 1925.
SIR: The accompanying pamphlet, which was
put to press shortly after the termination of the
proceedings of the Court of Enquiry on the Fox
ardo affair, contains all the explanations shall
ever be able to make in justification ofmy conduct.
never had, at any time any doubts of the pro-
priety OF the course pursued-nor have l now;
and 1t will be the source OF great regret to me, it,
after perusal of the pamphlet further proceedings
in the case should be thought necessary.
If it be thought that have erred in Judgment
the purity of my intentions presume, cannot be
doubted.
have the honor to be, with great respect, your
obed't servant,
d. PORTER
Hon. SAML. l.. SoUrHARD.
NAVY DEPARTMENT., 18th June.
SIR: Your letter, II transmitting a pamphlet res
he n tba Of
and the transactions at Foxardo, sc. was received,
and the copy, endorsed for the President immedi-
ately delivered TO him.
1t is the cause of surprise, that you should have
considered it proper, while your case and the re
port of the Court of Enquiry were still under the
consideration OF the Executive, to make a publi-
cation relating thereto, and especially publication
IN so many respects deficient and inaccurate.
am, very respectfully, sc.
SAAlL. l.. SOUTHARD.
Com. DAVID PORTER, u S. Navy.
MERIDIAN HILL, June ii, 1925.
SIR: have received your letter of Yesterday
date acknowledging the receipt OF pamphlet pub
| lished by me, respecting The proceedings Of the
| Court OF Enquiry, and transactions ut Forardo
&c. and expressing your surprise that should have
considered it proper, while my case and the report
OF the Court OF Enquiry still under considera-
tion OF the Executive, TO make publication relat-
ing thereto, and especially publication in SO many
respects 60 deficient and Inaccurate
beg leave to state to you that the publication
alluded TO was put to press, and nearly ready for
distribution, before received any inimation from
you OF an opinion on the part of the Executive
that further proceedings in the case were deemed
necessary; an intimation which occasioned to me
great surprise; and 1t onlywith the hope OF
moving from the mind OF the Executive an idea of
this necessity, which induced me to circulate it after
being so notified, as you will perceive by the note
accompanying the pamphlet sent you few days af-
ter your notification, which, pardon me, sir, | did
believe was intended for the sole purpose of stop
ping my publication, as | could find no other motive
Tor 1t, nor have yet been able to find any Other as
am 10 this day not arrested, as was informed by
you should be.
H. by an ntmation of the deficiencies and mac
curacies which my pamphlet contains, it is intened
TO convey the idea of a wifu misrepresentation on
my part, beg you to point out in what il consists
The record OF the proceedings, as published, are
copied from the record of the Judge Advocate; and
the documents, whether rejected or otherwise, for
or against me, so far as / could possess myself OF
them accompanying the publication; and | certain
ly have not omitted any against me that were ad-
United by the Court testimony; TO the contrary
have inserted one OF that character, which was re-
jected by the Court unauhentc, to wit the Porto
Rico government publication.
There are one or two trlfling typographical er-
rors, the most important of which the ord clothes
instead OF colours, in the testimony of Mr.. Platt
page Is, and think an omission to italicise the
words I" fearful Odds in page 81, which surely
can not be the inaccuracies and Deficiencies alluded
to- as the first is calculated 10 operate against
myself, and the other, it 1t really exists is of no i'm
Portance. There is also Unmportant letter from
you to the Court, transmitting the rejected docu-
ments, which by note in page 81, and the report
OF the Court, which by remark in page 50, ac-
knowledge not to be in my possession. The first
was refused 10 me by the Judge Advocate: the lat |
ter, am still ignorant Of; but the publication of
both now respectfully invite.
The anonymous publication in yesterdays Jour
nal, OF the same date Of yourIetter, and taken in
connection with the language of it, leaves no doubt
OF the source whence it originated /, consequent
~, considering my relationship TO the Department |
feel restrained from making suitable comments |
thereon. 1t is, therefore, only left for me TO ex-
press the hope that the promised period for rectfy
Ing the errors, and supplying the deficiencies which
are SAID TO exist in the pamphlet, may soon arrive;
and until ii does, hereby voluntarily pledge nv |
g sacred honor" that none will appear in it, ex-
cept those have indicated, so far as / could by /
every effort on my part, obtain knowledge of the
Of the Court, and have do doubt |
have obtained them correctly.
III 1t IL intended TO intimate that the reasonings
contained nmy defence fallacous ard present |
an improper view of the subject, can only say |
they are the expressions of my honest unaided OPT
mons and convictions, and that should have de-
iyered them before the Court, had been allowed
he opportunity Of doing so. They are before the
public; the public will Judge of their value; and
now more than ever feel the necessity Of appealing
70 its decision. / am not impatient oft, and wait
Inc convenience OF the Department, il whatever
measures IT may think proper TO adopt toward me
take the liberty TO remind you that am still, |
gnorant OF the opinion OF the Court Of Enquiry, |
on the charges OF Messrs. Randall and Mountain,
and TO request may be laid before the public that