The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-09-15

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The Geuri doe. therefore adIadse aud de
clare that lhr said Chaiirs Stewart u NOT
GUILTY nf tlir third charge.
In f..lalioa Ia tine specification OF thr
fnullli charge, it is the oPinion oil Inc C"ui
hat the saHie Is not proied i: aud tnere-
futr the aid Charles Stewart IL adJ"dgrd
aud declared or GUILTY ofthe SAID iodilh
charge.
In terminating trial which has awaken
ed 81 general aud So deep an interest, "hd
in submitting the result Ia tile Excch-
TIVE, the Court trusts taai thr PECULIAR ciia-
racirr af the accusations which haHe been
Investigated, Will furnish AZ excuse tor APP
pending 10 the record few remarks.
When runners aud rePorls are widely
and lndastfi0u-ly disseminated, calculated
to npair the high standing aud usefulness
of an officer Ia whom great trust aud CON
Gdebce have been reposed, II becomes the
duty Of the Executive In afford 10 such of
fcer, by the convention oil a proper tiibd-
ual an ample opportunity Of sndicatIng
himself before the world. To Afford this
opportunity, and to preserve from the inst
diuus effects of uHnerlted reproach, re-
putaton dear 10 the nation, won 10y the
honorable serNlcps of Fen-aud-twenty
years 10 exllnguIsh prejndlees and suspI-
Cians created by Interpretations, or
misconceptions of public agents aud Prl-
yate individuals, and GDa.ly, To do all which
the laws, Whlrh Justice aud which honor
exact, THIS Court has been convened.
Charges ADD Specifications have heen
preferred, embracing all the accusations
made against Captain Stewart; an inyes~
tigafion has been made into their truth
it has been conducted by the Judge Adso-
cate in lie most exemplary manner, yet
with minutene5s and fulness calculated to
leave 10 doubt or cloud of suspicion resting
upon the character Of the accused. THIS
investigation has prOdaced what MAS de-
sired by Captain Stewart, aud intended by
the Executive, a developement of all the
important transactions attending the late
cruise of the Franklin in the Pacific, aud
the principles and motives which guided
the conduct of the Commander. These
Charges and specifications, tue Court has
adjudged not to be proved 10 he, ia some
respects, utterly groundIess aud IN others
to have originated in IA mis-concrplion
or misrepresentation of the most innocent
and mcrltorious acts aud Captain Stew
art has ben most fully aud most hunors-
oly ht1dltfu VI C''s :, ''tb '1' 0'6"NSo'
Improperly.
The Court, however, Coacelyes that the
peculiar character Of the accusation is sue
that II would not render that full measure
of justice which is required al lis hands by
4 simple Judgment ofacqnittaI. It's there
fore, Inpclitd by ii sense al duty to Z" tar
lher, aud Ia make unhesta6ogly, tins de-
claralion To the world, that so far from
having violated the high danes of ue"trHl-
" and respect for thc Laws al nations 50
far from having sacrificed the honor OF the
AmerIean nag, or furnished his Dan lair
@mr BY actiog upon any motives "i u mer-
cenary or sbrdld hInd 81 tar from having
urgteeted Ii, dOty, ar betrayed the u"s'
imposed In him, by refusing proper proitc-
linn 10 American citizens aud property, or
rendering such protection subserVgent to ~
di,idnal interest, no one ciren instance has
been drvcl ped, throughout the whole
course Of this inmate investigation INTO the
vatious occurrences of three Years CRUISE,
calculated 10 impair the confidence wHch
the member. of the Court, the Navy, and
the nation. have long reposed IN the honor,
the talents, and the patriotism of tins dis
tlngnished officer, or 10 weaken, IN any
manner, the opinion which all VIII" kne"
him entertained OF las humanity and dIs!n-
tercslcdness.
These virtues only glow with brighter
lustre fson this ordeal of trial, like the stars
he trinmphantly displayed when Vnlor and
skill achieved a new victory 10 aGorn the
annals of our naval glory.
JAMES BARRON President,
WILLIAM NJ. CRANE,
kopERT TRAIL SPENCE,
J. ID. HENLEY,
J ID. ELLIoTr,
5. CAssIN,
JAMES RENsHAw,
THOMAS BRowN,
Gus. G. b. THoMPsoS,
ALEX. =. WADsWoRrH,
Gro. w. RoGERs,
GEO. G. READ,
RICHARD S. COKE, Judge .9dpocGte,
The proceedings and sentence Of the
Court are approved; with the exception of
the exclusion of Samuel Brown, as an IN
competent witness: The grounds of OBJ