Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-07-08

nreparaole INJURY 10 the public service III Is tile ap
peal OF an officer high In commanded distinguish
ed bravery--of unqnesiionable zeal for the honor
OF his country, and therefore of dangerous example
ii wrong. There can be but one opinion among
rejecting men, of the improperly, not TO say In
! decorun, of his course. His case was with trbu-
nal appointed by the officer whom the law has
vested with authority to in all similar cases. 1t
Is therefore not obedient 10 the law not respectful
to the constituted authorities of the snd--n other
words, an instance of Observation-Disclosures make an
appeal to the public pending inquiry into his Of
! fetal conduct.
These appeals should be discouraged The pub
lie have nothing 10 do with them. Public preiu-
dice and Indignation may be easily excited by their
use against those who in the honest discharge OF
their daty, II they made By L popula. officer
They may be employed means of intimidation
as weapons OF annoyance and revenge by those who
may be provoked 10 retaliation for official wrongs
real or supposed. In this way those whom the
law protects IN the discharge of public duty may be
Invested OF that protection from public opinion
Which should be their shield and support whilst
conscieniiousy passing between an officer and his
government. In fact, Court of Inquiry or a Court
Martial is much tribunal Of the people as it is
of The Government. Such tribunals are meant to
guard the general interest and preserve the public
peace by keeping those 10 whom both may be COM
mltted Tor safe keeping within the pale their duv
We therefore sag that all appeals 10 the public i'm
Anticipation OF official censure, wrong in prin-
cpIe, as well as dangerous in their consequences
The people are peculiarly sensitive TO " liat NAV
appear To be wrong done TO those who have hazard
ed their lives submitted signal sacrifices in the
service OF their country. II is Il noble sentiment
oil gratitude which friend 10 his country y old
Wish 10 see imported. Popular sympathy for Off
clal INJURY IS easily awakened therefore for the sui
ierer' and public odum easily turned against the
authors oil the wrong There Is the NOR necessity
To- IN ta~A Vh r
INTO excess or from taking false direction
We do not charge Commodore Porter with anv
such intention. We are only speaking of the pos
Siole consequences of the practice and protesting
against 1t as OF dangerous example. We have 4,
nigh an admiration of Commodore Porter as the
most enthusiastic of his supporters. The generous
ardonr oil his public zeal-his ntollgence-his skill
the high chivalry of his character, can receive ard
need no illustration from US. But it is because OF
The spiendor of his services and the popularity his
name that ne OF all Others should not have sat the
Example OF appealing fiom the law aud con stituted
authorities 10 The people. We do not charge Com
modore Porter with wanton disregard TO the peace
OF the country IN violating his orders but we place
u 70 the excess oil his zeal on highly meri orious
service, and 10 manly Indignation against a set of
unpIlnolped wretches and their secret supporters
whist therefore we do all possible Justice to his
OteoeS, we insist that those who entrusted with
me preservation OF the peace efthe country should
oe protected in the discharge of their duty no.
The Secretary of the Navy seems to have as
troublesome Correspondent In rUrIer, rs
The Secretary of War he's in Gov Troup of
Georgia. Both the Commodore and the Governor
appear much rather disposed to cast reproaches al
these Heads of Departments of the General Govern
ment, than 10 deal in courlly phrases The Let
tiers of the Commodore TO Mr.. Southland, would |
scarcely have been tolerated under any Government
ouI oul oHI "'.'s':..sr in the SAND rance the au-
Executive authority, would have beeahon to the
cashiered The Commodore, who on former y
casions has shown the disposition of caviller
TOR the imm9terial forms of etiquette when dealing
with his interiors; should not in such haste have
bid defiance to its most salutary restraints when
called to account by those whom the Constitution
and Laws have placed above lin And, fond as
ne seems OF appealing in all 10 the People, he
should not fail 20 recollect that his feow-ciiizens
how friendly soever towards him. still entertain for
their GOUerRment the strongest sentiments of res
pect; and would support in any just cause, quite
as soon as they would raise their voices in behalf
OF one, who appears unwilling to recognize any
other tribunal than his own fallble Judgment.
Pet. Int.