Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-08-04
COURT MARTIAL.
Tyenty-second dny- Monday, august l.

i he court met al U CioSn, onu az
ter the proceedings OF Saturday were
read, Commodore Porter stated that
his Counsel requested the indulgence
ofthe Court until 9 O'Clock tomorrow,
to prepare the defence.
The Judge Advocate then proceeded
,o Law before the Court some letters
which were rendered necessary by the
documents submitted by Commodore
Porter on Saturday.
The first letter which was submitted
was from Commodore Porter to the
Secretary Of the Navy, dated Oct. IL,
1924, explaining the character and ex-
tent of the malady which ragged at
Thompson's Island.
The second letter was dated in the
same month, from Commodore Porter
to the Secretary of the Navy, in reply
10 letters from the Secretary OF the
18th, 18th, and 10th of October, 1924.
This letter was strong remonstrance
against the order of the Secretary that
Commodore Porter should sail for his
station in the John Adams, on the
ground that the pendant of a Commo-
dore should never be hoisted on board
a vessel which might prove too weak
for its protection from insult. The
letter also contained complaint that
the countenance given to him by the
Department when he first took the
command Of station where he had
been subjected to great privations,
great expense, and great injury to his
health, had been recently withdrawn;
and that he was almost daily called up
on to make explanations in relation to
some part Of his conduct. In refer
ence TO his station, the letter stated
that Thompson's Island, instead OF
being his station, was merely an appen-
dage to il, since his instructions had
described his station to be from the
coast of Africa to the Gulph Of Mexico,
to protect the trade of the y. States
through all that interval. The con-
Guiding part Of the letter expressed a
desire that Commodore Porter might
be relieved from the command Of the
station TO which he could not return,
at that season. without imminent dan
ger to his health.
When this letter had been read,
Commodore Porter, with some warmth
of manner, demonstrated against this
new Documentary evidence being put
in before the Court, in the absence OF
his Counsel. He did not understand
what relevancy there was between these
letters and any of the charges which
had been preferred against him; and
although he had no objection to an in
vestigation of all his official life, he
thought it right to object to the pro-
duotion Of this testimony, until his
counsel should be present.
The Judge Advocate stated that the
letters he was producing we're the re-
plies to the letters which Com. Porter
put in as evidence on Saturday, and
were rendered necessary to make the
correspondence, Of which Com. Porter
had offered part, complete. He hat
no objection, however, to delay offer
ing them until the Counsel for the &C
cused should be present, if such should
be the decision of the Court.
The Court was then cleared for de-
liberation, and on the doors being open.
ed, it was announced that the Court
had determined to postpone the further
hearing Of the letters until tomorrow.
when the Counsel for the accused
should be present.
The Court then adjourned urtil 10
o'clock tomorrow. Nat. Journal.
Treniy- Third Day-Tuesday, .augusi 2.
The Court assembled at 10 o'clock
The Counsel for Commodore Por-
ter then put in document Directing to
the production in evidence Of the let.
tiers from him to the Secretary of the
Navy, dated Oct. IL, and Oct. 10, 1924
which were read yesterday by the
Judge Advocate, and also Of a letter
from the same TO the same, dated 25th
March, 1925, which had not yet been
read. The grounds Of the objection
were, that the two former letters had
reference to misunderstanding be.
tween the Department and the accused
which he had supposed to have been
long ago terminated, and to be entirely
irrelevant to any of the charges now
preferred against him. The letter OF
the 25th March had also relation to
matters Of an entirely distinct charac.
Ter, and should, if received at all, be
made the subject of a distinct charge
Commodore Porter had waived the
objections he considered himself a:
having right to make against the ex
animation Of Mr.. Monroe, because o
the peculiar circumstances in which hi
was placed, and his desire to prevent
any differences to his prejudice which
might be made on the public mind, by
his adoption of that course. But hi
could not allow this waiver to be con
sidered as extending to every PROPOSE
ton of similar character which might
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