Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-12
From, the Lmchburg Vi'rginian.

From me L<yncf0u1S v UStTttuH.
COM. PORTER AND MR.. ADAMS.
There is paper published in the City OF
New-York Qately established) edited by a Mr..
Weaver, a cashiered Lieutenant, and by Mr.
Felch, a dismissed Chaplain Of the u 5. Navy
This paper is called "Coram's Champion
and was established TO ,0rite dozen the Secretary
Of the Navy, and to give vent to the personal
malignity Of its Editors, neither OF whom APP
pear to deserve the slightest credit. They have
been publicly accused, by Maj. Saterlee Clark,
of N. Y. of having uttered gross falsehoods in
relation TO himself, and the facts OF the case
evidence the truth of the accusation. Maj
Clark was an officer Of the y. 5. Government
The Editors OF the "Champion, from loose ru-
NOR, chose TO assume that Maj. Clark had been
aggreved by the government; and what do these
impartial gentlemen, these Romans OF the age
Of Brutus, do, but draw up history OF the cir.
cumsances they had heard In relation 10 1t, and
proffer the aid OF their columns and talents to
procure the Major justice Maj. Clark assur-
ed the editors that what they had heard was uh-
true-that he had never been aggrleved by the
government-and told them that they must not
publish the narrative they had gralmtousy and
so periodically drawn up. They agreed TO sup
press il; but, notwithstanding they had been
assured Of It's falsity, and notwithstanding their
promise to suppress it, the next No 81 their
paper ushered it forth 10 the world as true
and veracious history! Maj. Clark then public
w contradicted i, and told the facts which had
occurred; but still the cashiered Lieutenant and
the dishon0red Chaplain continue TO avouch that
il is all true We make sober appeal to the
public Are these mento be believed! hey
surely are not And yet, the "Rlchmond En-
quirer," Of the lst inst. gives currency to one
of its newly fabricated SANDERS against Mr.
Adams, not only without any signs OF lncredu-
lty, but with an effort to sustain it. lit IS not
true as all the narratives of the time agree, that,
when Com. Porter offered his hand 10 Mr.
Adams, at the launch Of the Brandywine, the
latter, turned away from him. The remarks
attributed to General Lafayette are not true
II is true; that, at the instance OF General La
fayette, Mr. Adams intended 10 return Com
Porter his sword, and restore him 10 the SER
vice from which he had been dismissed by a
Court-martial, at that time: IL is true, that Com.
Porter, with knowledge Of this fact, suffered
an article, subscribed by his name, to appear IN
the Washington prints on the very morning OF
that day, in which he INDUCED In strain OF aclI-
monious and unbecoming invective against the
Court-martial and the National Executive: and
at is true. that in consequence OF this tact, MT
Adams declined annulling the decision OF the
Court, as he had intended. his further true, HI
the narratives Of that day are entitled to credit,
and they are surely worth more than the naked
assertions Of men who are now suffering the pu-
nishment inflicted on them by the offended laws
of their country, and who have been demon
strated to be unworthy of credit that Mr.. A
dams showed Com. Porter's publication to
Gen Lafayette, and consulted him as TO the
course he ought to pursue, winding up, in sub
stance, with this remark-Sl cannot now, con-
sistently with what owe to my own feelings,
and TO the feelings Of the Court, restore Com
Porter 10 his rank and return to him his sword -
And IL is also true, that the General approved Of
Mr.. Adams determination. Such was the mar
rative given at the moment: 1t was then unCon-
tradicted; has remained uncontradicted until
this time:-and is now only contradicted by a
Lieutenant who was broke for employing the flag
of his country in forbidden traffic, and by a
Chnrlnin. who was dismissed, we know no. for
what: but not, we presume, because he pos
sessed too much honor as man, or too much
humility as a christian. If the SANDER had
been confined to the columns ofthe Champion,
we should have taken no notice OF 1t; but, as
the Enquirer, (Which has an extensive clrcula-
tom has thought proper TO translate 1t into as
pages, with approbatory remarks, we have de
termined to send the antidote with the poison,
so far as our paper clrculateS.