The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-01-08

consideration entered largely into the dehbcra-
tons of the Court. aud he ought to have bowed
10 then deeision with chreriulness: II he had
been len to the dictates of his Judgment, or II
fortune had favored him with few udicious
friends, Instead of those hot.headcd aud weak.
minded men who became his advisers, and who
we're incapable t"f any more honorable feeling
than revenge for injuries, ianeied or real, he
would have suffered the penalty he Ind incur
red without niurmur, antl would now have
been in the bosom of his country, surrounded 10y
his family aud friends, and satisfied that he had
bowed hlmsolf unhesltalmgy to the majesty of
the laws, though he believed he had never IN
fringed them. A large portion of his country
men, too, whose esteem he has, in a great mea-
sure, forfeited by his ill-advised trip 10 Mexico.
would still have honorcd him as the chosen
champion-of Free Trades and Sailors Rights"
This they cannot do now for, while they ac
cord to him willingly the tribute which valor
EFFORTS even from the most cowardly of our race,
they cannot but think that this very quality
would render him IA dangerous citizen, il circuln-
stances conspired with his disposition, to enable
him to wreab upon the country which has of
Tended him the revenge ola Coriolanus.
We have made the preceding remarks, for
the purpose of introducing the subjoined letter
of Com Porter, to Mr.. Noah Editor of the Nete
York EHqRirer,) TO the notice OF ou readers.
A great deal was said, during the last summer,
about an interview which took place between
President Adams and Commodore Porter, on
the morning the irgate Brandywine was launch
ed, at the suggestion and request Of Gen. Lafay.
cite The facts were distorted by party writers,
for the purpose of showing that the condemna-
ton of Com. Portcr's conduct at Foxardo, by the
court-martial, and his consequent punishment
were the effects of Executive hostility and that
President Adams had predetermined to curb
his lofty spirit by this Illuminating check This
effort at distortion, of course led to explanations
on the part ofthe friends OF Mr. Adams, which
threw the blame of the failure of Gen Lafay.
cites attempt to effect a reconciliation between
them, entirely on Com. Porter. To this expla-
nation Com. Z. has indited the subjoined reply,
which, while it completely substantiates all the
submitted TO the public by Mr. Adams's friends,
furnishes us with fresh evidence of the petulance
which wounded vanity always manilests, when
II meets with an unantlcipated interruption to its
dreams OF self superiority, and It's visions of so.
lltary grandeur. Divested of the seli.partiali-
ties which all men more or less exhibit, and Of
the haziness which SO often obscures the truth
when men are called on to be the judges of their
correct, and comedies with what has hitherto
appeared in this paper relative TO the subject
The President and Commodore both met,
doubtless, with sincere desire and determi-
nation to settle the dispute, which had its OH
gin only in a mistaken feeling the part of
Com Porter, and this result would have been
effected, had not letter written by Com. Z. the
day before to some of his fellow-citizens, who
had invited him to partake of public dinner,
been that very morning published in the Wash
ngton papers That letter contained un JUST
fable illusions to the course of the admnstra-
ton, in arresting him, and distinctly charged
the whole proceedings against him to Mr.. A
dams's personal hostility. This was surely
but bad way of Graduating the hoslllites he
alleged to exist and an lnjudcious offering to be
laid on the altar Of reconciliation. As might
have been expected, it created sentiments of in
dgnation in the breast of Mr.. Adams, TO see his
profiered friendship accepted, while himself was
msulted-grossly insulted. And Com Porter,
as under similar circumstances he would have
been the first man TO indulge and express his
Indignation ought to have been the last man, TO
wonder at its existence in another. But he at
tempts to excuse himself, in the suboned letter
to Mr.. Noah, by saying that he did not " pub
iish" the letter, and that it was not " published'
by his consent. The Commodore ought to have
been above rcsorting TO this subteriuge. II would
have suited well enough the low spirit of some
of his understrappers, to whom he owes his loss
of country, and the sacrifice ofhis honest fame,
but it suits not with the character which has
chivalrics deeds had thrown around his name.
chershing such northumberland in Publishing
but in uriting the letter. If the letter had ne
ycr been published it is true, Com. Porter and
Mr.. Adams would have shaken hands-the
Commodores sword would have again been
pendent at his side, and his epaulettes would have
glittered on his shoulderS-but would he and Mr..
Adams have been .triendiyf Mr.. Adams might
have been so towards the Commodore-but, en-
tertaining such opinions as that letter ayowed,
would not Com Porter have been compelled to
play double game-proilering to Mr.. A. the
hand of friendship, while ranking hate was
fostering at his hearts core If this plea is
TO be resorted to---that MIR. Adams is TO be
blamed, because Com. Porter did not publish the
Washington letter, or cause 10 be published, it
will certainly place the Commodore in a light
worse than his most vndctve enemy could
wish him. Il will give him credit for malig-