Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-17

O.
right TO complain. II rests on the same ev'-
dence his charges against the Secretaries 90;
and if such evidence is good for him, II Is gooa
against him. If he claims that MS services
and exalted character, and pure PATRIOTISM, are
a sure guarantee OF the falsity OF such achafge'
Ianswer, the persons he has attacked nave rem
dered more distinguished services, ana nave
characters as exalted and patriotic, and as pure'
as he can pretend to, and they have, moreover,
deservedly hold upon the affections OF 'nelr
countrymen that he has not.
The gentleman from Tennessee seemed to
think 1t necessary TO make at least sno" VI
excuse Tor The course he was pun sulng ih OPP
position, and, as it appears to me, under the
influence Of that consideration, he has brought
forth specific charges against the Admlnis'ra.
ton, and the Heads Of Departments, some OF
which shall notice The President and MS
Cabinet, he says, do not deserve the confidence
Of the People, because Courts Martial have
been called on Commodores Porter and Stewart,
and Col. Chambers; the first Of whom was con-
demned and driven into exile, the second &C.
quilted, and the third dismissed. Sir, II VIII
be difficult for the People to forbear laughing
at this formidable array Of charges against an
Administration as Justification oil most 'io-
len, and extraordinary Opposition. 1t borders
nearly on the ridiculous. The instances are all
military, and are Of common occurrence IN any
Administration. Commodore Stewart was or
dered home for Court under the former Ad-
minislralion. 1t would have been disrespectfu
in the present President not 10 have proceeded
with the Court. The sentence of the Court
was an acquittal, and the sentence was approved
by the President, What was wrong in this
proceeding, the gentleman has left US to con-
~ r,nloI mad
il. A Court OF Inquiry was ordered on Com
modore Porter by the last Administration;
Court Martial succeeded, in the ordinary course
OF things, upon the decision OF the Court Of In
qniry; he was tried by his peers, found guilty,
and sentenced suspension: this sentence, in
the usual course OF things, was presented to the
President foH his approval or disapProval; he
approved the sentence as it was, and did no more.
w hat should he have done! What would the
gentleman from Tennessee have required OF
him? Should he have followed an illustrious
military example, which occurred al no very re-
mote period, on our Southern border, disap-
proved ine sentence, substituted one OF his own,
! ord, red the accused 10 be hanged or shot, and
10 immediate cxecu lion? If the President had
followed This example, the gentleman from len
nessee might have beer satisfied, but the Peo-
pie OF the country would have been reused TO
inexprcssible Indignation Ii is happy Tor US,
Sir, that instances of such extraordinary exer.
else Of military power in our country are Of
rare occurrence. Blu, the gentleman would have
the People believe Commodore Porter was ex-
lied from the country by order of The Executive.
Sir, highly appreciate the valor and services
Of the Commodore, but regret the course he
has pursued. it is generally understood, the
Commodore, be fore the expiration OF the time
Of his suspeus!oa was negotiating with neigh
boring Power for command in its Navy, and
at tie traitor Of the suspension, solicited and
his ulterior movements. lie obtained his
command. and voluntarily exiled himself
The Executive had no agency in this matter
True, he did not remit any part of the sentence
of the Couri, although it is supposed he once
thought Of doing so; but the Commodore had
no ri ht 10 expect such al interference. re-
greet exceedingly that SO valuable an officer, one
tina, had rendered so much service, and had so
large share in the affections Of his country
men, should feel unwilling TO submit 10 the
laws OF his country. and be disposed to abandon
that country forever, because he had been tried
and sentenced 10 be suspended by Court Mar
tial Of his own peers! AS 10 the charge that
the Secretary of the Navy used threats to the
officers OF the Court 10 induce a condemnation,
have authority 10 pronounceit sheer fabri-
cation, wholly destitute Of foundation in truth.
doubt if the gentleman would be forward in
making so insulting charge TO any one of the
officers composing the Court. The gentleman's
intormers have imposed upon him. The case
of Col Chambers know little of, and have
heard little Of. What have heard has been
an uneqaivocal appreciation ofthe sentence Of
the Court, and a thorough conviction of its JUS
tice.
tWhat else-does the gentleman exhibit in his
catalogue Of offences? The gentleman renews
the old story, that the President interfered with
the appointment ola Postmaster at Nashville,
The gentleman knows that in similar cases the
advice Of the President is always taken, and he
does not dispute bu, the Postmaster is capable
and honest. As 10 the conversation between
the President and the gentleman, and the de-
cent and courteous manner in which he has
taken occasion to speak Of it here, shall say
but one word. Reply to such charge cannot
be called for in this place. We may well say
we have fallen on evil times, when gentlemen
who call on the President, on public or private
business, and engage him in conversation, can
feel warranted, after leaving him, 10 retail the
anil the hire ar h nj