The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-01
ha From the Gealiemaa's Aagasiue-
BIoGRAPnIcAL SKETCH AND sERyIcEs or
ooMMoDoRE CHARLES sTEwART.
OF tie Many Of the United States.

4
coMMoDoRE CHARLES sTEwART.
Of Ae Many IF the United States.
| (cosrMuED)
/ The reader will here contrast by the fol-
lowing address of his countrymen residing
abroad, and on the very coast where Commo-
dore Stewards command extended, the differ
ence of their opinion of his acts and conduct,
and that entertained Of him by some Of his
countrymen at home.
LIMA, May I'd, 1924.
| To Commodore Charles Stewart,
Commander-in-chief Of the
u. S. Naval forces in the Pacific.
Sir Impressed with high sense Of the
zeal and ability you have manifested in the
cause Of your country, during period Of up
wards Of twenty-six years of public service,
the undersigned citizens Of the United States,
at present residing or transacting business in
Lima, beg leave respectfully TO express TO
you their sense Of your conduct in the com
mand on this coast you are now about TO leave.
The duties you have had 10 perform have
been no less arduons than various, from the
peculiar situation of the countries TO which
your command extended. You arrived at a
time when the revolutionary governments Of
Peru and Chill, intoxicated with success, and
regardless of every principle of national law,
preyed upon the unofending neutral at will.
BY your firrnness their rapacity was restrain
ed, and by your skill, the friendly relations,
which our government is so anxious to main
tain, has remained unimpaired.
We are grateful TO acknowledge the readi-
ness with which you have at all times listened
to the complaints or wishes of your country
men, and the promptness with which you
have afforded them all the protection your ST.
tuation would permit.
With these feelings, which are as sincere
on our part as they are well founded, we look
with peculiar regret to your departure and
especially at this moment, when circum-
stances so strongly demand rather the in
crease than diminution of force on this sta
lion.
Within few days, an unauthorized block
ade has been declared under the flag of
country which, in reality, has no longer any
existence, and which, therefore, leaves us
without the smallest hope Of future repara-
ton for any wrongs it may inflict on us The
experience you have acquired during your
long command in this ocean, and the imposing
force of the Franklin, would obviously be of
the greatest utility TO the distinguished officer
who has come 10 succeed you, and your re-
naming here very short period would great
ly facilitate his future operations.
With these views and under the urgency
of circumstances which have SO recently
arisen, we most earnestly hope that you may
be induced to delay your departure for short
,,l lnsn he. Il
that threatens the extinction of our commerce
may in all probability be removed. The
amount of interest at stake, the distant posi-
ton Of our country, and the threatening evils
to which we alludc, all seem to us to require
il; and we have, therefore, no doubt they will
Justify to our government your remaining
few weeks longer, Perhaps few days only
may dissipate the dangers that are gathering.
You may in this case probably have the sa-
tsfaction Of having contributed to save a
large amount of property to your fellow citi-
zcns, of which, if they are despoiied, neither
they nor their government have any power to
look to for future compensation.
Whatever may be your determination, we
offer TO you our most cordial wishes for your
safe return to your country, where, we feel
satisfied, you will receive the appreciation
from your government and fellow citizens,
which your long and efficient services so
Justly merit.
We have the honor to be, sir,
Your friends and fellow citizens,
DANIEL w. COLT,
VIM H. CONKLING,
JNO. c.. GREEN,
SAMUEL. ERWIN,
RUSSELL BALDWIN,
MOSES GIBBS,
AMBROSE II. BURROWS,
PERRY BOWERS,
WILLIAM JOHNSON, Jr
HENRY l.. DEKOVEN,
HIRAM PUTNAM,
J. A. STEVENSON,
JOSEPH M'COMB,
BOSNIAN LAWRENCE,
JOS. JAMES,
JAMES Brady,
]. M. SEBOR,
JNO. DONNEL
CHARLES MANCHESTER,
]. JONES,
NIXON g. M'CALL.
On returning to the country he had so no
bly, served, Commodore Stewart was subject
ed to degrading arrest for one year, and to the
cost of an expensive court martial. An &C
uuttal, more honorable than the records of
any naval tribunal can furnish, was the result
accorded to him, under the oath of twelve Of
his brother officers, distinguished for their
nntriotiSm yolnr cyDerience and fidelity to