Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-14
\ C.ar, oil Enquiry On Com. ElIios.

We have received the following additional esm-
munisation from correspondent and will be glad
to get more when more is ready
PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY EVENING. !.
r. Garter, scorn.-I am a ndshipman in the U.
s. Navy, and was on board the Constitution; did
not see mn h of the occurrences the race ground
at Mahon: was on the top Of a honse and nay at
tenton was attracted to crowd OF officers Commo-
dore f. ordered some one to 30 on board, and aP-
peared to be gesticulatins with his cane; cannot
saw positively who he ordered on beard, presume
il was Lieutenant G. G.. Hunter. know nothing OF
the case Of Passed Nidshipnan Barton; know mo-
thing of the plate presented by the to Commo-
dore E. further than that saw it in his cabin, and
that heard a great deal said about IT,
Question by Judge -4dpocate.-Do you know Of
any jackasses board the Constitution! If yes state
what
Ans,rer.-There were about twenty three; / do
not think the guns could have been managed as well
as il they had not been on board.
Question BY the C0urt-Ifys u had received orders
TO take one hundred men, and ordered to clear the gun
deck how long would it have taken ysa to have exc
cuted the orderl
Ans,csr-As the asses were there it would have
required from forty to fifty mnutes stalls had been
erected for their accommodation; know bat very
little of the mutiny beard the ship at Hampton;
at the time of its occurrence was engaged n trans
porting the asses shore. All that know Of it is
this; when returned on board heard noise, and
going below, the crew were throwing their mess
pans and kettles about-t soon after was quelled;
do not know Except what have since heard) what
gave rise to the mutny. There were four or five
boats employed in taking the asses on shore; know
nothing rorc In rc'~.- . ~. sA~ss.. against Conn
modors r.
So much for the jackasses-that they were a nui-
sanoe on board there can be no doubt. IL enemy
had appeared and made fight, what sweet condition
the Constitution must have been to have received
her As il would have taken forty minutes 10 have
cered she gun deck, she could not have been ready
in time to have succeeded in any actonl To bring
twenty three board ship must necessarily have
greatly inc ommo ded her officers and crew. Indeed
so uuch was this the that Of the witnesses
declared that about one-haf the first ison Of the
crew were not exercised after the asses had bees
brought on board" shall, soon as l prepare
il from nv notes send you Lieutenant Hunter
mony. Your, readers will be much surprised after
seeing it. lie appears TO be, and, doubt not, is a
gentleman not one Of the Webb kind, bat as Jack
Downing says, OF the "rale grit" Nobody could
find any fault with him with the in which
he delivered his testimony, except perhaps Colonel
Stone, could he, except the ground that Hsn-
ter is invetsrate tobacco chewer and spit the
" hoyTid Juice incsssanHy''
There are besides, many other officers TO be exa-
mined, and if you wish, will send you an account
of the most important disclosures they nav make
There are amsng them the Elliot and anti Elliot
party but by lar the larger part appear to hate him
most cordially. The old Commodore 10 constantly
Whispering to his counsel, Mr.. Randall and giving
him questions TO put to the witnesses 1 confess my
sympsthes are ensted IN his behalf and sincerely
hope for his sake, and for the hsnor Of the navy,
that he will he able TO urge for his con-
duet which may spare him from court martial. 4
know not what course you have pursued in your pa
per in relation to this matter but il really seems to
me that he is pursued by bitter and relentless per-
secution. I was very much surprised TO hear the
Younger officers, especially speak Of him in the ray
they do. The bearing Of the different members Of
the ceurt is manly, gallant, and dignifed With such
as Stewart, Patterson, and Biddle at its head,
there is no fear Of our navy. II is really worth
visit here TO sec them and the bvous xiety they
show to do the accused fall Justice.
FRIEND TO THE NAVY