The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-11

1850" tic hAs otcu guiity u very many sctS,
winch, " laid before any tribunal. would pronounce him
worthy inmate Of prison. He has ssoisdsd traders
ous OF Their properly; he few days prior 70 de-
ps"ng Tor Philadelphia. swindled young man out Of
~ collars. and giving him order on Mr.. M'Niell,
Mr. M was called on for the same and said il was
'o'ged order-ihat he knew nothing about him or the
money and he has always neglected the duty Of the
ysra ny getting excused aud the kind feelings Of Lieut.
1o','n tempted him to perform his duty. Inquiries
ought and shall be placed before you. and giving
rect account OF his conduct while here"
remain, with respect,
: (sgnsd) GEORGE W. DAVIS
The Hon. JANIS X PAuLpISo,
Secretary Of the Navy
How did Col Freeman execute the order directing
MIN 70 make strict inquiries into the facts stated"
Inc foregoing leterl Why. under the date Of the 9Th
December he acknowledged the receipt Of Col Hen
defsons letter. which he says, In reply, think i,
proper to send you the enclosed copy Of letter ad-
dressed to Lieutenant Whitney the l7,h instant 10
which have received no answer and the facts set
forth therein had made the three first TO
charge annexed now, to that letter, before The receipt
ysSss $3.50 s'.s
ferring to a transaction coming my official notice
within few days, is without doubt question re-
ported
"The fifth and last specification (sad he) refers,
presume to the subject Of report the Secretary Of the
Navy, the facts Of which are believe as represented
in the specification"
Does Colonel Freeman say he has made strict inqui-
rles into the allegations set forth against in the let
ter signed by George w. Davisi No Does he say he
has that individual No But he does say tina, he
had prepared three Of the specifications the charge
against before he received the letter of instruc
from Colonel Henderson, and the letter signed by Davis
that was enclosed in it. In determination, Colonel
Freeman asked, Did you derive the facts com.
municated IN your letter to Colonel Henderson, Of
which you have spoken, from any other persons than
those named, viz: Mr. Boes, Mr. Pratt and Mr. Riddle,
il yea, from whom! He answered. ~ from Mr. Prem
tlss" He was then asked "dld those individuals
and give Information voluntarily, il first
asked fort" tie answered "the facts were asked for
Of them Of the allegations reports in my
letter Of the 9Th Of December" He was then asked,
from whom did you derive knowledge OF the repre-
sensations and reports contained your letter of the
9th December" He answered, /" a part from my
knowledge. that with reference the matters Of Boes,
Pratt and Prentiss-wth reference to Mr. Lausanne
from Lieutenant Zeilin or from Sergeant Collier, as
also about Mr., Riddles matter"
The cobfction in these answers, and also in them
and the statements made to Colonel Henderson, pass
over without comment, and ak why Colonel Freeman
Sergeant Collier or Lieutenant Zeilin for nfor-
nation 81 bou. Mr. Riddles mst,er!" Why did not
Colonel Freeman seek out MIR, George w. Davis,
whose letter he had charging me with swinding Mr.
Riddle, and obtain from him all the facts Of which he
would appear TO be fully posse ssed well Of the
history OF my life and conduct private and official while
He does not appear to have done yet, late the
18th Of February, (the day which the
vened) Colonel Freeman, in letter the records,
written to General Fessenden, Of Portland refers
the charges made by G. W. Davis as follows says he,
will briefly state that 10 the latter part Of December
the copy Of letter from Mr.. Davis, Of Boston, to the
Secretary Of the Navy, alleging that Mr. Whitney had
been guilty Of very many acts, which, laid before any
tribunal, would pronounce him worthy inmate OF
prison that he had swindled traders Of their pro-
thaf. d.v, h.f, loay 10 ii
phia be had swinded young in Boston out OF
81 dollars, etc, was seLt TO officially, with drec-
tons to make strict inquiries into those facts any
other matter affecting his character officer and
gentleman"
Where is this Mr. G. w. Davis, OF Boston1 The
record Of this honorable court bears evidence that
have made every effort to find him, and that he is not
TO be found Who is he, that Lieutenant Zeiln should
be applied to to substanate the allegation relation TO
I" Mr.. Riddles matter" in place Of Mr. Davis himself
Who is he, ask again, who alleges that /" / always
neglected the duty Of the yard by getting excused"
and at the same time says, the kind feelings of Lieu
tenant Zeln tempted him to perform his (my) duty "
No appears to know. ask this honorable court If
am not warranted IN the belief that the whole letter
signed g. w Davis is fabrication and forgery! II
such is the fact, has there not foul conspiracy
some where against me
The letter which have referred, written to I. c.
Deblos Esq. dated the 9Th ultimo, and the TO Ge-
neral Fcssenden dated the 18th ultimo, were written in
answer to inquiries made through them, to the facts
Of my by family relatives In the letter OF the lat
ter date 10 the latter gentleman, Col Freeman does u
deed offer this consolation Says he, +" really appre
cate your feelings Of kindness towards Mrs. Whitney
and her mother and you that | entertain
none other myself towards him, subjected as they are
to discharge Of my official duty" But what follows
with which he concludes this let:er Why, says he,
as to the probable result of his trial. the opinions Of
courts martial like those Of Jurors, very uncertain
and Lieut. w has IN addition TO the charges bad re-
puatlon against him, which will certainly not operate
to his advantage" Was it required of Col Freeman,
in the discharge of his official duty to make this gra
tul,ous allegation against me And is there not con-
tanned in the assertion reflection this honorable
court falling but little short Of that myself!
In relation to Col Freeman still further, what motive
could have prompted him to lay before the court on
the ID instant another specification, under the preamble
of additional specification to the charge Of scandolous
conduct preferred by Col. A. Henderson, commander |
of the u. S Marine Corps, against Lieut. l.. +. Whit
new Of said corps" the facts Of which he says first
came TO his knowledge on the 18th ultimo Was 1t
not in direct violation Of the rules and regulations
OF the service Could the have acted on sin
gle charge specification against me- il had not been
furnished with copy prior to or at the time was
placed under arrest am instructed that such is the
fact Then what motive Influenced Col. Freeman IN
this last act in which he offered himself as witness
Surely could not have been enoincd on him IN the
discharge Of his official duty.
The testimony Of Col Freeman shows that Lieut..
Zen a member of this Court assisted IN supplying IN.
formation to him, on which he framed some OF the spe
ci6cations against and particularly in relation to
"Mr Riddles matter" about which certain q W.
Davis who non est inpenius complained to the Secre-
tsry Of the Navy Nor is that ALL The testimony on
the record proves that the 20h February, 1.-TWO days
after this Court assembled) IN conversation with two
or three individuals, two Of whom were witnesses be-
fore this Court, one Of whom had not then been ex-
ahmed, Lieut. Zeilin declared to them that " LIED
LIKE HE'LL" And this is the language not Of wit
ness in the case, but Of one Of my Judges! Does
Judge when trying the most hardened feon, descend
Ia who