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

mttee on Agriculture, and ordered to be print
ed, on the Sd Of February last.
From he National Gazette.
TO THE PUBLIC.
Of duty impels me to appear before the pub
lie in behalf Of those, IN whose fate have deep IN
erest from the nearest ties OF consequently. lew
days since there appeared and vent through extern
sive newspaper round an article referring 10 Court
Martial that was held in Charestown. Massachusetts
for the trial Of that time, Lieut. j. f. Whitney Of the
Marine Corps which stated that the charges preferred
against hun were substantially fraud Since that time
the findings Of the Court together with their sentence
well It's approval by the President have been pro-
mulgated and he has been oashiertd
That has been pronounced by many whose long ex-
peIence enables them to be good Judges to be without
parallel in the naval history of this country, for
verify il not for injustice, lIegaliy and cruelty.
That young may not be thus condemned by
the public wholly unheard, while steps are taking TO
bring the entire proceedings before proper tribunal TO
test their validity and legality have thought proper
TO make public portion Of them.
Not only that these proceedings being without
precedent, consider that every officer in the service
attached TO either the army navy has deep interest
In obtaining some knowledge Of them.
The following is copy OF the charge and spechca-
Charge and Specifications again second Lieut.. LOUIS
f. WHrNEy of the United States Marine Corps. on
the part of the United States by Col Archibald Hen
derson.
CHARGE.
ScANDALous CoNDucT.
Specification lstIn this that on or about the Sd Of
October, thousand eight hundred and thirty he
the said Lieutenant Whitney, represented TO J, A.
Bolles Esq, an attorney in Boston, holding execu-
ton against him, that he would pay twenty five dollars
per month for -four months to Colonel Freeman his
mandng officer, and that his monthly pay to him.
and TO be stopped hererom by Colonel Freeman to the
amount OF one hundred dollars, to settle said
ton, which, for the third mouth OF November, he has
failed, neglected and frauducnty refused TO do
Specification 2d.-In this, that the said Lieutenant
Whitney, or about the nineteenth of October,
thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, did represent
to Henry Prenss of Boston, thar his monthly pay for
that month was coming through Colonel Freeman, and
did obtain from said Prenss thirty dollars on an
order Tor that sum drawn on Colonel Freeman, for the
amount when in receipt of his monthly pay the 9Th
November, and thus accepted which said Lieutenant
Whitney has failed neglected, and refused to pay hav-
ing thus falsely and fraudulenty obtained the amount
OF ,huyhree dollars from Henry Prentiss aforesaid.
Specification 3d.-In this, that the said Lieutenant
Whitney did about the twenty sixth of October,
one thousand eight hundred aud thirty nine, draw an
order on Colonel Freeman TO pay A. H. Pratt twenty
five dollars, the sixth day of December to be de-
Quoted from his monthly pay, for value received and
thus accepted to pay the receipt OF such funds from
whitney, WHICH ne mas since ueBleCtcu ldIleu,
and refused TO place pay into the hands OF Colonel
Freeman therefor having thus falsely and audulenty
obtained the Of twenty five dollars from said A.
III, Pratt
Specification 4th.-In this tina, the said Lieutenant
Whitney did, about the Sixth Of September,
thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, apply to s.
Abbott Lawrence, of Boston, to advance him the
amount of his pay check, sixty-hve dollars and ten
cents which he had been disappointed IN receiving
from Washington that morning, and that he would au-
thorlze Lieutenant Zen to hand it TO him the
next morning and did obtain and receive from Mr..
Lawrence or about that day fifty dollars thereon,
which he had failed and neglected the present time
I'd pay to the said lawrence and the said Whitney
did further about the sixth day OF September
thousand eight hundred and thirty eight dispose OF his
said check then expected above, TO Sergeant Collier,
and received the full amount thereof, to whom the said
check given and paid, about the following
day he, the said Lieut. Whitney, having thus falsely
and rauduleny obtained the above amount from Mr..
Lawrence.
Specification 5th - In this that the said Lieutenant
Whitney, did, the latter part OF November, thou
sand eight hundred and thirty apply aud represent
to Edward Riddle Of Boston, that he wanted thirty dol
lars until IL o'clock the following day. and that would
then be paid him by Lieut. MNele the officer agent
whom he had authority to draw, and gave him
der for that Lieut.. M'Nelle to be charged on
account. and received the above Of thirty dollars
from Mr.. Riddle, when he had no funds, account
authority whatever TO draw Lieut. M'Nellc therefor:
and thus falsely and fraudulenty obtained the above
sum Of thirty dollars from Mr.. Riddle which now re-
mains unpaid.
The following is the defence made by the accused TO
the court and answers the charge and all the speclfca.
tons.
Mr. President and me Honorable Court.
In October, 1884, received the appointment, Of Sc
cond Lieut. in the Marine Corps Of the United States.
then youth, being but little than eighteen
Ea(a, H., fall,
duty my first object make yself master OF my
profession. The accomplishment OF 1t my sedu-
lous study. How well | succeeded leave others to
Judge.
When the marine corps volunteered their services to
the government, TO go to Alabama, the of
embarkng board the rgate United States, to which
| had been ordered, bound to the Mediterranean; when
received counter orders to embark ship board and
Join my companions in the South. ! did SO. went
first Alabama aud after the Creek Indians had been
subdued, was among those who were ordered to go
to FLORIDA. | was in both about fifteen months | was
compelled to return from thence consequence OF in
disposition, caused by fever contracted by the exposure
there. The manner in which discharged the duties
which was called to perform, while IN active service
there let the testimony Of my brother officers and Of
another branch OF the public service, your records
shew.
Juvenile in years, and inc perlenced as was when
first went forth into the world was indlscrcet and I'M
proyident. l INDUCED IN the folly Of extravaganza.
which led to my contracting debts, beyond what my
pay and allowances would enable me promptly to meet
And here let me ask how many there are TO be found
who have not committed follies Of the same kind
Now after FIVE years and half service in the corps
which you aud belong, stand here before YOU TO de-
fend myself on charges which # substanated IN civil
tribunal, would inevitably consgn me pentontiary.
With such serious allegations resting against me,
the Honorable court will excuse me, while
enter into examination, as TO the manner IN which
the accusations have been made up against me- and also
who are my accusers prior TO my noticing the charges
and specifications.
s..l u i