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

uutc tcacHcrs anu niuic yOutn OF the country
also one for the female teachers and female
youth OF the country.
The above petition was referred to the CON-
miitee on Agriculture, and ordered to be print
ed, on the Sd Of February last.
Erom The National Gazette.
TO THE PUBLIC.
sense Of duty impes me to sppear before the pub
lie IN behalf Of those, IN whose fate have deep in
eres, from the nearest ties Of consequently A few
days since there appeared and through an extern
siye newspaper round an article referring 10 Court
Martial that held in Chsrestown. Massachusetts,
for the trial Of at that time, Lieut. j. f. Whitney Of the
Marine Corps which stated thar the charges preferred
against him 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 be has been eashiered
That has been pronounced by many, whose long ex-
perience enables them TO be good Judges to be without
parallel in Tie naval history o the country, for
verify n not Tor injustice, ilIegaly and cruelty.
That young man may not DO thus condemned BY
the public wholly unheaTd, while steps are taking TO
bring tho entire proceedings before proper tribunal
test their validity and legality, have thought il 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
Inc following Is copy OF the charge and specifics
tons.
Charge and Specifications again second Lieut. LOUIS
r. WHITNEY, Of the United States Marine Corps, on
the part Of the United States by Col Archibald Hen
derson.
CHARGE
SoAsDALous CoSpucT.
Specification lsIn this that on or about the Sd Of
October one thousand eight hundred and thirty -nine he
the said Lieutenant Whitney, represented 10 j. A.
Bodies, ESQ., attorney in Boston, holding an execu-
ton against him, that he would pay twenty five dollars
per month for four months Colonel Freeman his
mandIng officer, and that his monthly pay TO him,
and to be stopped .hererom BY Colonel Freeman the
amount OF one hundred dollars to settle said execu-
tioo which, for the third month Of November, he has
failed, neglected and iraudulen,ly refuses, to do.
Specification 2d-In this, that the said Lieutenant
Whitney, on or about the nineteenth Of October, one
thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, did represent
to Henry Prcniss Of Boston, that his monthly pay for
that month was coming through Colonel Freeman, and
did obtain from said Prentiss thirty three dollars
order Tor that drawn 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 pay hsv
ing thus falsely and frauduIeny obtained the amount
OF hirty-,hree 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.nn draw
order on Colonel Freeman to pay A. II. Pratt, twenty
five dollars, on the sixth day Of December, to be do
Quoted Iom his monthly pay, for value received, and
thus accepted to pay the receipt Of such funds from
Lieut. Whitney, which he has since neglected. failed,
and refused TO place or pay into the hands Of Colonel
Freeman therefor having thus falsely and frauduIently
obtained the amount Of twenty-five dollars from said A.
II. Pralt.
Specification 4ih-In this, that tho said Lieutenant
Whitney, did, about the Sixth Of September, one
thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, apply TO j.
Abbott Lawrence, of Boston, to advance HIM the
amount Of his pay check, sxty.fse dollars and ten
ceDts, which he had been disappointed in receiving
from Washington that morning, and that he would
ihorize Lieutenant Zelin hand it over TO him the
next morning, and did obtain and receive from Mr..
Lawrence on or about that day fifty dollars thereon,
which he had failed and neglected the present Time
to pay to the said Lawrence: aud 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 was given and paid on or about the following
day he the said Lieut.. Whitney having thus falsely
and fraudulen.ly obtained the above from Mr.
Lawrence.
Specification 5h In this, that the said Lieutenant
Whitney, did, III the latter part Of November, thou
sand egh, 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
on 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, or
authority whatever to draw on Lieut.. MNeie therefor
and thus falsely and frauduenty 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 specca
iions.
N. Jeufo od IL. IL
In October, 1884, received the appointment Of Sc
cond Lieut. in the Marine Corps OF the United States
then youth, being but little more than eighteen
years Of age. In November, following, entered on
duty my 6rst object was to make myself master OF my
profession. The accomplishment OF il was my sedu
lous study How well | succeeded leave others to
Judge
When the marine corps volunteered their services to
the government TO 90 to Alabama, ! was the Of
embarking board the frigate United States, to which
had been ordered, bound TO the Mediterranean when
received counter orders TO embark on ship board and
Join my companions in the South. | did so. went
first Alabama, and after tho Creek Indians had been
subdued, | was among those who were ordered to 90
to FLORIDA ! was in both about fifteen months. was
compelled to from thence in consequence Of in
disposition caused by fever contracted by the exposure
there. The manner in which discharged the duties
which 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 years. and inexperienced as I was when
first went forth into the world, ndscreel and i'm
provident. INDUCED in the folly Of extravaganza.
which led to my contracting debts, beyond what my
pay and allowances would enable me promptly 10 meet
And here let me ask how many there are be found
who have not committed foies Of the same kind
Now after FIVE years and half service in the corps to
which you aud belong stand here before you, dc.
fepd myself charges which if substsnta,ed in civil
tribunal would inevitably consign penlton,ary
With such serious allegations resting against me-