The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-02
From the National Gazette.
TO THE PUBLIC.


From The National Gazette.
TO THE PUBLIC.
Some weeks since addressed communica-
non to the public in relation to the dismissal Of
my son from the Marine Corps in which he had
been an officer. That was altogether Of private
concern. ! should not now again obtrade upon
the public, but, that | consider what have to
relate IS subject Of pnblic more than Of private
interest Added to which, do but carry out my
principles which are, that IL a citizen becomes
acquainted with the official misconduct Of men
IN public employment, and believes il important
TO the public interest that they should be exposed,
instead OF deserving censure, he is entitled To
me thanks OF those whom he serves by the dis
charge OF such duty.
Ia the publication 10 which have referred
laid before the public the charges and speci-
hcations preferred against my son his defence
and circular signed by the Secretary of the
Navy, announcing the.result Of the trial, lnge-
Their with some comments thereon
The following is copy Of the first, viz
Charge and Specifications against second Lieut..
Louis f. WHITNEY, Of the United States Ma
rlne Corps, on the part of the United States by
Col Archibald Henderson.
CHARGE.
scANDALoUs CONDUCT.
Specification lsf.--In this, that on or about
the Sd Of October, one thousand eight hundred
and thirty-nine, he, the said Lieutenant Whit
ney, represented to j. A. Bolles, ESD, an attor-
ney in Boston, holding an execution against him,
that he would pay twenty five dollars per month
for four months to Col. Freeman, his command
ing officer, and that his monthly paw came to
him, and to be stopped therefrom BY Colonel
freeman to the amount OF one hundred dollars,
to settle said execution, which for the third
month Of November, he has failed, neglected
and fraudulenty refused to do.
Specification 2d-In this, that the said Lieu
tenant Whitney on or about the nineteenth Of
October, one thousand eight hundred and thirty
nine, didrepresentio Henry Prentiss, of Boston,
that his monthly pay for that month was coming
through Colonel Freeman, and did obtain from
said Prentiss thirty-three dollars, on an order
for that sum drawn on Colonel Freeman, for
the amount when in receipt of his monthly paw
on the 9th November, and thus accepted which
said Lieut. Whitney has failed, neglected, and
refused to pay having thus falsely and frandu-
lently obtained the amount Of thirty-three dol
lars from Henry Prentiss as aforesaid
Specification 3d.-In this, that the said Lieut..
Whitney, did, on or about the twenty sixth Of
October one thousand eight hundred and thirty
nine, draw an order on Colonel Freeman to pay
A. III. Pratt, twenty-five dollars, on the sixth
day of December, to be deducted from his month
ly pay, for value received, and thus accepted to
pay on 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 fraudulenty obtained the amount Of twenty
five dollars from A. H. Pratt "A
Specif 4A.-In this that the said Lieu
tenant Whitney did, ON or about the sixth of
September, one thousand eight hundred and
thirty EIGHT, apply to s. Abbott Lawrence, Of
Boston, to advance him the amount Of his pay
check, sixty-f dollars and ten cents, which
he had been disappointed in receiving from
authorize Lieutenant Zeilin to hand it over to
him the next morning, and did obtain and re-
ceive from Mr.. Lawrence on or about that day
fifty dollars thereon, which he had failed and
neglected to the present time to pay the said
Lawrence and the said Whitney did further,
on or about the sixth day Of September, one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, dispose
Of his said check then expected as 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
Lieutenant Whitney, having thus falsely and
fraudulenty obtained the above amount from
MIR. Lawrence.
Specification Shin this that the said Lieut..
Whitney did in the latter part Of November,
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine,
apply and represent to Edward Riddle, Of Bos-
ton, that he wanted thirty dollars until twelve
O'Clock the following day, and that it would
then be paid him by Lieut.. M'Neile, the officer
or agent on whom he had authority TO draw,
and gave him an order for that sum on Lieut..
M'Neile, to be charged on account, and received
the above sum of thirty dollars from Mr.. Riddle,
when he had no funds, account, or authority
hot snnf tbara
and thus falsely and fraudulently obtained the
above sum of thirty dollars from Mr.. Riddle,
which now remains unpaid.
Prior to the publication, ! endeavored to pro-
cure from the Nav Department copy of the
findings of the court, but was unable to do so,
my friends in Washington who applied for them
having been sent away without them. In their
place, therefore, ! submit the following official
document
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
18th March, lS40
Sr:-The Court Martial before which Second
Lieut.. Louis +. Whitney was lately tried, found
him guilty Of the charges and specifications pre-
ferred against him, and sentenced him to be dis
missed the service.
The sentence has this day been approved,
and Lieut.. Whitney has been informed that he
is no longer regarded as an officer of the Marine
Corps.
am, very respectfully,
Your most ob't serv't,
(SigneD J. X. PAULDING.
Col. A. HENDERSON,
Cont. Y. s. Marine Corps, HID. Quarters.
This led me very naturally as think as do
not doubt it did all who read it, to suppose that
my son had been found guilty Of the charge and
all the specifications preferred againt him. NO
other idea or belief was entertained BY me until
visited Washington, and by personal appl-
cation at the Navy Department, obtained the
original proceedings Of the Court Martial, and