The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-09-10
The Court Martials-Naval and Military
Lieut.. wilkes.

Inc court Martials-Naval and Military
Lieut.. wilkes.
On another day we intend to publish an article
sent us relative TO the Naval Court recently held on
Lieut. Wilkes, and other officers of the Exploring
Expedition. II comes from the friends of Wilkes,
and is perhaps somewhat too partial to his cause
But II is only fair according to our principles of ac-
lion, TO let him be heard. If Satan himself asked
an opportunity of us state his case in our columns
however much disked and feared the sublime ras-
CAL we would have the courage to be just and i'm
partial even to the old serpent.
On the extraordinary case of Mr. Wilkes, and the
recent and sitting extraordinary courts martial, we
have reflected good deal, and have come to en-
terrain mixed opinions, and almost every shade of
feeling sorrowful, ludcrous, sad, funny, and phi
losophica We have had the greatest difficulty to
come to any satisfactory conclusion. Lieutenant
Wilkes and his associates have exhibited some
weaknesses; but II may be Justly doubted whether
any clrcumnavigator, after four years cruice
round the world, ever returned home with fewer
really tangible causes of complaint.
The charges and specifications on which these
trials have been founded, are generally small and
petty IN the extreme. If the Secretary OF the Navy
had ordered Court of Enquiry on the loss of the
Peacock, or OF the Seagu, he would have indicated
higher order of mind than these trials reflect upon
him. A box ofshes-the firing Of gun-giving away
bowie knife--the temper of Mr.. Wilkes whether
was morning afternoon OF certain day that land
was discovered-and a whole host of other small
matters, seemto have made a greater impression on
Secretary Upshur than the loss of the Peacock,
worth s2OO,OOO. This makes us believe that Mr.
Upshur is Of no great caiibre, and wants that
hon Of id a
the chaf of the expedition. and to pitch upon the
strong points.
The real point in all these investigations is, wheth-
err under the circumstances of the expedition, it
was not miracle that, on such long cruise, so few
matters of real difficulty occurred Mr.. Wilkes is
sensitive and quick-tempered but did Columbus,
or Cook, or Vancouver, Ross, any other, out
as easily This temper should be somewhat over
looked in his arduous and responsible duties He
manifested great sensitiveness to our report of the
trial; but that we would excuse in him, as it is evil
dent ne was wrongly influenced on that point by the
impertinent and impudent remarks which Hamilton,
his counsel, applied occasionally to the Herald
We can afford, in the ample vigor of our heart and
soul, to deal out justice TO a-even to Wilkes, in
spite OF his silly counsel and do not hesitate to
say, that Secretary Upshur is more deserving of
court MARTIAL for the folly of allowing such trials to
AXE place, than all the officers othe exploring exped-
ion. No doubt Wilkes has made mistakes in some
small matters but has he not overshadoweo these BY
lis other manly qualities, energies, and conduct as
of the expedition Is not the whole
exposition disgrace to the navyl
In pursuance of this petty business, we perceive
that another Naval Court Martial is going on trying
Commodore Ballard for some such thing as opening
another man'sletter-or untying the carriers OF some
pretty woman. We do not mean TO report any
more OF these contemplate trials ordered under the
petticoat-penny system of Secretary Upshur Ano-
Their set OF sublime blockheads, in order to have
their names put in print, have in imitation of the
Secretary, been holding a Court Martial at the
American Hotel and some very worthy men, who
know better the price of green's, or how to cut pair
OF breeches, have been emulatng the character o
Don Qulxotte, and celebrating on the etiquette the
: pomp and circumstance" of glorious war, nclu-
ling the solemn opinion of Major General Scott
Why did they not ask the opinion of Brgadier
General James Gordon Bennett, of the Nauvoo lie.
ZION, and L. L. ID. of the Nauvos University We
,ould have given them better decision in the case
han ever General Scott did.
We request Captain John Tyler, one of the most
honest and independent ever at the he ad of this
epublic, to ponder on this our honest opinions of
hese Courts Martial.
PoNrpoy,s WEsrrpN Exppres-JN,p .r,r,,r,