The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-14

Their remarks to-day.
SENATE CHAMBER, Feb. 18th, ls43.
HORRIBLE.
/ Tbe Globe. of Saturday, contsus another
long speech written by MIR. Bentu. The edl-
{ tor unblushirsiy says
:. Tn. present speech will be foupd to be full Of
;n,ssf aud will attract the attento, of the people
ID the United States IL one OF the most wanton sa-
crifces Of national rights and interests which the
history of the country has ever preserved"
Now there is not faser assertion on record
lit will only excite universal Contempt for lis
author. Before this speech can be understood,
the seventy column one must he read, which
has not been done yet, save b two or three
poor proof readers.
Mr. Benton is desperate man, and is en-
gagged in desperate undertaking, viz: butling
his head against The cliffs of st. John. II no
body interferes, he will soon demdish himself.
We invite the attention of the public to the
subioined letter from one Of nnr most distin-
gushed authors on the subject OF the alleged
omission in his history of the Navy Of The Uni
ted States.
We cannot but express our regret that the
third volume of Mr.. Coopers work is to be sup
pressed: we cannot but express our indignation
at the treatment he has received which causes
his eterminaion-treatment which merits, as
il will, doubtless, receive, the scorn and con-
domination of every patriotic Americana
CooPERsTowN, Feb. 4, 1913.
To the Editor Of the Madisonian:
Your paper of January 81, lS43, has been
sent to me. with marked passage, in which the
following words occur, viz: "And We, neither
Cooper, nor Goldsborough, nor any one who
has written history of our NAVY, has ever
mentioned the fact" The reference is to
combat between Virginia State Barge, and
certain English Barges, in the Chesapeake Bay,
during the war Of the Revolution.
This is the third or fourth time nv attention
has been called TO the supposed omission of this
affair, in the pages of the Naval History. | ap-
pIehend these references to myself have been
made under msconception of what nv work
proposes 10 be. Ii is history of the Navy of
the United States, and not Naval History of
the United States. The plan does not include
all the nautical events Of the country but mere
~ such as were connected with It's regular ma
rine. IL is true, few other incidents are intro
duced, but only with view TO general connec-
ton, and without any intention of charging On
the subjects. Each maritime State had ma
rine OF It's own but very little alusion TO their
service is made in my work-nor is ANYTHING of
moment said of the private armed cruisers
few of their exploits being mentioned in gene
raj terms, merely TO preserve an outline of the
maritime state Of the whole country. Nv at
,ention called to this combat of the Barges.
but the facts were so obscure and doubtful, that.
not coming within my plan, | felt no necessity
for publishing them.
did intend 10 write third volume of the
History IN question, which should contain all
the services of the different State marines as
well as the more prominent and best authenti-
Gated combats Of the private armed cruisers.
The plan would have also brought down the
history OF the regular marine to the present time.
But the abuse, calumny, and pecuniary sacr.
hces-sacrfces that am little able to bear-hal
accompanied the publication Of the two first
volumes OF the work, have long since induced
me TO abandon the idea, and to turn nv atten-
ton to other subjects. The intention, however.
may serve to explain the abrupt manner in which
the volumes now in print terminate, il having
been the design TO carry on the narrative in
third volume, conseculivey and coauecledy, or
precisely as if the three volumes had been pub
lished at the same time. The eagerness and
recklessness with which calumnious imputa
tons, In connect n with this history. have been
circulated through the country the avidty with
which the public has received the most palpable
fasehood', and the apathy with which il has
listened to their triumphant, refutation, has ef-
ieclually cured me Of any ambition to be an
American historian. Having become commit
ted, shall, in justice to myself and family. leave
on record such replies TO the more conspicuous
OF my assasnts, as will place them in no envi.
able position before posterity, whatever may be
their better fortunes with their contemporaries
but were the manuscript of what has been print
ed now lying before me unpublished, certain
ly should throw 1t into the fire as an act of pru
dence 10 myself, and of justice to my children.
Your obedient servant,
J. Kenmore COOPER.
~ We must defer the publication of tho