The New York herald., 1845-01-04

MIR. EDITOR -
It seems TO have become as much the fashion OF
late to speak slightingly, ii not abuslvey, OF our
naval officers, as it was formerly.ts shower upon
them the most extravsgant praise Being person
inclined to moderation, was not displeased with
the rst evidences OF abatement, In that fury OF ad-
mlratlon which elevated every man who was prl-
vlleged to wear button stamped with an anchor,
into an hero. But the pendulum OF popular opln-
ion has swung to the opposite extreme, and the
hero Is transformed into pompOus ldler, who hon
ors the government by receivlngits money, wearing
its livery at balls professions and such like agree
able occasions on shOre-Or into a cruel desp0t, TO
whom the sound of the lash and the groan OF his
victim make sweet muslc-to whom hanging
others l mean, not himself, Is an agreeable
pastime, and who would rather by far make war
on his own crew than on the enemies of his coun-
try. Such has been the language OF the press tor
the last two years, and really hoped, that haylng
exhausted all possible subjects and eplthets OF vi.
tuperatlon, and having found is abuse received
with most pralseworthy moderation, or most NOR
tfyiny contempt by those at whom II asdirected,
it had become, if not more just in it's views,
at least weary of it's pro6less tack. II
seems, however, that / had uaderated the
perseverance, and the resources OF at least one Of
your honorable fraternity-that in his quvers there
yet remained one cf the POISONOUS arrows forged
by malice. In every attack yet made on the gen.
tlemen of the Navy, one lingering sentiment OF
honor seemed to be lett to them. Had their char
acser been transmitted to posterity, through, the
medium of these attacks, they might have been
said, like Byron's hero, to have
"-left name to sfter times, H
Linked with one virtue and ten thousand crimes"
That one virtue was fidelity to each other. They
were still held gulltless OF that worst species Of
Teachery, from which even thieves are proverbial
y said to be exempt. 1t was reserved for the edi-
tor OF small paper in this city to discover that
they had no esprit de corps, that their interests
were not Tor their order, but basely and s0rdidy
selfish. II was somewhat unfortunate for this gen.
teman that he should have chosen to prove the
truth of this accusation, by alleging that their in
difference had driven the lamented Newman to
his gra We and that llfeless were their sympa-
thies to the sufferngs of brother, even this
startling event had failed to awaken them.-
Ii was yet mole unfortunate that he should have
chosen tor the PRONUNCIATION of his SANDER the
very day on which the naval officers of this
station me: to express their high and warm
regard for one Of the noblest members of their
cOrps-one whose gallant spirit and high intellec-
tual endowmenis made him, indeed IAN honor to the
service-one whose greatest, almost whose only
his tragic end. Peace be with him The very soul
Of honor, he could not live with even shadow on
his name-a shadow which only cowardly Sian.
derer would have cast HIS brother officers, who
best know his worth, best know how to sympathize
with those who bear his name, and were nearest
his heart Those on this station have expressed
this sympathy, and not their sympathy merely
they have shown that they consider brother Off
GERS family entrusted 10 their care-their guar
dianship. We doubt not the example will be fol-
lowed elsewhere, and that from every naval depot
the land will come voice giving the lie TO the
allegations of the aforesaid paper.
A friend to truth, and
No NAVAL OFFICER.