Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-27
Albert Gallatin to Ed,oard Coles.

Mr. Dean SIN A cold prevented immediate
your letter of the 18th, the subject Of Commodore
Stewards publication. He communicated his statement to
before he sent it to the publisher had two
tons with him the subject and addressed to him the
10Th Of October short letter. copy of which is enclosed
This far was concerned appeared to sufficient and
had not intended to say any thing that particular
point. Your appeal to me, in reference to Mr. Madison,
compes to be explicit
repeat what wrote Commodore Stewart viz that
have the slightest recollection of having assisted
any Cabinet Council where the propey of laying the pub
lie vessels during the discussed Of having proposed
that measure of its having been entertained by the Adj
minsaton of Commodores Banbridge and Stewart hav
ing against and addressed letter to the Pes
dent the subject If in point of fact, party privy
any such transactions, all say is, that my memory
has failed me much more than am aware Of
may have forgotten casual suggestions and conversations
but that should recolect such an important fact
solemn decision by the Administration, ratified in Cab
Council lay up the navy during the appears be
incredible the because had been quite unusual to
submit the Cabinet the in which the land naval
forces authorized by Congress- and for which appropriations
had been made should be employed This arranged by
the head of the Department. under the control of the President
commander-in-chef On occasion was ever consult
ed in of Cabinet those subjects prior TO the
1872 And have lively recollection of the
which the President called together in that deli
berate on measures character first March April
the popey of sending force occupy the then nsulat
ed post of Detroit and vicinity, which approved of under
the expectation of the impending But the amount of
the force the mode Of execution, and all the details left
entirely the discretion of the War Department Secondly
August following Immediately after receiving the news OF
General Hus disaster when the subjects for discussion
the proprety Of Immediately creating naval force the
Lakes and whether any attempt should be made before this
was effected Detroit and the lost territory.
You that my evidence nevertheless only
negative and, that account will mention the rcnm-
stances and which TO render It probable that The
Of Commodore Stewart may not in every respect
be as correct thinks them TO be, that he by
erroneous information.
We have three versions which disagree either date
| to fact.
Dr. Thomas Harris published in the year 1887 life Of
Commodore Bainbrdge which had at the time Of
Commodore Stewards publication, and which the author states
to founded Commodore Banbdges private journals and
correspondence, close intimacy and conversations
with him &c In this he says that Commodore Bainbrdge,
having arrived Boston from Europe in February 81
ceeded Immediately Washington where he remained few
weeks during the deberaton of Congress the subject Of
declaration Of against Great Britain and ordered to
the command Of the navy at Charestown Massachusetts
before leaving the seat Of ne heard that IN
Cabinet Council it determined that vessels OF war
should be placed ordinary that having consulted with
Com Stewart they addressed strong letter to
the Secretary Of the Navy, demonstrating against that inca
sure that this letter had its effect and menofwar were
permitted that, having gained this important point
Com cambridge departed for Boston, whence he was, after
the declaration war; ordered to Washington to take
mand Of the Constellation and to fit her out with all possible
despatch that the order obeyed that after directing the
repairs returned Boston make provision for
his family and that whilst there he Con the resignation Of
Com Hul) appointed to the command Of the Constitution
According Com. Stewart it was after, and not before
the declaration Of that the determination to lay up the
public ships and the revocation of that decision took place
He states that he and Com cambridge arrived at Washing
the Goth June that the 2lst they shown by
Mr. Goldsboough chief clerk of the Navy Department
paper containing ORDERS which had been drawn fo
/ tn
his force that the day the Secretary OF the
Navy informed them that it had been decided by the Pre
dent and the Cabinet to lay vessels OF war in the har
Dor Of New York that their interview with the President and
the confirmation Of the said decision took place the
day that on the 22d he and Com. cambridge signed and
presented their Joint letter that he obtained the day
the command the Argus with instructions 10 proceed to
scour the West Indies and Gulf Stream, &c. and departed
immediately leaving Com Banbrdge at Washington and
that Com Banbrdgc informed him his return TO Phiade
pha that he had accomplished his purpose that the ships
ordered 10 90 to e and that the President had said that he
would assume the responsibility This revocation Is stated
have taken place about the middle OF July.
i Mr. Goldsborough the first clerk above mentioned, in
letter dated 9TH May, 1925, written in answer to one address
ed to him by Commodore Banbdge, confirms the fact Of the
joint letter Of the Commodores TO the Secretary OF The Ma
and the date he assigns to il is subsequent to the decara
ton Of war; and does differ essentially from that given by
Com Stewart But, instead Of saying that he had shown
those officers paper just drawn ordering Com Rodgers
not 10 sail from New York. his expressions that the
opinion that would be rash contend the with
the enemy that prudence required that few ships should
be laid up safe port &c, prevailed too generally in
the city, and that il fdny reported that the MAORI
Of the Cabinet entertained the opinion and bad come
to the determination to lay up all ships in New York,
and employ the officers and of the navy in the ports
the seaboard that he mentioned that report to the Commo
dores and that very afterwards confirmed by
Of the members of the Administration CLEARLY by the Score
tary Of the Navy So far relates TO the interview with
his first clerk his communication TO Com Bainbridgs was
made thirteen years after the incidents alluded to- and twenty
years before Com. Stewards publication.
With respect the and intentions of Congress- Com
Stewart appears to to be clearly mistaken.
He under the impression that Congress had adjourned
in April 1872 and again in June following for the pur
pose Of declaring mistake which he corrected
showing him that that body did sit without interruption from
November, 1871 till the 9th Of July, 1912. During tina
session two laws passed respecting the navy BY thu
act of the Gath Of February 1872 500 900 appro
prated in conformity with the estimates Of the Secretary
the Navy for the expenses among other Objects Of keepns
in active service all the public vessels then in commission
four gates, corvette, three Ships and briggs schoo
nes, which appropriation proved amply sufficient. BY TIL
act Of 30th March, 1872 the President authorized
to he Immediately repaired equipped and put in acua
service the fgaes Chesapeake Constellation, and Adams
and not exceeding $500, 900, in conformity witt
Mr.. CoLEs the Private Secretary and confidential
friend Of President MADISON during his Administration, an
Mr. GALLArIS was, during the term, until hi, missio
Ghen the Secretary Of the Treasury and Of course
/ Der Of the Cabinet