The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-13

| WILLIAM }. MILLER, collector OF the customs 1or
the district of Bristol and Warren, r. L., vice John
| Howe, removed.
GENERAL ORDER.
Navy DEPARTMENT, Aug. 10, l645.
At naval general cour-martaI, convened at
Washington, d. c., on the second day OF June,
lS45, Captain Philip f. Voorhees,, Of the navy was
tried on the following charge and specifications of
charge:
CmARGE- Disobedienee of orders.
SPECIFICATION lsT In this that the said Capt
| Philip F.. Voorhees, having BEEN on or about the
l4th day of March, 1874, despatched in the United
States frgate Congress to the port of Montevideo
in the river Plate, South America, for the purpose
of protecting the commerce and interests of the Uni
ted States in that quarter and having been ordered
by his commanding officer, Captain Daniel Turner,
commanding the United States naval forces the
coast of Brazil, "to be extremely particular in all
his official and private intercourse with the Monte
videan and Buenos Ayrean governments" and "to
bear always in mind that it not only the policy
Of our government but their earnest desire, to main
tain strict and unqualified neutrality in all things
relating the belligerents and 10 those countries
generally" did, on or about the 29th day of Sep
tember, 1874, at or near the port Of Montevdeo,
disobey the said order by wrongfully capturing and
taking forcible possession of an armed vessel call
ed the "Sancala," belonging to government at
peace with the government of the United States, and
at war with the government of Montevdeo.
SPECIFICATION 2D.-ln this; that the said Captain
Philip Il. Voorhees,, on about the 29th day Of
September, 1874, at or near the port of Montevdeo,
did disobey the order Of Capt. Daniel Turner, set
forth in the first specification Of this charge, by
wrongfuly capturing and taking forcble possession
of squadron of armed vessels belonging to gov
eminent at peace with the government of the United
States, and at war with the government of Monte
| video.
| SPECIFICATION 3I.--In this that the said Captain
Philip F. Voorhees,, on or about the 29th day of
September, 1874, at the port of Montevideo,
did disobey the order of Capt. Daniel Turner, set
forth in the first specification Of this charge, by for
chilly and wrongfully releasing prisoners and prop
erty captured by, or in the custody Of a squadron
of vessels employed in blockading the port of Mon
tevdeo; the said squadron belonging to govern
ment at peace with the government of the United
States.
| SPECIFICATION 4TH.-In this: that the said Capt.
Philip F. Voorhees,, on OF about the 29th day Of
September, 1874, at near the port Of Montevdeo,
did disobey the order Of Capt Daniel Turner, set
forth in the first specification of this charge, by
wrongfuly and forcibly taking seamen from
squadron Of vessels blockading the port Of Monte
video; the said squadron belonging to government
at peace with the government of the United States
| SPECIFICATION 5TH--In this: that the said Capt.
Philip f. Voorhees,, on or about the 22d day OF DC
tober, 1874, at or near the port of Montevideo, did
disobey the order Of Capt Daniel Turner, set forth
in the first specification of this charge, by refusing
to permit squadron Of vessels employed in block
aiding Montevideo to enforce the blockade with re-
spect to merchant vessels belonging to the United
States; the said squadron belonging to govern
ment at peace with the government Of the United
| States.
And the court having heard and duly considered
the evidence and testimony offered under said charge
and specifications, and the defence of the accused
thereto, did find that the said Captain Philip F.
1 Voorhees,,
| On the first specification of the charge, was guilty
On the second specification Of the charge, was
guilty;
On the third specification of the charge, was guilty;
On the fourth specification of the charge, was gull
On the fifth specification Of the charge, was guilty
And the court were of opinion that the said charge
was fully proved and did adjudge the said Captain
Philip +. Voorhees, guilty of said charge.
] The court therefore, did sentence the said Capt
Philip F. Voorhees, to be reprimanded in general
order by the Secretary Of the Navy, and to be sus
pended for the term of three years from the gath day
of June, lS45, the date Of the sentence.
/ The verdict and sentence of tho court have been
approved and confirmed; and, in execution of the
sentence, the department has addressed to Captain
| Philip Il. Voorhees, letter in these words:
| NAVY DEPARTMENT, Aug. IL, 1s45.
| Sir: The naval general cour-martial Of which
| Captain Charles Stewart president, and before
which you arraigned on charge of disobedi-
ence, with five specifications, after most careful
| ana aborlous nveStlgauon, uld, on the 24n Gay OF
June last, find you guilty Of every specification, and
guilty of the charge and sentenced you to be repr
manded in general order by the Secretary of the
Navy, and TO be suspended for the term of three
| years from that date. The officer ordering the
court has approved their verdict and confirmed their
sentence You are therefore suspended from COM
| mand
| In carrying into effect the remainder Of the
tence, could desire not to add one word to the
| Judgment of the court with whose members you
have so long been associated in the service. But
justice to our own government, the relations of
lty subsisting with the Argentine republic, our
avowed policy Of neutrality between foreign bel
ligeren,s, respect for the rights of foreign flag,
firm adhesion to the humane principles of the mod
ern code Of maritime law, advocated and insist
ed on by the American people, the determination to
demand nothing but what is right especially from
| a power weaker than our own--compel me TO dis
avow and reprove your conduct as set forth in the
charge and specifications of which you have been
found guilty.
This letter of rcprimand will be published in a
general order
am, respectfully &c,
| GEORGE BANCROFT.
| Capt. PHILIP F. VOORHEES,,
| United States Navy.
| The naval general court-martial of which Captain
Charles Stewart the presiding officer, and before
which Captain Philip +. Voorhees, was tried, is
| barehv Dissolved