The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-31
COMMODORE JOHN PAUL JONES

COMMODORE JOHN PAUL JONES.
The name Of no naval hero calls up so many thrill
ling reeosctons, in the breast of every American,
who consus our revolutionary annals, as that Of the
celebrated John Paul Jones. His achievement of
the capture Of the Scraps in l779 is almost unpar-
alleed in naval warfare. The Bon Homme Richard,
with which he took her, sunk soon after the engage
ment, and he removed his crew, and displayed his
triumphant aag over the deck Of his vanquished en-
envy. Many years ago, we heard the whole scene
described by viginian, who acted surgeon Of
Jones's vessel, and he spoke Of the captains gal
antry and skill in terms Of the highest enthusiasm
This is the celebrated captain, whose services and
claims are put forth in the following article. We
have had the pleasure Of meeting with Paul Jonss's
grandson, (Mr. Loadon,) who 10 now IN Tins city.
From tbs Baltimore American.
CoamoDons PAuI JosEs.---Ws clip the follow
ing tribute 10 the merits Of John Paul Jones from the
Charleston Mercury ball foe the relief Of his heirs
ssntaiivss, from ths Naval Coma,iasss BY Mr.. Mac
lay, who has rendered public service In his psSixnt
examinaisa OF lhsr ciains and has reported there
on. We trust that action upon them may not be
longer delayed:
"THr mrns oy PAul Jons.-Ths claims ofthsse
persons to the Psymsn, Of certain sums Of money
Congress. They have besn often before il, and in
various ways have met with respectful notice, bat
nothing more. The Committee on Naval Afiairs, in
the House, has recently reported, Ii is understood,
| unanimously In favor Of the acknowledgment and
payment Of these claims. The report ssu forth tho
nature Of these claims, authenticates them beyond
cavi, and enforees them by "a brief sketch Of the
brilliant Of the hero, during revolution.
To the evidence Of their BUSINESS, nothing need be
added and IL is hopd that Congress, under the in
spiration Of some COED angel may be moved TO post
pone the qualification Of or other Of their darling
sins, Just for the single session, and so provide
means for paying the debts due 10 great m an, for
the lustrious services in the Of our independ-
ence.
"The fate Of Paul ZONES, living and dead, has been
q strange and a hard one, and contains as many
items OF injustice as ever fell to one mans lot
Among the foremost and most devoted, he plunged
into the struggle Of or revolution, nnd threw into
the common treasury soul as heroic, adventu-
rous, as exhaustess sf resources ever hved-end-
less labor, and money 10 the last dollar Of his for
tune. The only naval officer in the service who
showed the in,uitve genius Of great chief, he not
only not placed where he belonged, at the head
Of the navy, bu, was postponed 10 rank to a long
string Of men who had no reputation and never ac-
CURED any Engaged in the most active and sue
cessu service, for seven years. he not only received
not dollar Of pay, and rations, but he al
most the whole time n advance TO the Congress for
money paid out in repairing his ships and feeding
his crews. From time to time be occupied himself
in giving to the navy department his views, full OF
sound sense and comprehensive system, Of the or
ganization Of the nsvy. But while time has con-
hrmed his views and led to their adoption, il was
not till the world had forgotten who was their
thor.
"Bat the most heinous wrong done to Paul Jones'
is found in the popular notion OF his character,
Svhtrh m have been h0rrowed fropn he
coarse SANDERS Of the British press, at the time
he frightened the isles from their propriety, and put
Mistress Britannia in paroxysm Of terror
and rage For half century he existed in the
popular mind little better than successful ruff
6an-a big ferocious savage, with a diabolica
eye, whose voice in battle was that of an enraged
tiger whose soul exuted in killing men, sinking
ships and burning towns. The friend, correspon-
dent, and companion Of Franklin, rufian The
idolized hero Of the court of Versailles, a savage !
Jones was slender man, delicately moulded and
organized, handsome, courtly in manners, with
great love Of refined society, and with qualities to
| adorn it, given to writing poetry, and as distin-
gushed through life for his humanity as his hero.
ism. And if we consider that, excepting the lion
courage and intutive genius tina. God gave him, he
was in all respects absolutely a selfmade man, the
| refinement of his manners, the cultivation of his
mind his comprehensive and profound knowledge
of his profession and his power Of developing his
ideas in logical order and with clearness Of ex
preston, will seem scarcely less marvellous than
the successful daring Of his action We cannot find
in all naval history hero with higher and more
| various claims to admiration than John Paul
Jones.
"But to the people Of the United States he is some
| thing more. He is their first naval hero--he more
than any other deserved to be honored the foun-
der of navy and the fount of its aspiration-the
tutelar genius Of our wooden walls. He first show
| al that posai,le so oteda and
astounding the proof, that all Europe rung with
the capture of the Scraps, if it had been the
downfall of empire. 1t in fact the birth of a
rival to the proud mistress of the ocean. Such is
the man to whose memory the Congress Of the Uni
ted States called on to do simple justice"