The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-24
u. S. SHIP MISSISSIPPI,
AT SEA, Oct. 4, 1851.

My DEAR Sir: cannot allow you TO leave the
Mississippi, under the present circumstances
without expressing TO you the pain and morti
fcation feel at the occurrences which have in
duced you to adopt this resolution. ! cannot
hope, sir, that this expression of my personal
feelings, together with those of similar nature
which | know you will receive from other Of
ficers, will produce change in your determin.
alton. II would be folly in me, sir, to endeavol
to alleviate the accusation which has been made
against you; an accusation which, although
may disprove Of and consider unfounded, still
remains. You have not TO do with the senti
ments or opinions of myself or my brother Of
ficers. You cannot receive from US refutation OF
charges which have been made by the only agents
of the government with whom you have to deal
You have been charged by them of having COM
promised the flag which offered you protection
You, sir, while guest of tho national ship
placed at your disposal by the unanimous votes
of our representatives in Congress, you have
been charged by a commercial c,gent, of having
compromised that country's banner! When tire
American PEOPLE, through their representatives,
have extended to you mark of their respect and
sympathy has never been paid to any,
" ith the exception of Lafayette-he has, with.
out considering the consequences, undertaken
10 say to you that which would oblige you to
decline their proffered honor |, sir, am not a
diplomatist. My profession does not often
place me in positions to decide upon questions
Of political intricacy. But can be allowed to
Judge and express my opinions upon subjects as
devoid of ambiguity as this appears to me to be.
am familiar with every circumstance which has
led to this accusation. | have watched atten-
lively every movement of yourself and every
word, almost that you have spoken since you
came on board at the Dardanelles, and do not
hesitate to venture my opinion, that in no one
instance have you, in the least compromised the
American flag.
do firmly believe, that upon investigation,
your course Of conduct will meet the entire APP
probation of the American people, know it is
a piece of assumption in me to make such an
explicit declaration, and particularly after those
whose experience and situation entitle them to
go much more respect, have decided otherwise.
But there are cases in which men of the finest
tact and judgment may be deceived. There are
cases ip which men, from strict sense of duty,
may be misled; and in my humble opinion, this
is one of those cases. | cannot think that Capt.
Long considered the consequences of his be-
coming party to this charge, the impossbility
of your remaining under this flag, after having
been accused of compromising it, (unless it is
satisfactorily retracted and explained) and the
disappointment which will be produced at home
among the parties and classes, when they become
acquainted with these Notifying, these painful
facts. hope most sincerely that such expana-
tons will be made to you as will exculpate Capt
Long, and that you will, after receiving them
reconsider the resolution which know you have
made.
In conclusion, sir, allow me to express to you
the personal satisfaction | have experienced in
an association to which shall always recur with
pleasure and with pride, and regretting more
than can tell you, if you persist in your reso-
luton to leave us, the causes which have pro
duced it.
. | remain, sir, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
j. VAN NESS PHILIP,
Pass'd Mid. Mississippi
Directed Gov. Louis Kossuth"