The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-01
Case OF Lieutenant c. G.. Hunter.
UNITED STATES Brig BAINBRIDGE.
on Sandy Hook, Jan. %, 1885,


the Navy that this has been done after the most
mature dehseration, and that do not throw myself
in the least upon the mercy or clemency Of the De-
partment II has been done upon the fall conviction
Of how useless the vessel was, under the cir;um
stances, upon her station and that being So to re-
main quietly there was be false to the interests of
my government and the honor Of its flag.
II the Honorable the Secretary Of the Navy will
contend that blind obedience Of orders the waOe
duty ola navy officer, win remind him that, with
this, the battle Of Cape st. Vincent would have bsen
no victory and that, with this, the battle Of Open
hagen would have been lost to England.
do not wish to assert that these examples are
anything moro than great truths, showing that 1t
msy be, under certain circumstances, even praise
worthy act to study the honor Of flag in preferences
to blind obedience to ORDERS nor d, wish to deny
that an officer who dsobeys ders incurs a grave
responsibility. l rely solely upon what can make
plain 70 the department, that, I'M Ter the circum
stances, it is better for the honor Of the flag tina.
should return to tie United States than remain upon
the coast Of Brazil.
Upon the 18th Of January, 1864, the Bainb-iige
aJrvtd in Moptevideo, where Com nodore Liter
then was on the Savannah. A difficulty had occur-
red az the Falkland Islands, known there even
prior 70 the arrival OF this vessel Nd communica-
ton, however, ma lie me upon that snbec, until
after the United States sloop. ofwar Germantown
bad arrived uD9n the station and sailed TO those
islands; then was informed by Ccmmo lore 5alter
tbss he would have sent me " had he no. feared
that would compromise the government" he made
use OF the same obseIv stion TO Commander Lyncn
az well as TO me, as was informed By the United
States Con sul to the Falkland Islands.
Little fiattering as declaration OF this kind was,
made no protest, Again difficulty occurred az the
Falkland Islsn6s, which vas known in Montevido
upon the 20th June, 1864, and altnou h the sin-
hrirp To M AZ bat nj and Salt
seDo re,, but or0er d tbs Germanto vn from Rio de
Janeiro more than double the distance NJ doubt,
for the same reason as before.
About the 9Th Of o tobsr, difficulties Of very Sc
IloIs rature, involving our flag, we're known at
non,evdeo 10 have occurred at Paraguay. The
flag ship had just arrived in the river; Ia spite of
he urgent s.sity that vessel of war should 60
to Assumption, was ordered on q cruise to pOs.s
where no fiiculty vas known to have occurred,
Before sailing, however, l sent to the command
erin chief d.tsied plan for reducing, with the
least possible force, the Dictator OF Paraguay to
jus. re, ard for :na rights OF foreigners.
ordered The officer who vas sent with shis co n.
nuniCssion 10 state TO the commander in chief the
manner in which IL had been received, and also tia,
10 ooubt existed that serious difficulties had just
occurred in Paraguay; that If ne would order the
vssssI under my command 70 that point he might
rely upon ludic,ons arrangement, and one hooor.
nble 70 he flag.
The commander in.ohef stated that the Balm.
bridge could no. reach Assumption on account of
having great draft OF water; but The off 3e. who
had been sent BY me bad fortunately been upon tue
surve. OF the river 20 that point aud assured him
ths. without her tanks, aSd ether unnecessary
wight there would be no difficult
] again urged the commander inc6ief to be sent
to Paraguay, by leter, dated October o. but all 20
purpose. Instead OF being sent where serioas
Difficulty was known to exist, was oriersd where
Il was known no difficulties had arisen -for steam
twice month reach Nontevideo, bringing news
from every port in Brazil in Shich we nave CON-
megce.
Il, 49, ,,x.n.,rro ~ n...~u..uL .-..-os -.
sctnsfic duty in The waters Assunpti on, vent
10 that place for tie arrangement of existing dii
euliies. Lieutenant commanding Page visited Pre-
sident LOPEZ three times before communicating
win NJ. Hopkins, the Unit States Consul; he or
dsIed that tie officers Of the Waterwtci should not
visit che aforesaid consul ard, strange beyond be-
lief he ordered lieutenant, by whom, ere this, you
ave received dispatches, not to take any nome
from Mr.. Hopkins, the United States Consul, whose
exeGustuf lad been withdrawn by President
Lopez.
II 9 yorome we're written i. would not tell more
plain y how our difficulties in Paraguay have been
arranged. AS finale, since the departure OF the
We:er~itch, President Lopez has uspe1ded the ex-
plo ations Of those rivers aud the Semiaari0, the
only psper published IN Paraguay, Is loud 10 its
abuse Of the Americans AMI the LieutenautC an
msDdipg OF the Water witch.
Commodore Sal.er was made aware OF these
events by Lieute nant Moore, bearer Of dispatches
from LieB,ansnt Commanding Page 70 the United
statef, ana b7 that opportunity Of sending me or
no1e were sent.
To command q vessel Of war, aud be sent pur
posey where difficulties exist when serious ones
were kuosn 70 Rave occurred elsewhere, is in my
eyes, q degradation.
] cali upf n the Honorable the Secretary OF the
Navy 20 relieve me from that degradation, aud ask
Only at this mo cent orders 20 60 TO Assumption aud
recless he wrongs Of our injured cosntrypen. If
tie eonmar Ger ID chief plainly and unequivo ALLY
sbirks q responsibility 10 becomes imp rati We, ia
my opinion, that | should take one. l he:ewit
submit an accompanying detailed plan. markell
A, OF probable force necessary 10 bring President
Lopez to just regard Of the rights II oar fello '
citizens. He Ia now engaged in constructing
'ofufcstiors upon the Paraguay, which would have
been unavailable il | had been sent imme lately
upon the perpetrssion Of the outrages. / will IT
dwell upon the fagrsney OF these outrsges. Theg,v-
eminent, doubt, is fully informed 70 their CHAR.
ac:er; but property has b. en- conscated the lives OF
eur country men placed in jeopardy. and our flag
hauled down spd trsmpled under foot, in country
In which mob has never been known.
Upon the l4fh OF Msy, 1854, addressed letter
10 the Honorable the Secre;ars OF TIE Navy, 10 re-
caro- 20 my prisa.e interests. ! have received no
answer, save indirectly, through the con.
msr der. in.cbef and that no. at all in its
tore calculated 70 lead Inn TO believe thai
enjoyed the confidence Of the department |
have 8. various times, As eutenaat a1d 10 inferior
grades, ADDRESSED eters 10 the Honorable the 3c-
Ie.sry Of the Navy, and nsve, believe. invavisb
bsiore tLis tine, received replies however adverse
Ire Department has been TO sscede to my re-
quests.
TIE commander in.chief vss good enough 80 send
from Rio de Janeiro TO Montevideo an ex,fsc. Of
a iet.er, which 10 suostar &c reDdmaai 10 me;
i founded upon a sc cret report made by arm Of
me 20 me Department; psrt Of thus report l am
prepared 20 or IL a mis- statement.
do DOT wien 20 make point with the Honorable
tbe s. secretary q the Navy how far !t nign. be
tideled honor able or oishoncrable 70 mske paoi;
ee- marked and received as private, unless an sb-
soun pscsssi.y involving the honor Of the receiver
rsquItdlL When tais yiols.i)n OF my confidence,
without . necessity, as been accompanied by Sc
crss report, part q shich am pceoarei 90 saog
suIt1ue, 40 anchs1isole person might with ma n
show Of right ssy that tue commarcerin chef nal
n object 20 serve in 10. Informing me Of the pur.