Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

following paper. Understanding that other
copies, received through the same channel,
are in the hands Of NOR or less gentlemen in
Washington, We have concluded to publish it,
as, being disposed to keep in the front rank in
the matter Of furnishing news concerning
transactions in cur public Offices, We should
regret exceedingly to find it in any other jour-
nal in advance of its appearance in the Star,
Lieut.. Hunter, with all his fns qualities,
which make him so deservsdly public favor.
lite, seems to us, certainly in this case, TO have
overleapsd, at single bound, all the rules
which are supposed BY the unofici al world to
govern officers in the command Of single shin
Of squadron; thus raising grave question of
discipline, only to be settled by the fat of the
commander in-chief of the. Navy The Presi
dent OF the United States, with whom rests the
province of judging whether 10 the Lieuten-
ants reasons for the step he has taken, OH
cially given, he had justifable cause for his
act of bringing his ship home without orders,
must settle the difficulty. By the laws of the
service the punish ment is death. The follow
ing is the address: r'I .t.
TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
Circumstances, in high degree involving
the honor of our flag have occurred near the
station TO which l have been attached No
helping hand has been given to our anfortu-
nate countr men. Exposed to she wrath of
tyrant, they have been driven from Paraguay.
their property has been confscated, and the
flag, 30 proud because it waves as q banner
for the oppressed of every land who chose to
nrnn tYrahar p fplA -. L.
petty tyIant, hauled down and trampled up-
der foot .' q" --..
could not help our countrymen, becaus, I
was not permitted to 90 there with my com.
mand. was sent away tckere difficulties
hdG net occurred, although the America an
Consul at Buenos Ayres expressed his wonder
at my absence from the difficulty, as though
my inaction had been voluntary one.
Vessels OF war are abroad for the soLe mr.
pas OF protecting the lives, property, and
rights cf our citizens. When I found tina,
my quests to go Paraguay were refused by
tie commander in chief of the Brazil SQUAD
ron, when one month later he had direct and
AUTHENTIC info nation from Lieut. Moore. of
the Navy, OF the actual condition of affairs in
Paraguay, and the means to send me order.
again at hand; when 1 saw that the fear of re-
sponsibhity made the commander in-chief vet
decline sending ne where vessel of war was
80 much needed, L no longer he-iatei, but
brought back my command to the United
States, rather to ingIoriously rot in the mud
thar lngloriously sail upon the ocean
Ihe commander-in chief supposes that in
declining positive responsibility, none ex-
lsis; lar from 1t, our country demands more Of
rs than action, .chsn fo~c,d slpon as. TWAS
under the same supposiion that Admiral
Byng, of the British Navy, acted. Should
not MS fate be warning to those who seek
commands, and Yet wish to shirk response
bility?
1t is en- easy matter to idIy lie in barbor
here and there, and at the end of three wears
return with tie praise of arduous service; and
IL Il TO such persons who demand that the
promise should be kept to the ear that I
write this statement; but the promise with me
shall not be "broken to the hone, even
though were upon the instant dismiss ed from
aProfession in which haze toiled for thirty
years, always sacrificing every personal con.
Liberation Tor the honor, the dignity and the
glory Of the service. The man who oouId
calmly refrain, in command Of a vessel of war.
whers her use Was perverted, l. 0 sent where
tne was not needed, when great necessity OK
lS,ed Tor her elsewhere, would DO bapnv in
meeting such terms as were proposed by a
chinese commander to an English ono in their
recent war That th.y bore no enmity 10
each other; and tt at they might have an Ell
to both parties, ard no loss of life. by dis.
pensing with the use of shot and balls, and
using blank cartridges alone"
feel that sesding batteries abroad means
something more than idle parole; that it i'm
Plies that they are to be sent to such points
az seem IN need OF them, and indeed that thew
.re eUsn TO be used, when tho honor Of the
nag demands 1.-THE commanding officer to
DC ned In the strictest seDse, accountable for
an unjust or useless employmsnt of force.
simply to shrink to avoid respcn sibility, is
contemplate in my eyes, and rather than
submit TO the degradation of being forced
Ito this passive position, would throw nv
commission to the dogs and see if, in the
woe world, there was no honest mode Of gain
ine u subsistence, even 10 man who is want
Ing wholly In the experience of human life
Whatever the navy has Of the affections of
the American people, is due 20 those energetic
and gallant men who fought in the war of
iSl2; few Of the old heroes vet remain
long may they live enjoying the respect and
affections OF their countrymen Thew never
taitered IN their duty to their flag bat ways
reflected the greatest lustre upon it. In their
steaa now, We have often in active service,
aged imoecility, and it cannot be denied
Sometimes youthful imbecility-men who have
grown up under the awful fear of RESPONSE.
bility-the aged ones have taught the younger
ones to doubt even the truths of that most
famous book, the Arabian Nights tales Wha,
have we to expect from the Navy when old
fogyifm is acting from its supreme height
upon young fogyism?
NO doubt there are those who will attribute
lnls expression of opinion to an interested
mo'ive 1t does arise from that bu. not from
motive OF self, interest. So near the head
dc am, OF the list, retired list could moi
"dteriaiiy Affect my rank; as in one or two
years would be promoted from vacancies
but II would affect materially my confidence
IN tne efficiency Of the service, and / might
,Uok mon with my brother officers, to a posi-.
pie war with a respectable foreign power.
Without tho fear of a probable disgrace for
oisgraced We certainly would be, If our ad
versary should not be affected with that same
oid fogyism, which destroys, at once, the efR-
cheney OF, and pride in, a naval service. -
Hr. c. q. HUNTER,
:. Commanding U. S. Brig cambridge.
The War Of the Swiss LI.' IL