The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-16


Appeal from Commodore stewart co Cong ross.
TO THE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND HOUSE or re.
PREsENTATIvEs OF THE UNITED STATES OF AME-
RIGA, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.
In submitting to Congress- appeal to the chatac
ter and consequences of = law already carried into
effect, and by witch my own fame and b nor have
been impaired, impe led at outse. to disca!n
the slightest dminution OF thss profound respect to
which the Legislature Of my county IL entitled
Long accustomed to obey we'll as to com nand, the
Of personal sacrifice suffering could be
silently borne but the deep conviction that than
half century Of assiduous toll STUDY has enabled
me to discern and appreciate lily both the true
principles and the besetng dangers of naval ssrvce
forces npon the stern duly not aisne If Individual
half Of organiza ion to the eff cheney usefulness and
glory Of which my life has been devoted.
assigned it by the national policy il i.tly proud
Of its record. No arm OF public force, in this auy
other country from its origin 10 tne essot day, can
claim the inspiration of purer motives, the perform
of more brilliant exploits the att .inmsut Of objects
more substantially ana durably beneficial History,
which dsdains to iwe upon the iyol fraiities
which all human beings are ar.tey subject, has
traced its combined and sead progress and has already
Post Captain the highest aud q oGcer thai navy
ard they to whom address myself VIII parcoa FIR
the intrusion whom FAY, that / eel as a wouad or
dread as calamity, every blow given tn tieoed TO
the spirit and principles which have aufntted AL Illus
ira ed that gallant corps The past has lieoei
briefly to that past, 10 vaiugpdous moot, but as
unroAing the scroll Of my tie you candid 1sioo.
On the 9th of March 1798, lett lucrative and hpnora-
bic command In the commercial maetae entered the
navy with commission as lieu Du ing the state
OF hostiities with France in 1870, captuse Ell, with the
schooner Tx pertinent, Of twelve guns, armed
sells Of the enemy; and inu. after takiug
three asted schooner OF fourteen guns, La Daae,
chased her companion brig Of eixhre.n, wh,-e supe-
Ticrity could scarcely hope to ,u,e bat
! was fortunate ugh 20 scare iato dgat TOO
rapid to be overta9en. Tue vac CT ,sed III 1901
and the reductions enec I'D oy fee,iden, JEFF
ierson for ce-es'a olishmeut, | W.. among
look for those who per fected the 10, shich
reflected so much credit IN the American nm
On the occurrence of "A second var, the wa yed
against ffpo in the squaoron Of 90 pd,re Prenle,
and as lieutenant, commanding the ,ieeu, aiiei aud
Philadelphia in the hsrbor Of the eu~ny, All received
on bosro my yes e. fcm hi, bage hume iiatsly after
his success the heroic officer T. wh, thai a:a neat
had been specially confce1. roe e0e gy,. acsivi
~ and discipline exhi oited in a series Of naval
movements snd attacks, duriog the continuance
of this contest for four years with n4rb sc ,us
and piratical antag mist, need mt BE- rec,uotei
They exalted the reputation OF cpuotry gave to
her flag prestige since LIST shortly after tue
ion Of peace and very usary half &c atay ago
was hopcIed with the mnsi N COZ bod as cap
tain, bearing date the 22d of April, 1905
The seven years which prscsdsn the third war-that
with the greatest OF maritime natons-htd not been
allowed BY the .eau ,tons Of iieness sad tepose, to
impair The skill enervate the sentim ,nts of
naval officers. Whenever public service oid not be
obtained. as was frequently this case, owing t. the
small number OF vessels actually equipped Ia Mill
arity with ocean life and with tue p acicai and
vfgilant habits of navigation, WAS uainatnef by wy
ages Of explora ade merchant ships. ~ the
distant quarters of the globe. engaged, with tue ap
probation Of my nment in several Of tn private
expeditions reaped the advan If constant
Srton and enlarged expe'isnce. Wneu, therefore, the
sunmons hattie soundei again in 1871 the Al off,
If the United States pressed eagerly forward with
unbroken spirit unshaken fidelity, aud undmtuished pro-
SEASONAL ati ity say to yon gentlemen win shasis
that al hough then aud a, always during the
axaons exsggerang gossip aud calu nnious ru
NOR had TURF ed from the neass OF OF
country there cid no there not there
will. exist eutre body OF men, phslaux more
defence and glory of nation True sal alter it has
been proved but its proof was SURPRISE for the faults
WHOLE
l took my part in the struggle with Great Britain.
exerted myself in inter:ourse with President Madi
son, to prevent almost adopted policy OF drawiog
in and docking ali armed vessels rs the ouiy way
to secure them from the supposed over whe ming power
Of our sos They went forth upon the ocean ant at
tstion il fell to my own lot, In command of the
rgate Constitution, and while cruising off the Portu
sbps-the Cyane and Levant-aad vauq nsh both.
At the Date Of this action, the Teasy Of Cheat mad
rents In view OF the purpose aimed by this Try
narrative may not be improper TO add that the legs
tures OF the city Of New York and the state Peany
wanna hoDored me by marked expressions Of praise and
that the Congress Of the unied Stae- by resolution
adopted on the god Of February, 1876 requested the
President to present gold medal with suitable
blems and Devices 10 testimony cf the high enser
tanned by Congress of my glautry gooi conduct and
services.
Our long peace, which, upon the seas, was scarcely
interrupted BY the Mexican war, has witnessed the
useful ploJ Of naval forces in almost every
region and chme Nothing whicl sucl class Of
public sgenls could accomplish and were authorized
10 accom- plush has been left .omp he'd You may
follow the pennant 1t sbohe upon The revolu aary
hroes Of south An erican liberty it hunted piracy
Wherever uixog the sh Of Africa, in either
o. the Indies as i penetrated usdes the Impulses OF
back into ciai intercourse with thir KIND mss
teriously exclusive ard opuent ,ire Of baroarsns:
it shelter ed The lonely and crushed victim of des
potc yeng espce, at Its utmost Iced. and the oldest
scenes OF civizstion-you may track the flag wheseg
or you will and, with exceptions rare and trivll it's
guardian officers will be found molly executing the
errands Ct great people My orders ass gned to
the squadron the Pacific station during the years
1921 1922 1928 ard 1874 and /. Will be recolected how
novel complicated and delicate the duties OF taat
command arising ont Of the disturbed c,ndi Of the
peSly born republics Ano here although DESTROYS to
avoid the garrulity Of egotsm, obliged by the sim
gular applicability Of certain ncdent t, advert to them
as exactly Illustrative OF the ease and rrespon 'iiity
with which saneers upon naval officers may be tnr dst
into the pigeon holes OF bureau and unless fortunate
~ a. once encountered may gradually take root AMI be
ultimately handled incontestaole truths. had
lately excrci ed my functions performed my task and
scarcely returned home when as tnat stngushei gen
Clay, letter containing mpuadoos Of most
serious nature against my conduct. WAS brought to
trial before martial The government exhibited
the charges. My judges were OF VIII se eagacity,
ability, virtue and honor none could, doubt Aod
how did full free and fearless scrutiny result In find
ing Of which extract but the following concluding para
graph
The court however that peculiar character
the SUCH that would that full justice
which require It's hands by simple judgment OF acqu
al IS ,hereore tmpeIed BY sense Of duty 90 farther,
aS rom having yoasisa he hsS daes Of nenrsy and re-
spec for the laws Of nations tar fro having sacrificed the
scting upon any motive Of msrcenary or sorda knd 20
reposed in him by refusing proper proiectou to
American citizens and property rendering such pro.
lection subserveut individual Interest,"
hiss been developed throughout the whoe o. this in
the Of three years cruise
calculated impair the confidence which the this
court pavy the nation have long reposed the honor
the talents and the patriotism OF this distinguished officer or 10
weaken manner the opinion which oil who knew him
entertained Of his humanity and dsn edness Th vr
only with brighter usire from this ordeal ot trial.
Ike tho stars he rumphany displayed when vsor and skill
achieved victory adorn the annals OF our naval glory
Well might the ilustrious conclude tho
versaon 70 which have referred with the remark that,
although he had impusveiy originated the proceeding
he could not regret it. for such sentence, he would
consent to be court martiaied once o week
And now. gentlemen, after having dwet thus perhap