The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-01
The Naval Court Martial on Commantler
Ritchle.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 81 1865.
The court re-assembled at IL O'Clock this m morning
with the usual throng Of spectators-Captans com
mani ers being seated about the with eutenants
and pursers, and civilians interested In the pro-
gress OF The The general impression Is that great
frbearance has been used towards the by
department. in bringing him to trial, not the actual
oence bat merely the making Of 1t public The fac.
itself stili issue between the parties both having
en- the solemnity of an osth, with asseveratons
dismetricaly opposie-the that the epithes were
applied the other that they not. Tie decision Of
the Court will be looked for with much anxiety.
After the record bad bet read and approved the Judge
Adv cate read his reply to the argument of the
by king that certain portions Of Comr Hschies de-
fence were Irrelevant, because assertions unsup
davit sworn to before Mayor Conrad Is weu as
certain assertions included in the defence, sh,ald
b stricken from the e.. record % ps. ns Also s.s said
recy attacked tho Secretary Of the Navy we'll the
President othe United States by the tone well the
pont were unfair, inasmuch Captain Dupont as-
kent from the court and Of unable to defend him
this charge up Without
the control Of Captain Dupont The Judge Advocate then
read the charge brought against Comr tchie and pro-
ceeded to comment upon Il, after short analysis The
important portion Of the charge is that alleging that
Com'r Richie said in Washington that he had applied
The action Of retiring board was ths in
suit ef.reo by the accused to Capt Dupont Com tchye
tween Captain Dupont and hmse that the whole gist
If the quarrel the action of the Board; the
yeratien not integibe any other hypothesis. The
JucRe Advocate said 1t not necessary dwell upon
rne specification that such concuct as that Of Comr r.
tended to bring quarrel duel It patent
The s tn Sasss x sss1 sss
RS sngnsge the action Of the Retiring Board, and
gusge The accused endesvored to that the word
'pretext" means only cloak" 'fblind," &C.; If he
s ssss o his s,ss he would have
which meaning was given it in the Bpecifcation.
The Judge Advocate then proceeded to show that the
ion the Naval Retiring Board 10 reality the
main Of the conversation and insult 1t the la
Pierre Reuse in Philadelphia, well Com'r 3 aleg
,is by reference to Comr RS own statement of the
licniy and by reference to Captain Duponts evidence
old the KIND relations existing between the parties come
to end If not by the action Of the Retiring Board
The Jucge Advocate also examined Mr. Eheritges ev
in support Of this statement and said that the
Court would observe that in the interview between Mr.
kheridge and Comr r. the whole conversation turned
upon the conduct of certain pretended frienas
bad occurred at the La Pierre House, relevant to
captain Duponps conduc. in the Naval Retiring Board
CeI tain language used by the accused was read
by the Judge Advocate and its tone condemned. This
Snauage the persons bringing the CHARGE Of chi
Of the defence show that chicane not
known by the accused He also into discussion
Of II lspgnsge aeged TO have been used In Washington
by Commander r., falacious In conclusion, the
ACvOcaIe
II e. that Commander R. made certain assertions in
not in dispute and that ths latter por-
on referring tine cause Of the quarrel to the Naval
cation stating that such conduct tended to bring
quarrel cuel was clear enough to every man. The
Judge Advocate then went to explain that such
ducs ss that o. Commander r. passed over lightly,
only wouid the rules of the service against dueling
he fenoered null and void but the Of the service
would be lowered and great injury would be done the
navy.
TIe argument being concluded the counsel for the de-
ntaat, the 2f Tho IufU
being considered by the Court in making up their dec
sion because the Judge Advocate had asserted that the
oefeDce had sssaled the late Naval Board. This
stenuousiy denied, and the protest then read 1t
ctntendec-
hs.-lbat the officers Of the Department and other
uscticnsr les n all their acts open 10 the scratny
and cri esm Vt the citizens and that the Naval Board
cannot be viewed exempt from the that the
Supreme Court or the legislature are open to.
Stcond.-fhat the Judge Advocate whose duty it is
conduc, this case should be impartial and hold the
OF justice even to both the and the
cused has acted with than the zeal usually exhibe
cd by tuch officer. by not only excluding from view
everything in favor Of the accused but for insisting upon
lis convict upon testimony not to verified by
Tia therwtse viz. the letter OF Capt. Dupont to
be Navy department reporting the accused tor the Of
Third That the Judge Advocate has asserted in his
reply thar por Of the defence by the accused in
want hno improper nesmuch As no evidence to support
1t sdoueed when In fact, Capt. Dupont has volun
tered testimony which rendered this portion OF the de-
Fouih-That the Jufge Advocate had stated in his re-
ply that the accused had effect ret defiance the
Of the service prohibiting dueing, when in fact
there is no such word or sentence In the defence.
The accused in addi ion to this paper, made request
bat be be allowed ctlay OF few hours, in order to
prepare response to the closing argument OF the Judge
Advocate.
The President announced that as the law under which
the Court had assembled understood the had
closed.
The accused thought differently, and quoed PROV.
sion In the awwhich he believed gave the right to the
accused.
The Court was cleared for consultation, and after
short delay reopened the Judge Advocate read
e record IL had been made up receiving the protest
q lie ac,ussd, but refusing the motion TO allow an op
porturi'y Tor responding
The Court then adjourned until to morrow, when
the deliberAticn upon the verdict will be commenced
rbis takes place in secret session. and the verdict will
be transmitted 10 Washington for approval or dsap
prevail before being promulgated.
The Lafayette Hall Amir.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
LAFAYETTE HALL, Jan. 81, 1866.
In perusing the HYsAID Of this morning, my atten-
tiop was attracted by an article headed, Another