Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-12-26

luton
R,soivsd, &c That the Governor be requested to
procure a sword, and cause the same to lie present
od to Captain Horace B. SAWYER Of tho United
States Navy, native and citizen Of this state, in
consideration of tho sense entertained by this Leg
slature of his valuable services and good conduct
on hoard the United States Frigate Constitution,
ut the capture Of tho Cyanc and Levant the
goth OF February, 1915, and during tho chase and
escape Of said Frigatc from squadron Of three
British ships-of-war, on the l2th Of March, 1915"
Capt. Sawyer, a son OF revolutionary
officer Lieutenant James Sawyer, who died
in Burlington in the spring OF 1897 was
himself born in this place, and has ru-
merous acquaintance in this vicinity as well
as elsewhere, who will be gratifod by this
honorable mark Of respect to hIm from his
native State. At present Capt. Sawyer is
stationed at plattsburrh, n. Y. We find in
the Plattsburgh Republican, the report utadc
to the Legislature on the subject by the
Chairman of tho Committee to whom it was
referred, II B Stacy Esq, or this place. We
give it bclow-assurci that it will interest
many of our readers.
REPORT.
TO hc House Of Representatives,, nom IN
session
The Select Committee, to which was re-
ferred the j)int resolution. directing the Gov
ernor to procure and present a sword to Cap
tain Horace b. Sawyer. OF the t. ). Navy.
have had the same under consideration, and
respectfully report
That Captain Sawyer has been forty four
years in the public service, and is the only
citizen Of the State who has reached the posi-
ton Of Post Captain in the Navy. He enter
ed the service as midshipman in lsl2, and
was IN service on Lake Champlain till June
1913. when the United States soops Growler
and Eagle OF eleven guns each (to which lat
ter vessel midshipman Sawyer was attached }
were captured near the Isle aux Noix, after a
severe engagement. lie was prisoner Of war
at Halifax for more than year, when he
was exchanged, and Immediately ordered on
board the frigatc Constitution. Commodore
Stewart lie served on board the Constitu-
tion in n memorable engagement which re-
suited in the capture of the British shps-Oi-
war Cyanc and Levant. This victory, and
the escape of the Constitution from a
British squadron Of overwhelming force,
which came up at the close Of the action,
are among the most brilliant achievements
Of the skill and powers of our Navy. In
both these engagements, his conduct was
highly creditabe, and the committee refer
with pleasure to the testimony borne by his
Commander the veteran and illustrious Com
modore Stewart, to his excellent conduct and
character, and also that Of Captain Shubrick
who are now, with Gen. Henderson of
Marines, and himself, the sole surviving
officers in that engagement
When peace was proclaimed, Captain Saw
rnpt q vOvog bnforn iha g in a n India
ship, to require a more thorough knowledge
Of practical scamanship,-seryed cruise
under Commodore Stewart, in the Pacific ;
and subsequently in the West Indies, to clear
| those seas Of the pirates that infested them.
| In that cruise, which was one OF great
hardship uriyation and exposure, not only
to a desperate enemy, but to an equally des
| tructve climate; and in the pcrilou7 boat
service incident to the pursuit and c1pture
! OF the pirates, his commander, Captain News
| ton, bears warm testimony to Lieutenant
Sawyer great exertiOns, zeal and callantry.
| lie was subsequently. also, engaged in Il sim
liar service against the Greek pirates in the
Mediterranean.
The committee would add. that an attack
Of the yellow fever. in the West Indies, con
tractcd in the service against the pirates,
impaired his constitution and that when
| the Eagle was captured in lsl3, the effect of
the cannonading upon his head, was, to pro-
duce deafness, with which he las been ever
| since afflicted
As to the general principle on which such
| testimonials are conferred, the committee
remark, that in all times and countries. it
has been the policy Of states to bcstow I'll m
for brave deeds in war. 1t prevents their
! passing into oblivion, and cherishes the mil
| itary spirit, upon which States most often
. , i,,e+u t4V.rr 81
appreciation and regard for the citizen who
risks his life for the country, and every such
act Of Justice and libcralily adds something
to the mass which constitutes character, and
which is valuable alike 10 the community
and the individual To the individual,
it is mcitcmen of the highest kind
an honor which a man will risk all to oh
tain and obtained, it is pledge for future
good conduct. 1t is passport to respect at
home and abroad which no man will lightly
forfeit; and it is more valuable than any
pccuniary reward to a naval man in the pocu-
liar sense. lie goes abroad, visits foreign
cities, and meets officers Of foreign services
and such mark Of distinction gives ready
access to professional association, and opens
the doors Of society to him who possesses it
And in the official relations Of the officer, the
personal influence thus superadded has, at
tllucS, proved OF COuellCIdblc diNdhNd9c ~
the public service.
This principle has been recognised hy cr-
mont in several Enthusiastically, in the
sword presented to the son of the gallant
Colonel Ransom.-Thc gift so beautifully
| appropriate-of the farm on Cumberland
Head to Commodore Macdonough, and the
monument to Ethan Allen, are appropriations
which rest mainly for their vindication on
the same principle Would any Ncrmonter
obliterate. such memorials from the soil OF
records Of the State and replace in the treasu'
ry the money they cost
Compliments of the kind have been spar
inglv granted to their officers by the North
crn, and especially by the New England
States. In others, and especially by the
Southern States, the policy has been system
aticllly pursued, of conIerring such tcstimo- =
mails, upon their naval officers especially. 1t
has impaired the moral support of their res
pective States to the fortunate officers in the
competitor for desirable and important service
and command at the Department, and given
q social and professional prominence perhaps
| equally due to those from whom the adyan-
tage was withhold discrimination prob
ably not without its influence in determining,
the status of the officers in the recent rcor-
ganzation Of the navy, which has been tho
sui cct of so much complaint in Congress and
out of it.
In view of the facts and considerations
herein presented, the committee think a
liberal and generous policy Just in itself. and
crcditablc to the State and that in the case
Of Captain Sawycr-a native Of the State and
whose character as a gentlemen and manis in
harmony with the course of his professional
,'ryices-that the testimonial in ques-
ton would he worthily bestowed, and there
fore recommend the adoption of the Joint
resolution.
All which is respectfully submitted to the
consideration of the House, by
II. B. STACY, fer romrau,D
Election Frauds.
LLn Nhlcarn Irihnne saya Tint fraud