New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-29
WIZARDS HOTFL,
Washington, ID. c., Feb. -, 1889.

II all 40 DOSls.
WIZARDS HoTFL,
Washington, ID. c., Feb -, 1859.
To CHARLEs STEwART, EsQ., CoMMoDoRE;
In reading the speeches and comments Inade III fe-
ton 10 the ACQUISITION of Cuba, have been struck
with the fact that no mention is made Of the Intention
of Mr. jefferson to make descent upon that Island
before the war OF 1872 and for this purpose had caused
TO be built large number Of gunboais, Afterwards 60
much ridculed as useless. Nor do now recOhect
ever bavrg heard the true object which Mr.. Jefferson
had in view in Lis gunbost system except from your
self, if my memory serves NE.
My object in writing this time is to elicit from you
a statement of your knowledge OF the purpose OF Mr.
jefferson in building those boats as disclosed 10 You AZ
that time by the President himsef and in order ID
be certain that did not misunderstand you, VIII
endesvor TO recall subject Cf conversation we had
some eight or nine years ago at the National Hotel III
this city.
You will remember d at in tue year 1897 shortly 81
ter the affair OF the Chesapeake and Leopard fga'es,
many young inch sought 10 obtain n.jshlpuens war
rants il the Navy Among the rest, your humble ser
want received one and while expecting 10 be sent Ia
sea in pursuit Of euemy ana in ceieuce OF the nag
go dear TO every American boy l was employed on
gunboats in New-l oIk harbOr, not in guarding the
shores of my native land, but exclusively engaged in
the performance Of a kind Of police duty under the
non Intercourse and embargo acts, in bringing to
and searching vessels of my own cOunIymeD, while
shutting the door Of commerce IN the face OF Eng
land.
Iwen remember the rebukes this sort OF service
brought upoL the gunboat navy and those engages II
IT, and the epithets used IN derson were m no wise
choice tha. ssssed, personally us in those days.
always thought that had more than my share OF
that kind Of duty imposed upon me, and that h41
not far chance for distinction in tine earlier years Of
my naval LIE.
EOn the occasion to which alluie, a. the National
Hotel while in conversation with ycu, wss complain
ing OF whstI considered the urjest treatment that
had encountered, in being KEEP. 90 long on duty IN
these gGIbcats, at EksOme to me, and dstsste.
fnl to tbs people. ard the officers and men on board
sad boat; and va, condemniDg the whole gunboat
system iIom stem to stern insufficient and almost
useless as coast guard or for offensive operations
against a. enemy, and was lament1g what concelY-
ed 10 have been total waste Of the best Yeas OF my
life il the Navy.
Now, tSy dear Commodore it was on that occasion
you told me the gunboats not intended as COST
guard ror for the ususl purposes OF naval warfare,
but really intenced for descent the lslsnd OF Cubs.
with view 20 its occupation or annexation 70 the
United Sta'es snd az the same time You recalled 10
my mind fact that there were then some hundred
and SIXTY eighty gunboss in all built and stationed
along the coss. from Maine 20 Georgia apparently Gs
a coast suaId and that they stationed really
vita view TO deceive foreign powers a. 10 the pur-
pose for which they were intended; that they were
gradually bTough. 70 our Southern COST, until there
were several hyilss in those waters preparatory 20
the intended attsck upon Cubs 20 that but for she
tIsnspirrg OF some event possibly the approsch o.
hostties with England, crossing cut Of the orders 10
council, ard impTessmeut Of our Owe sesen upon the
high cess and the "Cbesspeake affair, the scheme
OF Mr. Jefferson for the acqueiion Of CuDa would have
been Carried out, ard Cuba would have been ours.
In concluding this long communication ~ one whose
heart, ever warm 10 the honor AID interests Of cOun
Try be has 90 long, so ably AMI so successfully served
TO apology is Necessary. but submit IT, asking per
msson to make public such facts Won msy think Of
any importance TO history in your reply.
An vefy respectfully, yozr obedient ..rv,a.
lSglrdl i. hEARNf.