The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-23
GratnitOuS InsOlence.

Lieut. WASHINGTON GwATHaBY, one of the
most gallant and high toned officers in the ma
val service of the late United States, resigned
his commission a few weeks ago. In his let
ter of resignation he took occasion to tate
modestIy, but candidly, his reasons for the
stem he was about to take. They amounted
simply to thi.-that he could not fight against
the State of Virginia or the South. Of course
the resignation was not accepted, and Mr.. G.
WAS struck from the roll The low bred vu1-
garian of the New York Tribune. proclaimed
thereupon, to the world, that WAsHINaToE
GwArHxBY, of London, haiiing from Virginia,
was struck off the roll for writing in
solent letter to the Secretary, or words to that
effect. Now, we have not seen the letter, but
those who have seen it, say that nothing is
farther from the truth than this charge of
i'm per Thence. 1t was perfectly respect
full, and could have been excepted to by
nobody but man accustomed TO white ne
groes and hirelings, and mistaking everybody
not his superior in office as one of that class
BY stating that Lieut.. G. of London,
but hailed from Virginia, a false impression
is endeayored to be created, as if he were not
Virginian. Everybody in Richmond, of
course, knows the value of this SANDER by
implication.
in the lower part of Virginia, two hundred
| years ago. They are connected with, and re-
lated to, numerous Virginia families, all of
| them among the best and oldest in the S te,
and have no relations, that we ever heard of,
| outside of Virginia, except in Kentucky and
| some of the Southern States. Many years
ago, the late ROBERT GwATHMRY father of
| Lieutenant GwATHAEY) was d member Of
| a large mercantile firm, engaged in COM
| merce with Liverpool, and the exigencies
| of business requiring that one OF the partners
| should reside in England, MIR. g. was sslec ted
| Accordingly he removed with his family,
never relinquishing his connection with his
State or designing to live permanently in Eng
| land. During this residence abroad, WASH
| Ixarox GwArHxsY was born, in Englan But
| does that make him an Englishman, in a po-
| litical sense Of the word Certainly not
| He came over to this country when not more
| than two years old, and has not the most dis
| tant recollection of his residence in England.
| His father the late ROBERT GwATHMBY, lived
In this city nearly fifty years, died here, and
| was buried here.
| Thus much by way of explanation, to those
| who are not acquainted with the facts. 1t |.
| due to Mr.. G. to say, that the Navy OF the
| late United States never had an officer OF
| higher character, or more determined spirit
| He Is a mdn-every fnch Of him. True to his
State, true to his friends, trus TO his word
| true to himself; the very embodiment oi
truth, honor, and reliability. 1t hardly be.
GENES a WARM personal friend to speak In
such terms Of him, and we know that
| he himself will shrink from the encomium.- -
But We do not feel disposed to stand by and
see him slandered by such base dog rs Hon
| ACE GksELBr. He has gone to offer his ser
vices to the Confederate States, and we car
assure President DAVIS, that Whatever com,
| mand he may give him, he will be sure TO dc
honor to 1t +; for all accounts concur in repre-
| ssnting him as a most accomplished sea
man, as well rs most intrepid and In tslli.
gent officer. There Is no man Of his rank who
| has seen more service.