The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-09-18
Admiral Dupont,s Letter.

! AuMhraA DupOMtS ACttCAs
So long as Admiral Dupont's letter ha'
not been published outside Of the city, VI
did not feel justified in rebuking those VIII
had been so disloyalas to make it public
lest in so doing we might be aggravating
the offence which We have condemned;bu
as it was copied in yesterdays New Yori
papers, nothing is to be gained by neg
lect of duty, and we ssk attention to wha1
the members of the League have done. II
reply to an invitation (signed by Messrs
Ben. Gerhard, Meredith, Cadwalader Bird
diet and many other members of the League
to accept q public dinner, the Admira
| writes:
sit is very gratifying to me, gentlemen
that you propose to acknowledge. bya pub
lie dinner, services which in another quar-,
ter have been appreciated so differently.
A life dedicated to my profession entitled
me to field of duty where arduous ser.
vice was to be rendered: how arduous and
varied that service has been my country.
men can now very imperfectly judge. But
till history shall lift the veil which transi-
ent interests, public or personal, throw
over the events of hat period, owe it to
my companions in arms to say that the
country cannot over estimate the obliga
tions due the officers and men who under
my command, were always crowned by
victory when my professional experience
was consulted, and who showed themselves
more heroic in their failure before Charles
ton than when victorious at Port Royal.
For myself, even if passing events have
not already indicated rne, | can await the
verdict Of history, and in the meantime
shall bear with me the grateful recollec-
tions Of your kindness"
1t is true that Admiral Dupont's services
were of the most gallant and valuable
character, and that the incompetency of
hie successor has been such that every one
in the feet and army wishes him back; but
we are at loss to understand how mem
bers of an organization pledged to give an
unconditioal support to the Administration
could reconcile it to their conscences to
make public his structures upon the Wash.
ington authorities. There is an asperity of
tone, too, in the letter, which almost makes
US fear that he meant to be satirical upon
Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Welles, but we hope
that we are mistaken in this apprehension.
1t is impossible, however, to estimate the
harm which may be done by letting the peo-
pie know that an officer of the Navy be-
lieves the Administration can make mis-
take, and we really tremble when we think
how these seeds of distrust which the
League has sown may spring up to bear bit
ter fruit. Not content with complaining
that his services had not been properly ap-
preciated s'in another quarter" he goes on
to ch.sge that his professional experience
was not always consulted and respected"
and, as if this were not enough, he closes
with sneer at Admiral Dahlgren's failuIe.
Now, We would like Mr.. Meredith and
his friends to let us know if they are going
on in this way? In time of war, they should
remember the Administration is the Gov
ernment, If you destroy faith in the Presi-
dent, you may destroy the Union Just
ponder upon it. Mr.. Lincoln-the Govern
ment-is the Commander-in-C of the
Army and Navy, and has the right-which
he exercises occasionally-to take any
measures which he may think proper TO
subdue the rebellion. lie interfered with
Uenerai MCClelIans plaHs, anu, II ue uau
been in reach, would have interfered, he
wrote, with those of General Grant. He
took Norfolk, and sent word to General
Meade that he ought to have taken General
Lee; besides which, he has issued proclama
tions, and exiled Vallandigham. Should
the confidence of the people in him, there.
fore, be impaired, it might extend to good
many of the acts and declarations of the
"Government," and they might come to
think that trained soldiers know more
about fighting than village lawyer, and
that the Constitution is Of more authority
than his proclamatiens. Should this come
to pass. our ruin will be certain, and when
it comes, few will be more guilty than the
Southern sympathisers who published Ad-
miral Dupont's letter.-Phila. Age.