Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-12-15

We copy the following remarks from the
New YofA 75ituns, in justice to a brave and
honorable officer, who, il seems, is bound
to be sacrificed TO the interests and
petty malice Of few Iron.clad contractors
il falsehood, misrepresentation aud spite can
accomplished that object. But fortunate y
Tor Admiral DUPoST, his reputation as an
officer and man Of honor stands far above
and beyond the reach Of their selfish mean.
ness and power to do him injury in the
opinion Of the American people, to whose
service he has given the best days Of his life :
"Mr Secretary Welles in his published re-
port has permitted himself 10 DO grave in
Justice to d distinguished olfcer. His ac-
count Of Rear. Admiral DuPont's attack on
Charleston is so much at variance with the
facts that We can only attribute II TO the
same hostile aud interested influences which
procured that officers removal. Those in
auences, We presume, will shortly be explain
ed 10 the public. Meanwhile il is our duty
70 set Dir Welles right in matters Of fact.
THE Secretary repeats the oiten-corrected
inisstatement that the monitors were slight
( ly injured, aud that their enduring qualities
we're fully proved. ut was intended, he
says, "to have renewed the attack on the fol-
lowing day, but this intention was subse-
auentiy abandoned, aud the vessels were
Withdrawn from the harbor, under an np,
preheusion that they could not withstand
The storms OF the season and the fire Of the
Rebel batteries The two statements in
connection imply and are evidently meant
to imply, that Admiral DUPONT desisted
from his efforts against Charleston prema-
turely and unnecessarily.
But Mr.. Welles must know, and in fairness
ought 10 have stated, that i've out OF The
eight tuTreted iron-clads, were disabled by
the enemy s fire 30 seriously disabled tha
they could not renew the action next day
He knows, and ought to have stated, thai
every one Of their commanding officers con
sidered a renewal Of the attack unwise, and
sure 10 result 10 disaster. He knows tina
Admiral Dupont only decided not TO renew
the attack 10 consequence Of the representa-
tations Of those officers Of the helpless con
dltion ofther vessels. And he knows tina
Admiral DUPONT withdrew from the hArbo
VI Charleston in consequences Of no nppre
, tensions, but in obedience 10 positive order
from Washington. Or it, when be wrot
his report, he had forgotten these decisiv
facts, he surely will be glad to be remnde
OF the M, and will hasten to give Admir-
DUPONT the credit he has withheld.
son another point MIR. Wellesa failure {
q memory is even more surprising. lie as
. serts that Rear Admiral DUPONT expiesse
willingness to relinqnish his command
# IL he will recnr to information within hi
control, he will discover the source Of hi
mistake. We think it likely that Admira
DUPONT expressed willingness to reln
=, quish his command in favor of any Office
y who believed that by purely naval attacl
with the means then furnished, and witIot
the cooperation Of the army it was posi-
, BILE to take Charleston. But it never we
true in the sense and in the manner affirme
v by Secretary Welles. Admiral DUPONT vi
never the man 10 relinqush duty He d
$ all that skill and courage could do with h
Y force against Charleston Subseguel
= events and the present condition Of aiia
y in that harper abundantly prove il, His r
e in0val was traceable to no fault on his par
m and il it was due 10 the conviction whic
Secretary Weles expresses in his report,
is quite time he was restored to his col
II mald. lie has never lost the confidence
.. the country, and If Mr.. Welles cares to
81 crease his own popularity, he can do it in
way more surely than by putting Admir-
DUPONT once more where be can serve i
y country