The New York herald., 1870-03-21
JAMES WATSON WEBB As A DIPLOMAT AND
REp0aTER, AND on THE RAMPAGE.


REP0aTER, AND on THE RAMPAGE.
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10 rHg EDITOR or TUE HERALD -
Although Mr. Webb has given 10 the world very
interesting and patriotic letter on tho subject OF
Cuban affairs. for which he has received due credit,
yet on another point he appears to have allowed his
preudices to get the better OF his Judgment, and
his difficulties with AdmIas Godon and DAVIS seem
to have made him so bitter against the navy gen.
orally that he Is now attempting TO mslead the pub
lie In regard 70 naval AFFAIRS In the West Indies.
Ills special views. as put forth In bis letter from
Havana, published in tho TribuY, are Of no mo-
ment here, but as naval matters Ore under discus.
sion just ut present some or his most offensive
remarks require TO be noticed, not for the purpose
or bringing him into disrepute, but to keep the pub
tic posted OH naval affairs. II Is well known tnat
Mr. Webb has for the last four years ondeavored TO
obtain the command of.our Brazil feet, and those
who have read his evidence before the Committee
on Foreign Relations will not faii TO recognize what
II .big Indian" he considered himself ana Of
how little consequence he considered Admiras
Godon and Davis and tho Navy Depart
ment This was SIMPLY bee anse the two former
fused TO involve the United States IN war 10 please
htm--to say nothing Of leaving hts communications
at grocery cOrner-and because the Secretaries OF
state and OF the Navy decided that those oficers
were not only right but had shown the great
est prudence. IL does not seem proper that
Ministers should direct our commanders abroad. IL
would involve the republic IN constant difricutes,
and 1t was well for this country that our navy was
represented In South Atlantic waters by two officers
who could not be Influenced even by so WHY Z dip
loInat rs the Chevaler Webb
Botn Admras Davis and Godon soon discovered
that MIR. Wcbb was or very impulsive nature, and
II MS advice was taken would cause US 10 violate
every principle OF International law ana courtesy to
Id hall fltDa
ms iaiinrc To impose his peculiar ideas upon the
commandersn-chiet Of our Brazil fleet Webb has
LOST no opportunity to vent his spleen upon the navy
ana Is endeavoring To have 1t Land up. There
are radicals OF all kinds about just like Webo whose
counseis II followed. would put our political fabric
out 0f JOINT merely to crafty their own whims.
Wheh the Cnevaiier returned ffom Brazil he was
not In hunor to bs trlaed witn ana no wonder.
Had not an admiral IN the American Navy leit his
communications to Webb ut corne grocery and
had not another Admiral refused to 90 TO war In
order that the American Minister might nave good
appetite tor his breakfasts These facts known
TO the people or this country, who, having mad
enough Of war. feet very thankful to the adnirals
IN question for Not encouraging Of Il, to say
nothing OF leaving the letters al the corner grocery
II was IN pad frame Of mind ina tMr Webb
appeared before the Committee on Foreign Relations
ana gave them such Instructions In international
law tnat as ne says, the committee were determined
70 scatho Godon ana Davis, lay up the greater part
OF the navy and turn over the command OF all tnst
was left 10 the Chevalier 10 make war with.
ihis Is ms view OF the Question; but tfen he mas
always been inpulstve WHICH leads him TO state
matters so entirely different from the actual Tact
that he would seem to have been educated solely IN
the MunchauSen school, Webb Will 1nd however,
when tue committee make their report, that he had
better modify his views on naval matters. While
the Commillee Foreign Relations were In session
aud discussing the AFFAIRS In Paraguay Vice Admiral
Porter and Assistant secretary Hunter Of the state
Department, were summoned at the same time
before them, and closely questioned regarding tue
claims put tOrth by the Chevaller as To the powers
Oh Minister Pienipotentiary over the commander
ncniei OF tne.neet. Mr. Hunter mas spent lifetime
IN tue Department OF State and may De SAID to have
the hole code International aud diplomatic, at his
fingers eudS. Vice Admiral Porter has commanded
the largest fleet tnat has ever been under
officer and his varied experience enables MIN TO
distinguish between the claims OF Mr. Webb aud the
datieS 0t naval commanders who are specially
instructed by the Navy Department. Before leaving
tae committee room both these gentlemen gave testi
| mony tnat convinced the committee that TO follow
WcDD'a policy would be fata TO the best interests OF
the country ana 50 conclusive were their arguments
That tne investigation closed, ana Webb ana his
policy consigned 10 the toInD OF the Capules."
The Chevaiier has not forgotten this rcbun, and III
his usual style has. IN letter from Havana attacked
tine Navy Department and the Vice Admiral. lie
tnat citizens residing i'll Cuba eit
the mercy VI cruel Spaniaras VINO go ABOUT shoot
Ing people Tor amusement, while American naval
oncerS,
----,ustend OF mounting barbed s.ceds.
To ff,aat the souls OF FEARFUL adyerslfies,
Are capcrinx niinDy III iady's chamber,
40 the lascisious pressing OF Lutte.
| AZ The remarks or the CAeyaler ara pertinent TO
the snDjecI OF naval defence. and may be the
OF waking our legislators To the necessity ol proyd
! Ing The Navy Department with tue means OF pro-
tectng our cilizens aoroad, " may be well 10 en-.
Ignen the Chevaier and at the same tine the read.
ers OF the HERALD us to the true state Of the case
AL the statements OF Web0 In regard to naval mis-
management iaiag nary from beginning to cnd.
lie would make cap,tai sensation novelist, but q
very poor newspaper writer, for The people OF thus
county want truJh not uctlOnwnch latter nll5 MS
letter.
When the present administration came into power
there were IN the West india meet but i've vessels,
mounting In all twenty-five guns. -Four Of these
vessels were driven North by the yellow fever, their
crews having been rendered unit for service by
lying In spanish ports since then the present Navy
Department has sent the following vessels TO the
West Indies, Wz:--The Severn, niteen guns; Swa-
TARA i've guns; Nantaskct, hye guns; Nipsic, i've
guns; Yantic, five guns; saratoga, fourteen guns;
fownatan, fourteen guns; Tuscarora, nine guns;
Seminole, six guns; Guard, SIX guns; Dictator pron-
cad, TWO fifteen lnch guns; Saugus QrOn clad), two
fifteen inch guns wne the Congress, or fifteen guns
| ana the iron-cads Terror and Miantouomoh are on
| their way TO JOIN the aees.
| Now, here Is poser for Webb, ana unless he can
disprove ~ he must come under the category Of hay
ing made MISTAKE to say the least OF It. The fact
Is that the present Navy Department. owing TO the
maladmlnistration complained Of by Mr. Webb
reinforced the West India feet with fourteen vessels
OUT Of thrtyhye In commission. Ibis is all the De-
| partment can put anoat. because Congress has
limited the number OF men. Ships cannot 30 2o 10
| sea tn sufficient numbers TO satisfy desires OF
| everybody. Congress refuses the supplies.
| AS 10 Mr.. WeDbs assertion that no ships have
| been kept in spanish ports, 1t Is entrely nn.
most important places, and during the great
prevalence OF yellow fever the vessels Kept al
| Only two outrages upon American citizens have
| been committed. Botn OF these were investigated,
and III Que case the guilty person expiated his OF
fence upon the gaiiows. The commdadernchief
OF the statof mas an extensive command and caa-
| not al all times be IA HAVANA when Mr.. WEBB -
there The lact OF his beng there would naturally
deter our navy 0hcers from going 10 Havana, Tor
his desre TO regulate the navy and his antpatny 10
| admiras are well known and although officers are
disposed TO admit his abilities as diponattst
they do not TO come III contact with MIA under
| any circumstances. MANIA.
MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
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Married.