The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-09-02
New York Suns Correspondent.l
NePOtism at Washington.

Nepotlsm Is M of the greatest
offenses against official prOpriety.
One reason of President Grants
uDpopularIty, and the severe strict
ures upon his administration, even
by those most prominent in the
party which placed him in power,
is the favoritlsm shown in the dis
tribution of patronage.
Let us look for a moment at the
favoritism IN the Navy Department
and we shall be better able to Judge
how far the Grant system has oh.
tanned foothold II every branch of
the Government.
Vice-Admiral Porter is blessed
with a family of four sons-aI,
grown Or nearly SO. While we
have no disposition to pry into that
officers domestic affairs, cireum-
stances require that the public
should know how nicely and COM
fortably the interesting group have
,been provided for, and the rather
Questionable mean employed by
the gallant Admiral TO secure pla-
e for them at the public crib
Briefly, the foIlowingAre the facts:
The eldest son, David Essex, having
drawn from his earliest boyhood
the salary attached to a clerkship
on board his father S vessel, was
appointed by President Lincoln a
Second lieutenant IN the First Ar
tillery IN 1862. This commission
the young man held for two years,
when, for some misdemeanor, q
court-martial put an end TO his
military career forever. Not so
bis naval career, however, for Essex
now holds a handsome position on
the staff of the Vice Admiral, the
nominal duties of which are to per-
form certain clerical duties, the ac-
tual ones, or rather those which the
young man takes most interest IN,
are to play billiards at Wizards,
or indulge in champagne suppers at
Wormley's.
The second son, Carlisle, was a2.
pointed a cadet in the Naval Acad-
envy as soon as he arrived at the
proper age. After remaining there
a certain time his career was cut
short by the ill-advised action of
several professors, who, at the an
nual examination insisted upon ask
ing the young man difficult gues-
tons. AS d naval officer would put
it, he obliged" Porter pere, who
was in command of the Academy
at the time, took revenge, however,
upon the professors by having them
all detached, and young and mex
perienced naval officers ordered
there IN their stead. Having end
ed his career in the navy, young
Porter sought refuge IN hat natur
al asylum for obliged" midshipmen,
thu Marine Corps, and secured a
COMMISSION therein, where he Is do
ing his beloved country the honor
of serving her.
The third con, Theodore, was al
so sent to the Naval School to be
educated at the expense Of the ma
ton. During the course the boy
proved SO deficient in his studies
shat by order of his father he was
excused from several branches, so
that he might devote more time to
those considered absolutely essen
tiaI. Notwithstanding he was so
favored, his standing was so low at
the final examination in June last
that it was found impossible to
graduate him without manifest in
Justice to other members of the class.
Admiral Porter resolved that bis
son shoaId receive a diploma at any
rate, and he therefore directed that
no member of the class should be
.bilged;" and by this means several
midshIpmen, considered wholly un-
fit for the service, were awarded
diplomas aid commissions, so that
young Porter might be graduated
After a course of such distinction at
the Academy, Midshipman Porter
has been ordered to q fancy cruise
in the Mediterranean, and enjoys
the same privilege accorded the
Duke of Edinburgh in bis steerage
days, that of selecting his own
mesemates. The next we shall hear
of him will be that he has been pro.
NOTED to the grade of Lieutenant
Commander, and ordered on the
staff of Vice-Admiral.
The fourth son, whose name we
are unable to learn, has been ap'
pointed q Cadet Midshipman IN the
Naval Academy within the past
few weeks, and will begin his stud