The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-12-22

may turn all their forces this way, and
throw forty thousand men into the
peninsula. They would retake Fort
Fisher, EeyeIl with the gunboats we
have here, and turn the guns of the
fort upon us The object is a great
one. and ifs1 was general Of their
forces 1 would do it at all hazards.
This is-not pet place with the
Lieutenant General, and he leaves it
with about seven thousand men, and
/ don't think knows much of the stu
alton. An army may think if he has
& gunsbeat atshis back hesis all right,
bnt this is one case where at times
the bunboats are driven off by bad
weather, and those inside cannot CO.
operate effectively. have given you
long letter. but find an apology for
myself in the fact that know your
whole heart is in the navy, and that
everything concerning it interests
you. Again permit me to thank you
for the confidence you have always
placed in me, and the opportunities
you have given me for distinction,
and assuring you that it has been my
only wish to merit your appreciation,
L remain, respectfully and sincerely,
your obedient servant,
s(Signed,) DAVID D.PoRTER.
70 Hon. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary
of the Navy, Washington, DC a Z
Porter had been in high favor with
Grant since his inauguration as Presi-
dent, but the publication of this old
letter promised for time to destroy
the entente cordiale which had existed
between these two dignitaries. Por-
ter had received temporarily at the
hands of the President the appoint
ment of. Admiral of the Navy, vice
FarragHt, deceased, and was anxious
to be nominated to, and confirmed by,
the Senate to that office. But the
above letter was likely to blast his
hopes, and something had to be done,
to make peace between him and the
President At first he pronounced
the lettera forgery, but finding that
wouldn't do, he writes the following
silly, whining and sycophantic letter
to Grant, which will sink him still
lower in the respect of the public,
whatever may. be the effect which it
has upon the President: 9uq5l ~
WASHINGTON, Dec 3, 1870. 2
Mr.. PRESIDENT ii My first impulse
on reading the letter published in the
New York World was to go to you at
once and pronounce il fabrication,
for as such considered it; but, as it
purporfed to- have been written six
years ago, and published by person
who once held a prominent position
undar the government, / determined
to ascertain fully if had ever indited
such Tafletter, before addressing YOU
on the subject. Neither myself nor
my Secretary, who had served with
me eight years, could recall to our re-
lcoliection3 any. circumstance of the
kind. l could not conceive that / had
uttered sentiments i know / never
felt, and which are SO at variance with
those have uniformly expressed to-
ward you. The letter, it appears, was
a private one and gindictive must
have been the heart of the man that
could be guilty of SO grave a breach
of confidence; and depraved indeed
must be the character who, to crafty
his mischievous instincts, could make
public, a confidential letter, written,
perhaps, under great excitement, and
at this distant day. not even remem-
bered. It seems like a poor return
i for your uniform confidence and kind
4 ness to me; and / am glad that 1 re-
member nothing. connected with the
letter, bsy.I1f frfsF}ee II sEa.s.s
! AT about the date. of theiletter 1 had
i passed through a long. and fatiguipg
contest with Fort Fisher, and my nu-
merous feet was almost oyerpowered
by the elements . saw the coveted
i prize within my grasp and then slip
from me. For another month / had
/ to battle with the storms of winter,
4 anchored on an open coast, with the
responsibility of that large feet gon
i my hands, and my mind and body
harrassed by extraordinary fatigues.-
i The whole nation was. looking on ex-
cited, dreading a defeat that might
4 prolong. contest that. was already
sapping its vitals. You and ethers
know what I had, TO undergo, bodily
and mentally. / presume that it was
i under this excitement that wrote the
4 letter which, you say, has made you
i lose your faith in human nature. ]
j have not recollection of it any more
than would have of other passing
i circumstances of six years ago. When
4 several persons have at different times
! informed me that letter would be
4 published in which l had abused Gen
Grant, treated the matter with in.
difference, thinking it. impossible thai
such a letter could exist. I do moi
A write for the purpose, of exenerating
4 myself. for, i would rather be the wri
i ter OF, the letter than the publisher
The peace of political parties and o.
j society would be placed in great jeop
4 ardyli all the private letter writer
Z, the last six years were published
q Nothing that / have said will affec
a your fair fame, and your many friend
q would be sadlyswantipg in judgmen
a if they were at all Influenced by fth,
i silly exultatiOns5 of a few unscrupu
I, lous persons who, after all, are only
rejoicing over the most contemptibl,
r breach Iof, confidence j ever heard Of
i / regret exceedingly the loss of yen
|. friendship; and do not hesitate, to dis
approve the sentiment of which,
! Supposed must bear the o ium.5 The.
appear in a letter of which /, haven,
recollection. They are so difereu
from the sentiments, j always expires
! toward yourself and the gallant off
GERS soffeurs army, and are so ipeon
sistent with all my antece6 ents,. that
8 scarcely. consider thea entitled tor
+ moments thought.i nainT14 .vr, l9l.t !
ID i 4, have the iheRor to- remain, lfverI
i respectfully your obedient servant q
4 sdj Ia DAY4pfD Ds PpRTER, Admiral,
) To ItheiP RESIDENT :s49w yngqm,
Z my ..e.ALA.. sI-.L.ff,f I. H.