The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-08
Porter's Apology TO the President-..
An AbieCt Letter.


An Abject Letter.
A day or two ago we presented the text
of Admiral PoRTER's letter TO Secretary
WELLEs, rejecting severely on General
GRANT, in connection with the Fort
Fisher expedition. Nothing has happen.
ed in official circles for long time to
create such a buzz. Ever since GRANT
has become President PORTER has been on
the most intimate terms OF friendship
with him. So long as Mr.. BoRIE was
Secretary Of the Navy, PORTER was the
virtual and BoRIE only the nominal Sec.
rctary, and evidently had the entire conf
dcncc of the President. Alter FARRAGUT
died, GRANT appointed PORTER TO the
rank Of Admiral thus made vacant The
appointment being made in vacation, it
llRs not yet been confirmed, nor
sent in to the Senate for con.
tirmation. This unfortunate letter has
been brought out just in time to blast the
Vice Admiral's prospects, for 1t would be
little too much to expect Of human ma
ture that GRANT should now send PoR-
TER's nomination to the Senate, though 1t
would be crcditable to his magnanimity to
do it, and he may doso. II he should, the
prospect Is that tho Senate would reject
the nominations and then again It Is
highly probable tho rank win soon be
abolished by act of Congress-. 1t is evil
dent, therefore, that PORTER Is done for.
II he took hia modification like q man,
we could teel some sympathy for his mis-
fortune, but man who could make 50
abject an apology as tic following, de-
serves only tic ridiCule it has brought
upon him: ~ .,"' - +-".
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 1870
Mn. PRESIDENT: My first impulse on
reading the letter published in TIE Net0
York World was to go TO you ut once and
pronounce tia fabrication, for rs such l
considered it; but. as it purported TO have
been written six years ago, and published
by person who once held a prominent
position under tile Government, l deter.
mined to ascertain fully II l had ever in
dited such letter before addressing you
on the subject. Neither myself nor my
secretary, who has served with me eight
wears, could recall to our recollection any
circumstances Of the kind. could not
conceive that had uttered sentiments
know never felt, and which are so at va
Rance with those that l have uniformly
expressed toward you. The letter, it up
pears, was private one; and vindictive
must have been the heart Of the man that
could be guilty Ofso grave breach ot
confidence; and depraved indeed must be
the character who, to grNtify his mischley-
Gus instincts, could make public CONT
dental letter, written, perhaps, under
great excitement, and ut this distant day
not even remembered. It seems like II
poor return fOryour uniform confidence
und kindness 10 Inc; and am too glad that
remember nothing connected with the
letter. .t ~.
At about the date Of the letLer, had
passed through q long and tatigutng con.
test with Fort Fisher, and my numerous
fleet was almost OverpOwered by the ele-
ments. saw the coveted prize within
my grasp and then slip from me. For
another month had TO battle with the
storms Of Winter, anchored on an open
coast, with the responsibility OF that large
fleet on my hands, and my mind and
body harasSed by extraordinary tatiSues.
The whole nation was looking on excited,
drcading defeat that might prolong q
contest that was already sapping its vitNls.
You and others know what | had'to un'
dergo bodily and mentally. 1presume it
was while under this excitement that
wrote the letter which, you say, has made
you lose your faith.in human nature. l
have no recollection Of 1t any more than
would have OF other passing .Circum.
stances Of six years ago. When several
persons have ut different times Informed
me that letter would be published in
which l had abused General Grant,
treated the matter with inditter-
ence, thinking 1t impossible that such
letter could exist I do not write
for the purpose Of exonerating my
self for ! would rather be the writer Of the
letter than its publisher. The peace Of
political parties and Of society would be
placed in great jeopardy, If all the private
letters written the last six years were pub.
lished, Nothing that I have said will
affect your fair fame, and your many
friends would be sadly wanting In tudg-
ment IL they were at oil Influenced by the
silly exultations OF u few INSCRIPTIONS
persons who, after all, are only rejoicing
over the most Contemplate breach of
confidence l ever h6ardot. u E; Sa&
regret exceedingly the loss Of your
friendship, and do not hesitate to disap-
prove the sentiments Of which, | suppose,
must bear the odium. They appear in
a letter of which have no recollection.
They are so different from the sentiments
l always express toward yourself and the
gallant officers of our army, and arc so in
consistent with oil my antecedents, that |
scarcely consider them entitled 10 a mo-
ment's thought y iV'it8 lJ''' "
IhavC the honor to remain, very pcspcct.
fully, your obedlcnt servant,
s-5 DAVID ?. P9RTER, Admiral.
TO tliePresident. = ? - - = y
A Washington correspondent OF the
BostOn Pbst relates the nethRt occurred
when Admiral Porter met The President
after the publication Of his Welles letter.
Tho President was surrounded by his
Secretaries, and cx.secretary Borie was
also present. AT the AdmiraIs entrance
the President laid down the letter, and
expressed his disbelief in its authenticity.
~ don't think the Admiral wrote it but
If so, the assertions are unwarranted."
Admiral Porter approached the President,