The Evening critic., 1883-02-24
Secretary Chandler replied as follows:
NAVY DEPARTMENT.,


To this insulting letter Commander Cor
ringe made the following explici. and manly
reply ,,,..,,.,,
NEW YORK, Feb. Id, 1888.
Hon W. b. Chandler, Secretary Of the Nary:
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your letter of February 10, comment.
ing upon the reply made by me on the !th OF
February to the Departments letter OF fepru-
ary b.
negative a ''suggestion" that am or nave
been employed by, or am or have been under
obigati' ms or in relation to interests not
American. had no suspicion that any sucn
''suggestion" had been made until received
your letter of February 10.
1t has been the custom, as 1t Is the obvious
right of officers of the United states Navy, TO
rely implicitly upon the Department Tor pro-
tection against suggestions impugning their
reputation. 1 see no reason, and am conn-
dent the Department Will see no reason, why
as a naval officer should depart from this
custom and surrender the right OF naval
officers even so far as to say that any sug-
gestion which conveys, or was intended TO
convey, even by innuendo, an fntimation that
ever expressed 'purchased opinions" In the
interest of any employment or obligation,
American or not American, is cowardly ana
malicious slander upon me, as we'll as upon
the service to which have the honor to be-
long. ,
February was only intended to frankly and
promptly answer the inquiries contained
therein. What said in my reply of Febru-
q
repeat, which ls, that had, while on furlough,
and in conformity with my letter to the De.
partment of June 26, 1882, engaged In the
business OF q consulting engineer, and In no
other business. Tho details and particulars
of all employments and obligations accepted
by me while so engaged, and of all emolu-
ments, either received or expected by me, are
at the service of the Department.
1t is to be assumed that my opinion as a con-
sulting engineer In respect to matter inv9ly'
ing the expenditure OF many millions of dol
lars, would not have been sought had 1t been
suspected or suggested that my opinions could
be purchased or Influenced by pecuniary con-
siderattonS.
The 'suggestion" that my opinion could be
| thus corruptly Influenced could only have
| been made and entertained In the manner
your letter of February 10 sets forth, by cor
rupt, unscrupulous and malicious coward,
| who measures others by low and contemptl-
BILE standard. Have l not the right to know
| who 1t is that has made this suggestions?
| And since the official head OF the Department
| has officially informed me that such
suggestion has been made, have l any
request that the suggestion" itself, and all
evidence presented to the Department In sup
| port of 1t, on which the Department based tts
| ofIicial action of February and 10, be com
| municated to mo without delay and an oppor
tunity afforded me of meeting the accusation
An unblemished record of twenty-five years
| of service in peace and In war entities me
| 1 think, to that much protection from the
| Department. / have the honor to be, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
| Lieutenant. Commander United States Navy.
on February II, Secretary Chandler sent an
order to Commander Gorringe directing hin
to report to the chief Of the Bureau OF Navlga-
tion at Washington and await further orders
| February 81, Commander Gorrtnge wrote I
| the President rendering his resignation, witt
| the request that If the Secretary OF the Nav,
| had charges to make against him they should
| be investigated before the resignation wa
accepted. ON the same day Secretary Chand
| Ter informed Commander Gorringe that hi
| resignation had been accepted.
The Present Status of the Case.
Lieutenant. Commander Gorringe said las
night that he had an interview with Presiden
Arthur yesterday morning. The Preslden
said TO him that he had not yet received MI
Gorringe's letter OF resignation, and had cor
eequently taken no action with regard to Il
| He would, however, he said, give the sublec
| early attention. Lieutenant Commander Col
ringe, under these circumstances, does not, h
Chandler's acceptance OF his resignation, an
he therefore awaits the decision OF the Pres
dent. He expects that his resignation will
accepted, and that he will be FREQ to return
| New York to-day or Monday.
Chandler's Opinion.
Secretary Chandler said OF Mr.. Gorringe la
| night that he regarded him as an eycitabl
| irritable and insubordinate officer, who ha
| sought notoriety in assailing his superior. NJ
| Chandler added: "Mr. Gorringe resigned In
fit of anger, and now proposes to balance a
counts by vituperating the Secretary OF II
| Navy. He is O private citizen now, out OF o
| fee, and he has the Same right OF vituper
ton that any other private citizen has. 1 ha
| not the slightest objection to his giving I'll
: society In New York his views upon FREQ trat
? and free ships as naval of1lcer, but d