The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-24
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
- IL N 1 . 10


@slr-Your letter of the 9TH, in reply to the De-
partment's letter of the 9TH, is received.
The Inquiry of the Department arose
from a suggestion that yon were
employed, or were under obligations or in rela-
tiOn TO interests not American, and, assuming
that your statement negatives any such employ
tended, your reply is satisfactory. There Is no
objection to public expression by any naval
officer OF his unpurchased opinion on any sub
jeot of general interest Very respectfully,
WILLIAM e. CHANDLER,
Secretary of the Navy.
Lieutepsnt Commander II. II. Gorringe, United
States Navy, New York City:
A PEPPERY RESPONSE.
80 WAvERLY PLACE, NEW YORK, Feb. ID.
Hon. W Y. Chandler, Secretary Of the Navy:
Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge receipt
OF your letter of Feb 10. commenting on the re-
ply made by me on the 9TH OF February to the
departhiSdt's letter of Feb .. My letter OF Feb
was rot intended to negative the suggestion
.that am, or have been, employed by, or am,
or have been, under obligations or IN relation TO
any interest not American" had 10 suspicion
that any such Suggestion" had been made until
1 received your letter of Feb. TO- 1t has been the
custom as it is obviously the right, of officers Of
the United States Navy to rely implicitly upon
the department. for protection against sugges-
tions impugning their reputation. L see no
reason, and am confident the department Will
see no reason why, as a naval omcer,
1 should depart from this custom and surrender
this right of naval officers. even so far as TO say
that any suggestion which conveys, or was ln-
tendedfo convey, even by innuendo, an intima-
tion that ever expressed purchased opinions,
in the Interest of any employment or obligation,
American. or not American, is cowardiy and
malicious SANDER upon me, as well as upon the
serviceto which have the honor to belong.
My reply of Feb. to your letter OF Feb. 3 was
only intended to frankly and promptly answer
inquiries contained therein. What said In my
reply OF Feb. z, Ihave the honor now to sub
stantially repeat which is that mad, whlle on
furlough, and i'll conformity with my
letter TO the department of June 70,
1882, engaged in the business OF
anfAaf IN ttRrr ,swfra md
The details and particulars of all employments
and Obligations accepted by me while SO en-
gagged, and SO far all the letters, either received
or expected by me, are at the service OF the de-
partment. 1t is to be assumed that my opinion,
as consulting engineer in respect to matter IN
volving the expenditure OF many millions or
dollars, would not have been sought had it been
suspected or suggested that my opinions could
be puFchased or influenced by pecunlary eonsld-
erationa The suggestion that my opinion could
be thus corruptly influenced could only nave
been made and entertained in the manner your
letter Of Feb. 10 sets forth, by a corrupt, un-
scrupnl0us and malicious fraud, who meas
ures others by low and contemplating
standard. Have not the right to know who 1t
is that has made this Suggestion, and since the
official head OF the department has officially IN
| formed me that such suggestion has been made,
have any alternative than 10 respectfully and
urgently request that the suggestion itself and
all evidence presented to the department In sup
port of 1t, on which the department based Its
official action of Feb. and 10, be commune
Gated TO me without delay, and an opportunity
afforded me of meeting the accusation. An I'M
blemished record of over twenty-one years ser
vice in peace and in war entities me, think, 70
that much protection from the department.
have the honor to he,
" 80 = ectfully, your ohstlient servant,
HENRY Fl. GoRRn,GE,
Lieutenant Commander. United States Navy.
BRIEF AND TO THE POINT.
| NAVY DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON, Feb. IT.
Slr-You will proceed, at your earliest con-
| venience, to Was hington, report to the Chief o
the Bureau of Navigation and tho office OF de
tail, nd remain in Washington until further or
ders. Very respectfully,
WM E. CHANDLER,
Secretary of the Navy.
Heutenant.commander Henry A. Gorringe, U
s. NJ New York.