The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-17
dents Southern Trip.

Washington, March 13.-The list Of
second Iieutenants appointed under the
army reorganization bill was made
public this afternoon. There are 123
in the list, among them being the fol-
lowing:
O. H. Dockery, Jr., graduate Of the
university Of North Carolina, lieuten-
ant in the Second North Carolina vol
unteers; Thomas H. Newland, of North
Carolina.
A LETTER FROM ADMIRAL SAMP-
son.
Secretary Long has received a letter
,frOm Rear Admiral Sampson, in which
the admiral, after referring to the al
legations hat the list Of officers rec
commended for promotion for %gallantry
off Santiago had failed of confirmation
because it included his name, asked
the secretary to Immediately reappoint
those officers, emitting his own name.
The text of the letter is as follows:
United States Flagship New York,
Havana, March 9, 1899.
Sir: 1 respectfully ask your atten-
ton to the facts contained in this let
ter, and hat it may be officially filed
as part of my record in the United
States navy.
when the late war was threatening,
/ was placed in command of the North
Atlantic squadron and after the dec
laration of war, was appointed by the
4
in my command.
This duty and responsibility came
to me entirely %unsought; nor had 1
any special wish for it, though recog-
niZing the great honor then conferred
upon me. My sole aim was to achieve
success; to blockade Cuba, destroy
Cervera's fleet, and to maintain an eff
ficient war fleet.
1T is not necessary to dwell upon
the incidents Of the war, which are all
incidents, certain officers, distinguish
ed for faithful service, were named by
me, in the exercise of my natural duty
as cOmmander-in-chief, for promotion
or such other reward as you, sir, might
deem desirable.
Those names you have been pleased
to nominate to the United States sem
ate for promotion and you have done
me the honor to add my name to that
list of officers.
1T now appears hat the senate.
though well disposed to most of the
names on that list, has, for reasons
not necessary to be here discussed, OBJ
jected to my promotion, and has SINH
larly failed to confirm the deserving
officers about whose merits there has
been no doubt or discussion.
Heretofore Mr.. President, undisturb-
ed by any eager desire for advance
ment, or any other form of reward for
doing my duty, / have not especially
concerned myself with matters outside
of that duty. 1 have felt that I have
done my duty in the conduct of the
West Indian naval campaign to the
utmost extent Of my ability as thor
Oughly as | was able, and if no reWar
should come, l could be satisfied with
the consciousness of having done my
best. l did not, however, anticipate
that dissatisfaction with any act OF
acts of mine would cause the senate
to withhold from other officers = pro
motion which they have we'll deserved
and which has been promptly granted
in similar circumstances to others.
| therefore respectfully suggest, Mr.
President, that your appointment o
these officers about whom there is n
discussion should at once be renewed
in order that they may thus secur,
their promotion under the p%ersOnne
bill to which they are entitled, an
without creating confusion.
Very respectfully,
w. T. SAMPSON.
ITO the President of the United States
Through the Secretary of the Navy.
Secretary Long will not accept tn,
suggestion made by Rear Admira
= Sampson in his letter published toda.
! and make recess appointments of tn
, officers who failed of confirmation a
the last session of congress. The mat
ter will be allowed to remain just a
it stands until the next congress meet
and then all of the nominations vii
stand precisely as they stood at tn
end of the last session.
THE PRESIDENT AND PART
START SOUTH.
President and Mrs. Mckinley and
party Of friends left the city at GA
o'clock tonight for a of tie
days or two weeks at Thomasvillt
Ca, where the train is scheduled t
arrive at 1 o'clock tomorrow after
noon. The trip will be made via tn
Atlantic Coast Line and the Plant sys
TEN, aboard a splendid train of Pull
man cars, perfect in equipment, wit
every provision for the comfort an
safety of the party. The president oC
cupied the magnificent private Pull
manS observation car Iolanthe at tn
rear of the special, the remainder
which was made up of the compart
ment car HOratio, the sleeper elena
tbs, the dining car Aberlin and tn
combination smoking n baggage ca
Cassius-all handsomely fitted out fc
the accommodation of the distinguish
travellers.
Ten minutes before train time tn
president and Mrs. Mckinley reache
the station where a number of poop
had assembled and went aboard tt
train and greeted those who accompf
MED them on the trip. These include
the vice president and Mrs. Hobar
and Master Hobart, Senator and Mr.
Hanna, Miss Hanna and Miss Phelp
DR.. J. n. RiXey n Mr.. George ]
C~ortelyou, assistant secretary to II
president, and B. S. Barnes, one of II
executive clerks.
TO MUSTER OUT ALL vOLUH
TIERS IN CUBA.