The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-08-01
Final Outcome of the SampsOn'SchIey
Controversy.
AN INVESTIGATION IS 10 FOLLOW
Admiral Dewey Will Likely Presldc
Over the Court Th.t VIII Pass Upon
the Merits of the Controv


against him which are contained IN
Maclays History of the Navy and the
in1uendoes which have appeared il
the press for several days, and stating
that, in his opinion, the time had now
come to take such action as would
bring the entire matter under the clear
and calm review of his brothers in
arms. He asked that the Department
take such action as was deemed best
to accomplish this purpose. He also
requested that whatever s-:ion be ta1
ken should OCCUR il Washington;
where his papers and data are storeda
The Secretary Immediately decided tj
comply with Admiral Schley's reques.
and dictated a letter to the rear adml.
raj, saying that under the circumstar.
ces he heartily approved Of his action
and that the Department would pro.
ceed at once in accordance with his re,
quest. Admiral schley's letter is as
follows:
Great Neck, Long Island, n. Y, July
%, 1901.
"Sir: Within the past few days Sc.
ries Of press comments have been sent
to me from various parts Of the coun-
try Of book entitled The History Of
the Navy written by one Edgar STAN
ton Maclay.
From these reviews it appears that
this edition is a third volume of the
said history extended to include the
late war with Spain, which the two
first volumes did not contain, and were
in use as textbooks at the Naval
Academy.
"2. From excerpts quoted in some re-
views, in which the page and para
graph are given, there is such perver-
sion of facts, misconstruction OF inten-
ton, such Incorporate abuse and de-
famation OF myself as subjects Mr..
Maclay to action in civil law. While |
admit the right of fair criticism CT
every public officer, I must protest
against the low filings and abusive Ian
guage of this violent, partisan oppo-
nent, who has infused into the pages
of his book so much Of the malice OF
unfairness as to make it unworthy the
name of history, or OF use in any rep
utable institution of the country.
"3. have refrained heretofore from
all comment upon the innuendoes OF
enemies muttered or murmured in Sc.
cret and therefore with safety to them.
selves. think the time has now coma
to take such action as may bring this
entire matter under discussion under
the clearer and calmer review Of my
brothers in aims and to this end | ask
such action at the hands Of the De-
partment as it may deem best to ac-
complish this purpose.
"a. But | would express the request
In this connection that whatever the
action may be that It occur in Wash
ington where most Of shy papers and
data are stored.
Every respectfully,
wv. S. SCHLEY,
Rear Admiral U. g. \.
ITO the Secretary Of the Navy,
Washington, D. c." y
Secretary Long replied to Admiral
Schley as follows:
Navy Department, Washington, July
"a.
"Sir: | am in receipt of yours OF the
22nd inst, with reference to the crit
isicsm upon you in connection with the
Spanish h-American war, and heartily
approve of your action, under the cir.
cumstances, in asking at the hands OF
this Department such action as may
bring this entire matter under discus
sion under the clearer and calmer re-
view Of my brothers in arms The De-
partment will at once proceed in ac'
cordance with your request.
Very respectfully,
JOHN D. LONG.
Rear Admiral W. s. Schley, u. S. N"
Secretary Long acted without con.
sultation with any one and without
communicating the request OF Admiral
Scbley to the President. He then cal.
ed into his Office Rear Admiral
Crowninshiald and Captain CowleS,
chief and assistant. respectively, OF the
Bureau Of Navigation, also Judge Ad-
vocate General Lemly, who has charge
of formalities of naval courts. He
also sent for Admiral Dewey.
Although Rear Admiral Schley did not
ask specifically for court OF inquiry.
but left the action to be taken to the
judgment Of the Department, the Sec
retaxy decided that such a court would
be the best means Of making the inves-
tigation which the rear admiral had
requested the three bureau off1cers
were called in for the purpose OF dis