American Watchman And Delaware Advertiser

COMMODORE PORTER'S LETTER.

The following is a copy of the Letter of Commodore Porter to the Senate, noticed in the Proceedings of that body on the 27th ult.

To the Vice President of the United States, and President of the Senate:

Sir: During the last session of Congress, several communications from Thomas Randall and John Mountain highly injurious to the character of myself, and other officers of the West India squadron, were transmitted by the then Secretary of State, to the Senate, and gave rise to a debate, wherein many severe reflections were made on the conduct of navy officers in general, but more particularly on that of the officers employed for the suppression of piracy. In consequence of these communications, and the remarks they gave rise to, immediately on my arrival in the United States, I applied for an investigation of the conduct of myself and others, implicated by them. The consequence was, an investigation of the whole of the proceedings of the West India squadron, from the time of my taking command, up to the time of my recall. All of which has been printed, by order of the President, and was, as I am informed, a short time since, in the office of the honorable Secretary of the Navy, ready to be distributed whenever Congress shall have made a call for the same.

In consequence of which, I some time since requested the Hon. Mr. Lloyd to offer a resolution, calling on the Navy Department for the proceedings in the case to be laid before the Senate, which he did me the favor to comply with, and a call was accordingly made; but, as he has since informed me that he does not contemplate taking any further steps in the affair, I take the liberty of briefly stating to you my object in wishing the call for the proceedings, which I beg you to communicate to the Senate for its consideration.

The documents communicated by the State Department, together with the remarks which they gave rise to, have been spread before the public, and on many minds have left an impression highly injurious to the character of the Navy in general; and this impression has been strengthened by the repetition of the charges in the public prints by Mr. Randall, since the proceedings in the case were had with the additional assertion that I had shrunk from the inquiry, and deprived the Court of the opportunity of bringing out all the facts in the case, by which his charges would have been sustained and my guilt would have been manifest. It is, therefore due to myself, it is due to every officer under my command, it is due to the whole Navy, and, indeed, the whole nation, that the result of this inquiry should be laid before the Senate, that erroneous impressions, injurious to our characters, may thereby be removed from the minds of those who, by the statements of Randall and Mountain, have been led to entertain them, and that those who entertained different opinions and were induced to interpose themselves between us and the injury which it is believed was intended by our accusers, may be assured that their confidence has not been placed on objects unworthy of engaging it.

I beg, sir, that this subject may be brought to the consideration of the Senate at as early a period as possible, in order that it may determine, whether sufficient rigor has been observed in the inquiry; that, if it has not, other proceedings may be asked for, and if they prove satisfactory, as I feel a confidence they will, that an opinion may be expressed to that effect, thereby relieving us from the charges and censures that remain on the files, and stand on record against us, to the prejudice of our own characters, and the character, and consequently of the interests, of the corps to which I belong.

This request is made with feelings of the highest respect for the Members of the Senate, individually and collectively: and I hope sincerely that there may be found nothing wrong or unreasonable in my desire to obtain that approbation which myself and others have sought with so much assiduity, during the time we were employed in the suppression of piracy—a service holding forth no reward for its faithful performance—no hope to cheer us through all our privations and sufferings, but the approbation of our country.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your very obedient servant,

D. PORTER.

Washington, Dec. 25th, 1825.