Gratuitous Insolence.
Lieut. Washington Gwathmey, one of the most gallant and high-toned officers in the naval service of the late
United States, resigned his commission a few weeks ago. In his letter of resignation he took occasion to state, modestly, but candidly, his reasons for the step he was about to take.
They amounted simply to this — that he could not fight against the
State of Virginia or the
South.
Of course the resignation was not accepted, and Mr. G. was struck from the roll.
The low-bred vulgarian of the New York
Tribune, proclaimed thereupon, to the world, that
Washington Gwathmey, of
London, hailing from
Virginia, was struck off the roll for writing an insolent letter to the
Secretary, or words to that effect.
Now, we have not seen the letter, but those who have seen it, say that nothing is farther from the truth than this charge of impertinence.
It was perfectly respectful, and could have been excepted to by nobody but a man accustomed to white negroes and hirelings, and mistaking everybody not his superior in office as one of that class.
By stating that
Lieut. G. was of
London, but hailed from
Virginia, a false impression is endeavored to be created, as if he were not a Virginian.
Everybody in
Richmond, of course, knows the value of this slander by implication.
The Gwathmeys--originally
Welsh — settled in the lower part of
Virginia, two hundred years ago. They are connected with, and related to, numerous
Virginia families, all of them among the best and oldest in the
State, and have no relations, that we ever heard of, outside of
Virginia, except in
Kentucky and some of the
Southern States.
Many years ago, the late
Robert Gwathmey (father of
Lieutenant Gwathmey) was a member of a large mercantile firm, engaged in commerce with
Liverpool, and the exigencies of business requiring that one of the partners should reside in
England,
Mr. G. was selected Accordingly he removed, with his family, never relinquishing his connection with his State, or designing to live permanently in
England.
During this residence abroad,
Washington Gwathmey was born, in
England.
But does that make him an Englishman, in a political sense of the word?
Certainly not. --He came over to this country when not more than two years old, and has not the most distant recollection of his residence in
England.
His father, the late
Robert Gwathmey, lived in this city nearly fifty years, died here, and was buried here.
Thus much by way of explanation, to those who are not acquainted with the facts: It is due to
Mr. G. to say, that the Navy of the late
United States never had an officer of higher character, or a more determined spirit.
He is a
man — every inch of him. True to his State, true to his friends, true to his word, true to himself; the very embodiment of truth, honor, and reliability.
It hardly becomes a warm personal friend to speak in such terms of him, and we know that he himself will shrink from the encomium.--But we do not feel disposed to stand by and see him slandered by such a base dog as
Horace Greeley. He has gone to offer his services to the
Confederate States, and we can assure
President Davis, that whatever command he may give him, he will be cure to do honor to it; for all accounts concur in representing him as a most accomplished seaman, as well as a most intrepid and intelligent officer.
There is no man of his rank who has seen more service.
