The telegraph has given the news of the dismissal from the service of Commander Preble, of the blockading squadron off Mobile, for allowing a vessel carrying the English flag to run the blockade, when he had power to prevent it. The people will not complain of any necessary increase of stringency in the Navy Department. An application of equal stringency to some other Departments would not be ungrateful to the popular heart. With reference to this particular case, however, we feel confident, as do the numerous friends of Commander Preble in this city, that when all the facts shall come to be known, he will be restored to his command. Commander P. is a Portland boy, was raised in this city, educated in our Public High School, and is known to be as true a sailor, as honest a man, and as loyal a citizen as ever stepped on shipboard, or obeyed an order. He is a nephew of the late Commodore Preble, and, like his old weather beaten kinsman, has seen hard and honorable service. His friends, we repeat, cherish abiding confidence that there must be palliating circumstances, which, when known, will cause his name to be restored to the service.
We are gratified to see the following in the Boston Journal of last evenings:
“The summary dismissal of an officer who has so long and faithfully served his country is to be justified only upon the fullest inquiry, and he should have an opportunity to be heard in his own defense. Commander Preble we are enclined to think, has been made the scapegoat for the remissness of some other officers of the blockading squadron who have really lacked vigilance, a fault which is not imputed to him, and however beneficial the example may be to the service, we cannot but think that there has been unnecessary severity in dealing with him. The example would have been sufficiently striking, in the ease of so old and valued an officer, had there been but temporary suspension from duty.”
Portland Daily Press, Portland, ME