I very respectfully beg leave to submit to you an inquiry on a subject of great interest to myself, as an officer of the United States Navy.

Did you, Sir, when President of the United States, ever change the order in which the names of individuals for promotion in the Navy had been presented to, and confirmed by, the Senate? Did you ever change the order of precedent or rank after its confirmation by the Senate? Would it, in Your opinion, have been competent to the Executive to effect such a transposition?

The names of several officers, for instance, are presented by the Executive to the Senate, on a certain day, for promotion to the same grade, say that of Lieutenants, but in a certain order, which order alone, in the absence of any difference of date in the commission, constitutes the criterion of relative rank: In such a case, after confirmation by the Senate, is it competent to the Executive to transpose the relative rank? Would not such an act be tantamount to the creation of a New Commission?

Pardon, Sir, the liberty I take in making these inquiries, as my rights are dependent on them; and I am taught to believe by the whole tenour of your public life, that the rights of the humblest citizen, and none the less because an officer of his country, are always a matter of disinterested concern with you. I have the honour to be, Sir, with the highest respect, your grateful fellow Citizen