Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1812-11-28
Essract ef a letter from Boston, dated
.A,oupMEpr =. 1912.

have been uui0gspuate On iand, but
the homer Of orr country has been sal
lan:,y sustained or the ocean. Tie
use and necessity Oh mariue force has
been AMPLY demonstrated, and the
eyes of oar countrymen seem opened
til Its Importance. Is 1T not tacn al
matter of deep regret, that the gov
ernment should labor to destroy a pa
w. while the people arc disposed TO
bald it up? The refusal TO ratify the
exchange OF captain Crane, his officers
and crew, together with the exchange
ofeaptaiu Dacres for lieut. col. Mil
Ter, furnish new evidence OF invctc-
rate hostility to a,navy in the members
OF the administration. Bat u late act
Of the government is calculated to be
still mare highly Injurious 20 the ma
val service. l aliu3e to the nomina-
ton OF lieut.. Charles Morris to be 4
post captain. If this nomination be
confirmed by the Senate, the imme-
date consequence will he, the resis
nation Of several. if not all the mas
tcrs aud commanders, who have been
superseded by this unprecedented pro-
motion. Among the naiuber OF these
officers, who viii thus be lost to the
service. are men whose places cannot
be easily sapr.ied--men who have rea-
dered essential services to their cOua-
try. and GDiy want an opportunity 10
gather fresh laurels. In ihe number
Of these, are captains Lawrence and
Jones. Captain James Lawrence, Of
the Hornet, has been fourteen years III
the service. and for the whole OF That
period has been distinguished rs an
intelligent, active 4 valiant o.iicer.-
Upon enc occasion, he stoad IN the
same situation, and performed the
same service, fur which lieut.. Morris
has been promoted. He was hrst lieu
with him boarded and hurht the fri
gate philadelphia. This waa certain! 3
as gallant an action as the capture Of
3 the Guerrero. For this service capt,
Lawrence has never been rewarded.
Commodore Decatur was then raised
one grade, and two months additional
pay was voted by cOnsreis to the oil
eers and men uuder ,i3 command
This captain l.awr ace fused to ac-
eept. OF captain Lawrence it is said
by all the sliisers in com. Hods.r
squadron, that ne is one OF The best Of
kcers in the service, aud that during
their late craise he was most distin-
guished fer activity and vigilance.
OF captain jones it is unnecessary
70 say any thing. His exploit is re-
sent. He captured Il British vessel OF
eqnai, If net superior force.
OF the merit Of Lieut.. Morris l have
the highest opinion--i think he is de-
serving of the promotion, but not OF
hsing promoted over other gallant Of
tieers Of equal merit, and who have
equally distinguished themselves, and
rendered equal services to their eoun-
try. Il lieutenant Morris had been
promoted a master and commander,
he would then have superseded SIX
Geutenants. all Of whom, hcwever,
would [ believe, have aequiesced.
The current of public opinion sets
strong In favor OF Il navy, and it IS
morally certain, that aa augmentation
ef the marine will be speedily ef
fected.--Can there be any possible in
jury, then, resulting from the promo.
ton of all the masters and comman-
iiers, or at least of such as have been
most distinguished ? AT all events, ii
more frisaLes are to be built, will il
not be injurious to drive from the SER
vice those men who are best qualified
for command Upon the principle
now adopted by the executive, the sta
ton or Il commander cannot be fayoia-
bic to promotion.-fIaying the com
mand Ola small vessel, generally at
tached to a frigate, he must be for
tunate indeed, To have an opportunity
TO siSnalize himself by any brilliant
achievement. If capt. Lawrence
should be so fortunate as to fail in
with a ship of equal force, the conn
try may depend upon his courage and
his skill.
The promotion of an officer, more
than one grade, is believed to be with
ont precedent and TO reward the Gcst
lieutenant of frigate for the capture
ofanother friSate, without rewardinc
the captain, to whom the merit OF the
action is principally due, is 10 less
singular. All the officers on board
the Constitution, at the time Of the
engagement with the Guerricre, are
understood to have discharged their
duty with great fidelity and Sal!antry
But one only has been rewarded. The
most cerian effect OF such diseriuina
sion Is TO excite jeaIousies and hear
burninSs, and consequently, to iniur,