Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-01-21
DOMESTIC.
NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT.

Jor the dftfof1fmenf Of Many Board.
and for regulating Navy Contracts:
The committee TO whom was referred thc
resolution adopted by the House on the 18th
of March last. directing the inquiry whe-
ther any, ard il any, what means of en-.
treuchment aud economy, and Of reform in
fhe general management. aud of extension
and efficiency, in the naval establishment,
rmay be practicable and expedient," report :
That having considered the several i'm,
portant subjects referred to them, they do
not deem it useful to exhibit to the House a
detail of the various abuses which have pre-
vailed in the naval csta blishment. Such a
detail, though it might lead to the detection
of individual deiinquents, would not afford
redress for further abuses, or prevent their
repetition For it was obvious to your COM
nnittee, that these abuses were either sane.
toned bv the forms of law, or the want of
adequate provisions and penalties in the law
must remain unpunished. After having cx
amincd and awaited themselves Of the iabors
OF their predecessors, in their investigations.
made under the directions Of this house, and
referred to this committee, they have con-
c!uded that II is unnecessary and unprohta-
bic, further to extend that investigation
and that it would he more satisfactory to
the House. and more promo,ive of the OBJ
Ject OF their appointment, TO limit their eff
forts 10 "a reform in the general manage
E,ent of this establishments" under a full
conviction hat the experience of this war
has already satisfied the most scrupulous, Of
the ability Of this country to create and e.
Quip naval force, competent, not only to
the defence of our extensive maritime from
tier, but also for the great annoyance Of a
foreign enemy and that such force is now
equally demanded by every section of our
country, as indispensable for its security
The committee have likewise deemed il UNI
necessary tn go into an argument, to show
the proprietv IF hestowing upon this branch
Of our national force that measure Of increase
and support which It's brilliant exploits on
the ocean and on the lakes, aud its efficiency
in annoying the trade OF the enemy, during
war. under all the abuses to which it has
been exposed, have shown, should only be
limited By our means.
The opinion .ha; has existed from the first
establishment of this department. and been
declared successively by almost every Sc
cretary, that the duties incumbent on them
were greater and more diversified. than the
most capable and !aborious conld discharge,
with honor to himself and jns,ice TO the ma
the system, as now established, and the a.
buses that resulted from il, In prosecution
Of this examination, especially on that part
which applies the detail Of service. they
have principally relied or the inform alton
derived from the intelligent and experien.
ced officers of the navy, whom they have
always found ready and DESTROYS of giving
all the Information in their pnwcr, b. the
information obtained from This and other
sources. the committee are convinced thar
most, If not all the abuses Complained of,
are attributable to three dis.iact causes
First. The excessive and iaborious duties
Of tine Secretary;
Second. The want of sufficient checks
uron, and the consequent responsibility OF,
subordinate agents:
Third. The great latitude allowed com.
rnanders. in altering, repairing and furnshn
Ing their ships.
TX is presumed 20 he unnecessary TO Offer
60 the house any further evidence OF this
statement than is c. ntaincd in the following
extract from The report OF the late secretary
OF the navy, made" to the Senate Of the u.
States on the 18th November last:
4th page. But regulations however cor-
rect and adequate To the end, become nu-
gatory, or worse, unless the authority and
the means are co.extensiSe and competent
20 enforce the execution, or punish the vio-
lhtioD thereof. This may account for the
i'on-eXistence of many wholesome regula.
lions in the civil administration Of the navy
OF the United States, and for the imperfect
execution of those which exist breaches of
The latter tho frequently escape with inpu.
mtg, trom the impossibilii, Of the head of
the department taking cognzance of all the
multifarious concerns of the establishment. -
Great AID obvious as the defects in this
establishment are by all confessed to be, the
committee have felt no little anxiety as 20
the best mode OF correcting them. DESTROYS
equally of avoiding the opposite errors. of
rashly Changing from one sySie EN- 10 another.
without an attempt " correct known abu
ses, or loading il with formal but inefficient
appendsges, which more frequently incum,
Der than relieve or give energy to it's opera 4.
tons and, concurriag in the opinion ez-
pressed by tue late secretary, in the report
before referred to, that board COMPOSED
ot intelligent and experienced Office In
AID OF the executive OF this department
would most eiiectuaily accomplish this OBJ /.
ject, and 1t properly organized avoid the
dangers from too great innovation 90 ono
hand, and ineihcicncy on the other, they
directed copy Of his report to be forward.
ed to every captain Of the navy OF the u
States, with ihe annexed circular marked
A. From the answers thereto, which inva.
Tiaoiy approve the general design, it was
thought unnecessary TO publish more than