Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-15
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
THE NAVY.
WdshingiOa. Jun,fo,.u a 1894


observe by your paper that Cxpf. of The
Nary has deigned To notice my humble com
muu'catioos To you and To ask for a com
mon share of patience" iu behalf of the new
out excellent Incumbent s3S the Department
who, the Captain seems To think, is some
what too prematurely invaded by the freedom
of my remarks.
am glad of the notice he has taken Of
Snem, however, because it is confirmation
strong 10 you, that was not nnrighieously
employed ia bringing to view certain discre-
pancies IN our navy discipline, which have not
exactly sqaated With those niaxims OF prubity
apd virtue that IFS cordial friends deem essen
t.ai To Tue conservation of lis glory and honor
put the captain does me great injustice, fine
Ahinhs intended, IN the most remote degree,
10 inpiicate the Secretary rs a 'particeps
crlinlnis" in the abuses of the navy. (which
II - confessed he is now engaged in bringing
under cnrrecton,) or in the smallest CONN.,
vance with thatlax morality which had almost
nabituaiiy per'aded the social structure OF
tnat Institution over which he Dresjdesl
knew, Mr.. Southland had the ausean task be-
fore him, and that his Intelligence, industry,
business Of character and unyieldins firmness
hau c0hspicuously recommended him for the
neutrality-suspicious. is there any reason to sup
pose he VIII not abundantly redeem the
pledge Bright presages of future usefulness
encourage the most sanguine expectations on
that point--but he had to restore order out
OF cbaos-halcyon seas out of waves lons en- =
gagged IN boisterons confusion, and it was my
purpose local his earliest attention TO a few
prominent and Migrant abuses" that obscur-
Ell all others, and which from the danger o f
immediate repetition, admitted of no DELAY
IN Their re- formation. With the distinguished
CAPTAIN" who has hOnored me with his no.
ice, lave had repeated conversations on
every point | have submitted To you and
Koow DIS Opinions upon them, too well, to APP
prehend thai zoe can dsagree 10 The discussion
OF them al this time | snail Dot presume up
ON tins confidence, To slight those tender sen
siliIlitts, the Captains early impressions in
tasor OF the new Secretary have induced him
70 leef-they shall command my respect, for
40, assured they are the feelings of an hooest
heaIt, anu I beiir' conscientious MS they
are deserved.
lteiyIng upon the Captains assurances that
the secretary Is engaged in reforming II abuses
which came within his Knowledge, shall pre-
ter6it one division of my subject promised in
my last, simply remarkius +" en- y.assant" that
the ezra allowances To certain commanders
ana stations have created many absolute sine
cures for which the ser, ices pti formed afford
no retrlbntion, nor are they warranted on the
score of eXpediency or as the reward of merit
I'D the present limited and Infant state of the
navy.
The subject TO which now mean emphati-
cauy 10 call yonr attention affects immediate
~ The character aud standing of the navy at
nome and abrOad-strikes at the very viials of
us existence as strong arm of our national
security, and deeply involves in its consequent
ces all tue social happiness and moral energies
oil the subordinate officers of the service.
mean The acts of violence and oppression
10 which we have been subjected by our com
manders and for which no redress has been
Afforded when they came to the knowledge of
the navy department though in some 'instan.
ces committed against the positive instruc-
mons of the SecretaFy-who in passiyely al
loving this contempt of his authority tolerat-
co these tra:F3gressions over us, and lent the
implied sanction of the department 10 our per-
secutions and dignties | know 1 am tread
ing upon hallowed ground consecraled by all
'ne generous affections of the people in favor
OF our infant navy, but my warrant will be
self respect-fiIlsl regard for their unsuspect-
Ing cOnhdence-and the evidence of facts
ciear aud unequiyOcal, within the reach of all
VINO seek for confirmation, and plainly 10 be
suosanIaled by proofs on the files of the de-
partmeHt itself.
In dolng this shall freely state the facts as
they have occurred, and endeayor To avoid
any other comments upon them than such as
are incidentally appropriate to illustrate the
peculiar enormity of Il special case, leaving
me differences TO be deduced from them en-.
ureiy to the force Of your own discernment
anu ihe exercisc4 OF an unbiased judg-
.nrh'' IL but fair 10 remark too, that am
innuenced by no feelings of personal hostility or
~ disappointed hopes, having had the good
fortune never 10 run counter TO the will or an
thority OF my superior-and ought as frank
~ 10 state that many OF the gallant Young
oHcefs VINO have been the victims of " zbuses"
> shal mention, though they may never forget
we immediate authors of their wrODas have
sought to forget the injuries themselves in the
leFfent nope of an ameliorated cnndi,icn nj
the navy and their continued zeal and dero-
ton to the service. But in this exnectat;op
ard in the force Of their own ardour. they he
gin to feel the chickering's of inortidcatinn-
'neir unredressed grievances have beco,ne
pretexis for repetition Of them with asers
waited impunhy, uutl they find themselves
mere cyphers IN the service, instruments of
tue vanity and authority of their snperiors
VINO insult and punish them at pIeasure--and
.or no offence m0re inveterateIy, than for dqr
"g 10 appeal TO the Latcs enacted for their
common benefit aud security There is
punt beyOnd which forbearance ceases to
"s a'nIsole, and when 10 an institution support
eu by popular suffrage, il is sought to establish
uhe arlsfOcratIc dogma that Sub0rdinnfes hnye
10 rights, not only AS officers, but as gentle
inen-nay, as men claiming an equal p,r,ici-
pauOn IN those ordinances created by all for
the good ut all, Their obligations 10 the NAVY
are destroyed ana their means Of protection
against insult aud oppression, are thrown back