Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-16

pccialy large one, to sea. manned will those
who all have three years to serve.
Aoout one-ioursh OF all our crews, when they |
leave the United States, are bound TO serve from
thrce months to year less than that ne ROD The
vessel must therefore he recalled before that time
expires, or portion Of them be entitled to their
oischarge oe'ore its RETURN Ii is unpleasant, both
10 themselves and the Government to give them
a discharge in u foreign country: but when they
are entitled 10 II, our officers have been instructed
to give il, il demanded and there is an un W illine
ness to enter for the remainder of the cruize.s
Some are always SO discharged and others enlist
ed in their places. The only remedies are. either
eniisung Tor longer, or recalling vessels in
shorter period. The former would violate the
NV; tue latter would create large expense to the
Government Ii is gratifying to state tia, no SER; .
Gus evil has. as yet, resulted from this cause. al
uiough II has sometimes placed our officers i'm an
unpleasant situation, and should, as far as practi-
cable. he avoided.
when seamen DEMAND their discharge abroad,
ana 'heir places are to be supplied, foreigners of
every nation are AIKEN; and from the manner In
which our ordinary eniistments are made many
such are found among our crews at all times
lhey are disnc, class of people from those
use'u' c,'1ens VINO have sought protection under
our institutions, and made on country tn, r home
very lev OF them have their interests located
mere, or are bound to us by one OF all the ties
winch connect man with his country. They pro-
ance large proportion OF the offences and insubor-
dinaton OF which we have complain; and when
their time expires abroad, seldom return for
their home Is not here. Instructions have been
given TO avoid them in nls;ments and il il hoped
that the time is not distant when wi,e Legislative
enactments will raise up an abundance of sesmen
acquainted with. and attached to, the service
whose Interests and hopes are conferred in our own
country. have heretofore submitted INV ideas on
tins subject, aud re respectfully refer to them Lee
gislative acton upon il is demanded by high and
imposing consoles a ions.
The situation OF all South America for several
years past has offered temptations to of our
seamen to leave their country for time, and adj
venture in the service of another They have
uniformly had cause TO regret the folly of their
course. a part OF them have been found by our
vessels in want and distress. An uniform course
OF kindness TO them has been prescribed to, and
exercised by, our officers; and many have been
restored 10 the country, and will not be likely a.
gain TO desert it.
lew years since, many complaints, some OF
them very unjust, found their way to the public.
respecting the carrying ofspecie in our public yes
SSls The subject attracted the attention of the
Department, and instructions were given, in 1924
designed "a correct any error or misconduct which
might exist in the exercise Of the right admitted
and OF the duty imposed, by law. in that NATTER
Is gratifying to state that, during the past year,
no complain; this poi mt has rea ohed the depart.
ment; ana IL Is believed that, in the few instances
In which specie is now carried in our public ships
II Is equally beneficial to the country, and fair aud
legal in our officers
The marine corps remains in the condition in
which former reports represented it; and no new
suggestions respecting Its organization and interests
will now be offered. The number of our navy
yards and vessels in commission is so great that
the corps cannot supply full guards for them An
order was therefore prepared TO withdraw those
isom the navy yards at Philadelphia and Ports
mouth, and substitute watchmen. This order has
been suspended for the present, but it will probs
bly, BE- hound necessary 10 issue itafer short time
llst OF deaths, designations, aud dismissions is
added
The usual estimates for the Navy and marine
corps are enclosed.
They embrace the same number of yards, sta
tioLs vessels officers and men, as those of last
year, and vary from them in very few particulars
Explanatory remarks on some OF the items are
added. In addition 10 those on the ninth item, it
may be proper 10 suggest that the original est-
mates Tor the nr Der OF vessels named In tie law
for the gra'lnal increase of the Navy, were made
at time when less accurate knowledge was pos
sessed OF the actual cost Of the vessels than sub
sequent experience has afforded; that from the
manner in which our navy yards were arranged, it
was not practicable to keep separate the materials
procured for different objects so as always Z, pre
vent the incorrect use OF them; that the wants of
the service often demanded the use Of materials
on hand, (for whatever purpose procured,S to fit
vessels for sea- and avoid an extrayapant waste ~
pubic money by their detention; and that these
n'4terisls could no, always be prom tly ard ac-
EVERtely replaced. the { ncouy sIieuces it -
conf ENTITY Dell yea, may hereafter be entirely a.
voided under the plans now in existence, and the
The amount of pay estimated is greater than IL
was last year, which arises from the laws increas
ing the pay OF lieutenants, surgeons and surgeons
mates; and from the number of passed Inidship.
men, lhese classes OF officers are the most nu-
merous, and a small addition 10 their pay necessa-
iily swelis the estimate titan like increase
10 the other grades would do. would re .pe ctGl
~ suggest tina; these laws, just in themselves, and
meeting, as they did, the appreciation of large
majority OF Congress, have created an inequalIty
which ought 10 be Jemo1ed. The nj 81, 4
rs! captain in the service while in conn nd of the
largest squadron, is but So. $50; of a Captain ia
OF iriSate, but = $50; while the sur
reon OF squadron, OF 20 years Standing receives
asz,42O; ard OF ten years, $4,000. The youngest
receives within few dollars much as
\ MASTER rornmandant; surgeon often nore- |
Other inequalities, not less striking will be per-
,eiyed on an examination Of the law This adj |
,anced pay OF the inferior rauks, though not com
planned of by others, cannot fail to produce un- |
pleasant and painful feelings II viols,cs the only
true principles upon witch compensation Is made
70 public oficers-tbat il should be graduated by !
ength OF service, rank, and responsibi!ity A !
propoitionate addition TO the pay of the other
grades would increase the amount of the appro-
'rations much less than it increase I'd by these |
avg, and is called for by justice and proprieiy-
In no nation, not even IN our own, has the pay of
my officer, civil military, BE- n so low a. t,ay of
some Of the grades in our Navy. IL is unequal 10 /
heir services and responsibilities. No officer can
upport his family at home, and maintain himself
Upon 1t, without involving himself in Difficulty; TO
ivod which, there is a strong temptation to seek
station, on land
The form OF the estimates, in one respect Is cal
,uiated to lead into error, and has produced, here
oiore, some complaint. They embrace the least
lumber Of officer actually al sea, and engaged a,
he yards, &C.; and all others are stated to be
Waiting orders, or on fuslough. IL is hence infer
ed, that large numbers Of them are IDLE and un-
occupied. Such is not the fact. 1t almost always
Nlt0fs