Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-17

ii ,~ tnp' Is found !: mus, n!irn bapu.u
that Agents o,t" iand afford bu, ., very iinper
feet pyuiCrLior AGAINST ..es' v,oi orE of rub II;
,wht- 1ie wuiC &C >tpse eiils ii series OF; bavs
and creeks readily acces be TO such boats as can
bring oRthc turner; Wlir the adjacent districts NAV
consist of ,pervio,is forests. norssses 81 swamps
winch forbid the approach of experimenting force
1t Is respectfully proposed that these agencies be
discontinued, md that the protection of the public
interest IN this timber be coniided to marine force
adapted to the navigation OF. the bays and incts ON
whciiitis produced.
Other impurtant services might be rendered by the
vessels employed on thus duty They might If re-
CURED, aid IN the enforcement of the Revenue Laws
and, IT competent officers attached to them
ali ri fcif1es inr the collection of materials tur
charts o these hitherto almost un"XplOrcd c,a,ts
Srnd v Testimonials have been presented to tho
DHpar' mcnt sec copies and extracts marked f.
showing that canvass, made OF cotton, had been Sue.
ceESiuAy employed III he merchant service of this
nnG other countries, and partially in the Nayy all
tavorlng The presumption. that this article nioh be
ndvanta"ruuSty used in the Navy of the United
States. Ii was Determined, therefore, IN at some
experiments should be made, test the accuracy of
thcsu siatemcn's.-Thc execution al thus DUTY has
for the present been commit I'd to the srpcr,nt.n
dcncc OF Commodore Elliott and the experiments re
now III progress.
Some trials will, also, be made of corarc nren,rai
trnm this material
1t Is also proposed 10 institute course of cxper
Hr'ns nthc cnnvass and curdagr made, Of American
water rotted hemp, which has been represented =,
possessing durability and strength at cas, cuuaI to
the same qualities OF the imported article, Tie i'm,
port anco ot being relieved from a dependence on f.
reign supply, Tor materials essential Ia the very OK
iStchc1 OF Navy, Instins full aud decided trial OF
The pr. ducts of our own country
The prac &c has, for some wears INST -rov,o, :,
the department, to make allowances or eytr, com
ponsalion 70 officers who have been required to nnr
fnrn services not strictly in the line Of their pro.s
Slonal di;v.
1t is presumed that this practice had its o,iu;n in
GERS was insufficient for their necessary s,,pport and
an inadequate return for their merits and services
congress has not only yielded to- but n,!,rec l. sane
toned, the procedure, by adopting estimates FIR tho
appropriations founded on these nn,icina,eJ oIIo
aic"s; und the officers themselves now view il nc !,
source oi rnolument, which ought not 10 he dcn;el
to them. This state of Things is Irregular and une
q'ai Ill Its operation. and not tl e;nb,rrass;n,, IN
the officer having the alminst ION of tho De,t
inent. III the compensation now allowed nv Ia, &c
100 small II should be increased; but let it be fyod
and not lett to be dispensed at the pleasure or bv the
savoritisln oi,any one VIZ
| The compensation nnw made 10 The of1;c,,. f H.,
higher grades IN the Navy, is probably far hollow,
what their distinguished talents and services on,;,Io
them to receive; and compared with the amount civ
en- TO officers Of the same, or CORRESPONDENCE 1T :;
the Army, is remarkable for its neouolit,, md ;c
hclency. Annexed is an Exhibit marked II of III,
relative rank of the two clusses of officers md f b
amount OF compensation made to each unf,or rho ev
lstlT laws Ii is difficult to understand on VIII, lin
r.
ence IN the compensation made to officers !, Tho com.
service and OF the same established rank Is not Tho
sa're eminent talent required for the command of :,
squadron as for the conduct of nm orn,,, A -
share of professional skill? Is the Nny,, o+icor Ia
exposed To personal danger? Is bis rn.nant;I:
lighter; or are his labors less arduous, Does he con-
tribute less to guard the interest or sustain Tho
rights and honors of his country? ''''
The establishment of Schools for the ;,st-,.,; r
the Junior officers of the Navy in the various hrono
efoa s.enoe apPerta'nng to the profession, has SO
OFTEN oeen recommended to the favorable cons;J
.'oh OF Congress, and has so uniformly been passed
oy, without obtaining their sanction that Il e 80
reluctance the subject again introduced n tb;
notice. firm belief, however thai ito to,
would be TO qualify them for better dsci,,ro s ~,
h'gh trust, which may, at future dav' dexo,we
upon thcI, IN their capacities of commanders forn
Suthc'ent motive for renewing the recommendat;nn
and submitting views on the subject ,rh;t 49,
NOT been SO much insisted on, and which nav hs
eh',eu 10 consideration 1t has been remark ed nv
naVai officer OF much experience anil observ,t; 4 .
no inconvenience IN the Navy is more sensib,v fol
IMAM the general ignorance of the officers oF fyy;
IN addition to which, there is often rrea
y, az, III procuring competent and proper persons
10 act IN our ships OF war Interpreters and I;pe;
nor has any allowance ever been made bv C los
IVY .ie pay ana subsistence of such persons The
PerpeA"eS ana disadvantages under which our off
eis are Piacec by these circumstances may reod;lr
De conceived. They brought in contact d,r;n:,
ther cruises, with nations speaking d;aerent Ia'o
sio!ect 10 be drawn into correspondence with The
authorities ut different places under tho rscan,;,
otten' to board vessels Of other nations for The nn
OF examining their papers and documents. and nf,o
~n,dout the ability to understand their import and
f1 In time OF war, valuable prizes are los,
from an inability to translate their nanere ,ni @
covered property and simulated documents unnece.
sary and Illegal detentons of vessels are made and
queht damages obtained from the government
:. me schools which have been emploved ot NJ
,ork and Norfolk, in the instruction of NIidshnmeT
:" Tue elementary branches of mathematics hova
Oeen mere temporary arrangements made by the lie
Partmeht, and have never been fosered mr. 81
oy iaw Their introduction into use has mot bas ~
,ectea oy means very regular direct, but thew have
zen tolerated by government, having been found
n"'Wlthsanding the very limited range of in
at % Afforded by them 1t is respectfully promo
seu, ooa,' until some better system can be 1,at,rrd
hcse schools be authorized by law; and that such an
proPralion be made for their extension and support
as VIII enable the young officers to ACQUIRE tnom,i
edge OF such foreign languages as maybe impor,sn,
profession. f''"N' VI 'heiT
ne laws relating to PsTsers in the Navy are belev
ed to be defecllye in some nE Iii - .Ie, -