Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-24

UACVPt
:: SSpces, t$ronfne payments out of the approprla-
thin V that Wish the he Exception exc above stated
1accounts accruing years ago are paid ont ct the
Representatives. fsr the cCrreHt year. IT Comp
kGollers bos do not profess to give the expenses of
leach year, but osy the payments. Large sums
Ilave been ,sken g,s. @ the appropriations within
cNr vcs rs satisy old claims. This is doubt
" - Srnssof the slofciency in some of them,
r yIyyAss, ~ eact existed, and been known the
! nnttS ices u seVefT years. Il may be doubted
4 whether Scre'krs money enough under any one of
the ftiociral-eads sppr opriaton in 1928, to pay
UP all ufcones acerl1g before che first Of January,
IS29; .ahdit Is psobabf that there was an sggre-
Iea,e de- ocncy, exceeaing halt million Of dollars
: k- 6Sic,iSt ssceYain fully, and detail accurate.
lss al the practices which have embarrassed the
c9dptssttte NsS- department; and perhaps it is
more fTheusto point oct a remedy. But the re-
suit. SSmy reh-ctiols shall be freely given.
As firstSccp 20 ad cilectua reform in the bust
ness Of the pspapment, would suggest the propr-
ssty ef.0ndneal 10 Congress to remodel the whole
SesSeff a nv and epolumcns of the Naval Officers,
eaNhg N;th-as possible 10 the discretion of the
Executive. Every indirect and covert allowance
should be discontinued and forbidden; and the ruy
Of oil the officers made certain as leave no
room for construction, aud 50 liberal tc remove
present Inducements TO seek an increase by direct
means. The regular pay Of officers Of the Navy is
far below that of officers Of the Army, in simple
grades. Certainly, tLeir services and dangers are
not less Bearing their country flag 10 every cline
they exposed TO dangers, diseases and death in
degree far beyond any thing encountered IN time
OF peace by The officers Of the S-mv b. the feeble
health and broken constitutions OF many returning
from distant cruises who present themselves TO me
ior settlement OF their accounts, am constantly
admon!shed OF the hardslps these brave men hav,
to encounter. Let not tho country Be uu;os, to
them.
The lawful compensation to Commanders o.; squad
rons Is peculiarly inadequate. By their skill aud
va!oE they have made fur Glorious, and atrac-
ted 20 our ships the attention ofihc world When
they enter foreign ports or meet foreign scuUdrons,
they are Obliged 10 receive ana return the visits of
those Whoia curiosity or admiration attract on board
thcir vessels. rs unwilling 10 be ouidonc IN cour-
icsy as TO be conquered in battle they are compelled
10 incur expenses which Their regular paw aud c
monuments inadequate 10 meet. Let thcu be no
longer subjected to the humiliation of beggng indl-
rect and unauthorized allowances from the Eyccu
tive, when an ample compensation ought to be ac-
corded to them by the representatives Of the Amer
lean people.
1t is more important that Congress- should give Us
system ofpay and emoluments, because dscrctiona-
~ allowances by the Executive tend to Injustice
corruption. and endless ealouscs While the Fcer
OF nice feelings stands alOof and relies upon his
country TO provide for him, the less scrupuous make
themselves tho assiduous fattclcrs of ios in now
CT. Their success operates rs premium for sub
scrvicucy, and dsheauens those ochoncs principles
and lc!ty minds. The supple and corrup, may mon
oPoiiZe the hvcrs OF the government, while the in
copclden. and homes; sept IN obscuritv or G-iv-
en- from tie public service. The minds of officers
instead o; beng devoted 20 the interests and plary OF
the Navy, are employed upon tie means of persua-
ding the Secretary or accounting officers 10 cle out
their elaolumcu:- Ey additional allowances Ifeye- /
~ claim Is not allowed which bears resemblance
to such as have been allowed 20 others they are dis.
satisfied, complain Of partialiJy and injustice. II an
accounting officer be corrupt and it be understood
that Claims wall be !avoraby considered in promotion
as claimants minister to his passions his partisan fee
hngs' or his necessities It IS fearful IL think how far
national defence.
How vastly important is it, therefore. not only TO
the safety of the Treasury b.t 70 the character and
efficiency of our Navy, that all discretion in maxine
Pecuniary allowances, should be taken from the Eye
cutlvc Officers To It's moral character / verilv he
Ieve. does our Navy owe all lis glory Bv presery-
ing that character, VIC shall make il iuyircib!e =
Give the officers liberal pay; make It fixed and cor
tain place them IN situation claim it us u mat
ter Of right; teach them consider themselves de-
pendent on no Executive Officer for their emolunen,s
but on their country only they will then devote
themselves, not TO this or that man who NAV chance
60 hold the Office of President Secretary or Audi
tor, but 10 the glory Of their flag and the interests
Of the republic The navy will become as renar-
kable for its high honour and strict morals ae il s
now distinguished for its valor.
doubt whether the p eecnt system Of SUPPLYING
Seamen on board ship with comforts is not inju.
rIous TO the morals ofthe Navy. It affords an ever
active temptation &c PuFscrs 70 cheat the scamcn;
and that they arc sometimes overcome by it, we ha;o
ample proof. But an not prepared 10 suggest a
remedy.
Public economy, no less than tie character Of the
Navy, demands u well det1ed system. Although
the pay of every officer might be nominaly much in
creased, the aggregate amount paid them would
not be greater than 1t lis. Perhaps it would be less
az least the increasing prouson which always attends
loose system. would be checked, and the uiimat,
effect would be a saving Of public money
One ofthe most important results of a well def
ned system would b., The restoration of confidence e
the public Offices, md OF truth TO their records
Truth Is The basis ofa morals Of all useful religion
Of society itself Yet our public books and record
+ have been filed with systematic fllschoods. Doe
any one suppose that commission has been allowed
10 the commanders Of squadrons for the purpose o
paying them for the trouble II draic,rg JHls2 Tn
trouble is notling the name given to the allowance
is mere Pretence. Lately s. 600 have been allow
cd tIcm tH ten q commissions. This is one STE
nearer 10 a direct allowance without prctcncc Tn
truth 10, the allowance IL made to increase thej
etaoiYuehts, and nothing else-Who on fndini
from The books Of this Office, that siX hundred dol
lars has been allowed TO Purscrs for clerk hire
would doubt TINT this money has been paid 10
clerks' Yet such is not tic fact. The alowanc
has bcch made safety 10 cover charge Of commits