Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-12-16

81 TUT oId,OH OF Wtso laws, InaV, In Ina-
ny cases, Qf the party has been found guilty0 sentence
the offender to suffer The severes, penalties OF the law
or dlsmiss him with the mere nominal punishment Of ro-
pinand-the words OF the law, in several OF its most
important articles, being that the offender shall, on con-
vienon' &c. "suier death, or such other punishment as
the Court shall adjudge."
Amongst the evils and odious features of the law n.
an institution, this very uncertainty has been cited a,
one justly meriting the opprobium which has been AZ.
'ached TO II; and, pervading as 1t does, almost every
part OF this system, II furnishes, independently of other
ueiects, III urgent motive Tor a reconsideration of the
subject by the National Legislature.
Believing that the usefulness aud reputation of the
navy are connected e'sentialiy with lie OBJ, drnce to
me lsw' and regulations enacted for its government,
'he Department, has been assiduously engaged IN .ndea.
vot'ng to promote their propes observance, and to cause
re "ules o, 's otheers, especially Of is junior mem.
~ 10 D . u''cha' ged In alternate routioe, thus impos.
ug on eaeh a share Of the burdens, and giving to all
TO than.
In a communication made to t.., honorable Chair.
man OF The Committee OF Naval AhAiis in the Senate
and House OF Representative on the 10th February
las, proposing a Peace Establishment, some rem ,rk.
were offered, supporting the opinion that il was ils,
AMI exped'ent that an increase in the rank o. its off GERS
should constitute a part Of the Naval system
Wtile the Uriied States marine was con6led 10 q
lew it'gates aud smaller vessels, no advantage could
have been Coined, in any point OF view. from higher
gfaues Ia the avail service than that of Captain. Blu,
snee ,ns steat increase in the number and sizs Of the
Ou'eo STATES vessels OF war, and "a occasion 8 arise In
the service Tor their combination into fleets or SQUAD.
.ols o'ner uunes' srduous and re'ponrible, ani requir.
'"s "e purscsslon OF super or EauI lie al srience and ga.
ner@' indulgence, devtlve upon their commander.
These higher degrees o! qualification Tor the service.
'"e 'r"toi long and unre renting de volion 10 their &C.
quirement, slsri, a correspondrnt elsvation in ,r,t.,
sienal rank and distinction.
ithas been supposed, also, that supetior rank has A
.enoehey 70 secure the Is forcemcnt Of discipline, mas.
" as we ORDER OF a superior are more readily and
'',m u'y observed Than those Of one of eulal grade.
Inc Increase may certainly obviate some causes o..
"I.,aion IN ms int couric OF the officers OF the Nav,
wv nose OF foreign nations, the lcas, powerful o
WntCD Nha ada haa -. $500 .Xs
zee, and universally claim honors and prece,ienc. A.
corning 10 the'r rank. These NUT either be- Welded.
" b,ercour-e su'pended; and this could M, hut result,
ihJufi1us'y, ahould il be necessary Tor the u. S.ats,'
vessei+to cooperate with those of other nations in r
ditticult naval en'erpri.e.
me surJ-ct OF AN increa'e Of he pay Of the officer.
OF 'he Navy, has heretofore been brough, TO your con
and you are again respectfulI III referred n
me snsgesuons offered In the report made to you on the
LIST December last.
In anticipation that ,bis measure will rcc.ive a hvora.
ole confederation, estimates, founded on the scale of in.
creased compensation proposed at the last session Of
congress. are herewith transmitted.
Inc authority which il given TO the Departmsnt IN
naHe allowances out OF the contingent fund, to cover
,hs expenses Of the officers OF the NAVY. for vario,.
!neiderth purposes. forms an important rem in lis dn.
YES and po"ers. The dispo.iiion of tbi. Larry. find il
wholly within the control of the Secretary Of The Ma.
wy aud It's application only limited by his sense OF iu,.
,ice and expediency.
Without urging that This discretion has, at any time,
oeen IN p 'operly or uniustly exercised, il NAV be said
'ha' u unqnestionably Glars the means of commit,ing
great abuses by extravagant grants or a,Iow,ncs.r
from Others. 10Y """e'u
AS fr as IL is practicable, these allowance, now
contingent should be specifically designated, securing
wi'hout me abuse OF the fund, a just return to the par.
ues, Tor The sums necessaril. expended Tor such Incl
dental purposes. ""
This in mahy cases. may be effected by esiIauve
enaethen,s' particularly es relates to travelling exusn.
'es' aoetdarce on courts martial, either az member, rr
witnesses, the pay Of Judge Advocates, and to oa;cars
engaged on extra duty, beyond the limits of their sta.
In the absence of precise legal provision on tbes.
points, the allowance. in future will he confined strictly
10 the sums believed to bs necessary to meet the ex.
penSes Of officers 20 employed.
In the rep ri made TO the honorable the Chairman NJ
the Committee on Naval An,irs, in the Ho,.e of Re
Presen'afves, on the 2Ist Of January last, a recommen.
oauon was offered. propo'ing some modification in the
Navy. IL
The Department ha. not found cause to chang. the
opin,on 'hsn expressed, that a division o. The duties of
ue Navy board, would have a tendency TO secure the
of its va ious dutie., more Tor the public
oeneht; mat 1t would especially favor this, by di.
teeung " the .~undivadsd attention Of the officer TO
the class OF duties which may be coDfIed 10 hi, man.
that this exclusive devotion Of bs time
ana talents TO a single train Of services, woull enable
MN 10 stain a more Intimate knowledge OF their in
'eresf, TO adopt a better system for their execution,
aud - that 1t would SECURE a stronger individual 70
spon'ibiHty for their faithful discharge"
CONSIDERATIONS enumerated above offer their own
recommendation; and being in concurrence with the
sentiments OF the Board itself, a body which from exne-
rience mas derived the means Of forming correct opin-
ions on inc subject, 1t may be fairly presumed thar the
adoption OF the measure will result in much public utnitv
The documents marked r., l., X, show the number ~
deaths, dlsnissals, and designations, which have occur.
red within the present year.
The estimates for the year 1891, are here with ,r,,.
mitted, marked l.. "a''-
Inc appropriations for the present year have been
ieund more Than sufficient for its current expendmpres
wv mere WIN remain oil them an unexpended balance
probably exceeding one million Of dollars.
lthas been doubted by many able an observant oai.
OF the Navy whether the marine CORPS. az consti.
'uung a part OF the naval force, might not be dsnensed
WITH without materially diminishing its efficiency, On
VI e~S - Ponl, te opinions OF many OF the superior officers
VI ~ Navy were called for, and presented 10 The hon
orabie Chrirman of The Committee on Naval AG,irs NJ
.ne senate, curing the last session OF Congress. These
appeared, were by no means in accordance with each
DINER; and this diversity OF sentiment .nongs, norson.
best qualified to determine the nnestion ba. ;nIn"nJ a.
subject. VI 'e
Inc laws authorizing the establishment of this corn,
provinces that 1t shall be governed by the {" same rules
and articles OF war as are prescribed for the militarv es-
tablIshmento of the United States, according 10 The NJ.
tqre OF the service in which it shall be employed" &c.
rines, while serving at Navy Yards, shall be governed
ny military regulation. BY this decision. tvo svstoms
oil dlsclpline are brought into operation on perso,s em.
PIsyed on duty at the same establishment. The incon-
vehiences oil such an arrangement must be apnare.t
me perfect preservation of good order at The Navv
Yards demands that tho commander sbouId have ,ss
eAe'us,Ve government oil all persons employed in SER
vice within the limits Of his command.
AS a measure tending 10 give repu,a,ion and IF
eiency 10 the Navy, the cultivation OF the minds n
tbose " no are 10 oompose its active msnbs,s "a a s,L
iect Of great national interest. Its a fact which will no,
be questioned, that The early educa,ion Of The ogscs,.of
ths Navy is entirely UNEQUAL 10 The eharac,sr h.. -
10 aus ain.
Few appointments under the Goyernmsn, iovoIxs a.,
necessity Tor more general and scientific srainm snts.
As Officers OF the navy, they are reouirsJ $3.50.
Judges OF the law and evidence. nm ,,i'I, - ia.