The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-25

ests, find, after quarter OF century they have risen
step, and there likely 70 renaini Is u snrPrs-
ing that officer, who promptly obeyed the call OF bis
country during tho last war who fought her battles, was
perhaps wounded in her defence and who has since per-
formed cruise cruise passing successfully me
duties OF midshpman, master, lieutenant and mist
heutenant--who has been more years actually az sea
than required by some Of the post captains now
ask, IL such officer should feel his ardor little cool
ed, when he reflects he is still lieutenant far yet from
the head OF his list with prospect Of promotion for
years come Is il extraordinary that men SO situated
should occasionally speak doubtngy Of profession, IN
which they have failed to reach the goal Of laudabe
ambion-a fact which strong attachment to that pro-
fession has kept them from realizing until TOO late to
embark in aDother!"
.The substance OF the next complaint Of W., aud-
ing particularly. indeed he seems to do through
out the officers Of the lower grades 10 the ndher
manifested by them to service at sea the futile
excuses ia declng them, &c And pray, whose fault 10
thai II the Navy Department in practice renders its
orders OPTIONAL is it not 10 human nature to avail itsclf
Of this freedom Docs W. believe that il the captain
Of man Of war were to resolve no longer to sxact
obedience to his orders and regulations, hut leave every
thing to the moral sense Of propriey Of his officers and
crew. that the discipline Of his ship however perfect il
might have been, would not Immediately decline, and
end in disorder, II not something worse"
Formerly, w informs Us, officer was pleased TO
be employed Internationally now, be says :. it some
times occurs that mdshipmsn 10 not willing to 60 to
sea, unless lieutenant lieutenant unless as first
lieutenant Of fgato line Of battle ship; another
unless in command. Tho objections are frequently
founded better grounds than that there is one
whose stands lower the register than their own
commanding first lieutenant, acting lieutenant IN
remote sea- where. being present, the fortunate
junior perhaps succeeds TO vacancy occasioned by
DEATH retirement from i'll health other causes pro-
ductive Of change the station. Formerly this was
not the case nor do believe such for declining
service would have ayailed,' It would have been,
think more correct TO say, that formerly the Navy De-
partment did not involve itself in such inconsistencies
as to be compelled, in measure to listen TO such OBJ
jecions, For instance, have seen commodore, be-
fore sailing from the country, have officers removed
from his ship, and arrange the relative rank Of the
Others as to carry out plans for his entire command
reaching foreign station That i. and are re-
eycd, because they interfere with c. whom he desires
to appoint captain Of his ship upon the transfer Of his
first lieutenant TO the command Of schooner, whose
officers to return to the United States and second
vessel Of this class, being retained this station gives
command to another Of his lietenants Now, would
W. think il very strange if A and B, who removed
that this arrangement could be effected should demur
little at being sent second third eutenants Of
schooner sloop Join this squadron and among other
things to be called upon render all due honors these
young captains excellent and worthy officers but
Of whom were not in the service while they and many
others who witnessed these arrangements were cruising
during the war! Be il observed too that this very ship
instead Of taking out senior lieutenant to command
the schooner, as had always been the CUSTOM sailed
with her own complement greatly below the existing al
lowance. To show still greater Inconsistency, the
commodore, when he expected to hoist his flag in
igate, applied for certain officer TO be his first lieu
tenant; this promptly refused, the score that
the officer was TOO low the list the present first
lieutenant or acting commander Of this line Of battle
ship. with every other lieutenant one in his feet
are lower on the list than the one so refused.
Now, this case Of fortunate junior sue
n heal
but the result Of arrangement matured in this
try, with the cooperation of the Navy Department and
contaminated some three or four months from the
mencemen OF three years and again recognised
by The Department in refusing to order senior Off
bers to these vessels II pretended here that in
offering every ship and station. very strict regard can
be paid TO the relative position Of each officer the list
though sytem could easily be devised which would
bring about great approximation to IT, All that is
complained Of, rs departure from all military usage
and propietya disregard Of tho claims Of seniority
and long servicen short, the absence OF system or
consistency; the rule Of to-day being guide what,
to that which may prevail tomorrow. Il is TO be
hoped that this sersibty rank and seniority will
tinue be cherished and guarded by every officer
the apple Of his eve II has has been currently report
ed the Of the Protean shapes assumed by that
naval botch the Exploring Expedition that officer
has volunteered under the immediate command
Of his junior but il is hoped this is a mistake How
ever chilling to many gallant bosom the implied infe-
petition, it is Of far serious consequence that
officer should take this occasion to depart from the in
variable practice Of the service II is setting danger
precedent which may be used hereafter to the vital
injury Of the navywhat he has volunteered TO perform,
may be eraeted from another
We are further told by W., that spirit Of detrac-
ton has found its way into the service. and TO the
maevoence Of its shafts all have been alike exposed
IL this be it very wrong and much to be regretted
but cannot think such feeling general in the navy
II is sincerely hoped and believed that proper sense OF
respect is entertained for the Of their superors by
the junior officers between many Of Them strong per-
sonal regard Is known to exist. Candor however,
compes the admission that there is exception in
the case Of the Navy Commissioners. These gentle
men, though highly respected as individual officers, seem
in their joint official capacity to have the whole navy
against them Always unpopular this feeling appears to
have acquired great intensity within few years, and
the Board cannot be mentioned without elicitng
remarks of severe and bitter reproach Nor is this
fined by any means to the junior officers, many of the
higher grades bearing conspicuous part in It. Be it
correct not, the opinion prevails generally in the
navy, that its efficiency would be greatly promoted by
different organization OF that Board Most Of the u-
nor officers have also mbibed the idea that influence,
known to be great in all naval legislation, has
been exerted TO improve their condition ALL high and
low, seem to agree to its almost entire responsibility"
These remarks have extended much further than
contemplated but the degeneracy Of the service
being now common theme, was thought but fair to
offer what were conscencousy believed be Of
the leading causes of the alleged decline.
g In CONCLUSION, agree most heartily with w., that
the deeds Of the gallant men who led ships to
nown and to victory, should be treasured up rich
legacy The whole navy owes them heavy debt Of
gratitude for fixing firmly in the affections and policy
Of the country Of its most priced institutions
But is hoped that the noble spirit which animated these
brave men, has been freely impaired to others; that
the worst il only lies dormant, waiting for the first
gency to break forth renewed vgor under the strong
high wrought expectations CLEAN OF this spirit
shonc forth, when the report Of aggression on our
coast reached all grades rushing simultaneously on
board Of surveying briggs, revenue cutters and pilot