The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-18
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
THE NAVY.

i The Washington Globe, in attacking unfortunately
the officers Of the navy has manifested either want OF
knowledge want of candor Either il is not sc-
quantcd with the of the deploabe condition to
which right Of national defence is reduced, or
it is willing TO promote some parzan purpose to lead
the public mind 10 wrong direction upon the subject
We can hardly suppose the first and unwilling to
suppose the second IT. however the second should be
true, the Globe striving to render the navy unpopu-
lar! Free from all the restraints Of craftsmanship and
indifferent who is in and who is out, provided the ma
onal interests be promoted, view this subject
imPartay and independently, if not correctly and
WILL therefore hazard conjecture upon the probable
object Of this attack. The party for which the Globe
Processes to speak, claims to be exclusively Demo-
cratic, and applies to its antagonist party the denomn-
alton of " Federalsts." During the administration Of
Mr. Jefferson, when the opposing parties were recog-
nzed by these titles the navy unpopular with the
former The Globe striving, with other presses identi
fed with in politics, revive these ancien: dstinc-
tions, may suppose that attack upon the navy will
aid in assimilang its party to the Democrats Of
Mr. Jeffersons tme and therefore visits the whole body
| Of naval officers with ndiscrminate denuncation.
We protest against any attempt involve the navy
in tn, conflicts parties. 1t belongs not exclusively
to " Democrats" or Federaists, i" !" Wings" or To-
ries," "Jackson-men' or q Van Buren-men," or any
other mans men; but to the Nation the whole Nation
and nothing but the Nation. II is established by the
Nation supported by the Nation, fot the Nations de.
fence whence every citizen, Of whatever party, who
feels any interest the Natons honor and prosperity
But j, cannot be this, any thing else entitled
spect. if it becomes the football Of contending
parties, nursed to-day by party seeking through
appeals to Nahonal PRIDE and starved tomorrow, by
the or another party, seeking votes through APP
peals TO economy,
Protesting then against any attempt 10 connect our
navy with partisan politics, aud insisting that officers
body, do not deserve the general denunciaions Of
the Globe may say that the real Of its decline
has not yet been mentioned excepting by the Public
al has aIn knl - a.
organization Of the Navy Department, and the bad
management of the Navy Commissioners; and say
frequently heretofore, that cannot hope for
respectable navy, till that board be abolished At
present, it dead weight upon the Department and
other purpose than to counterfeit all the efforts
Of eny Secretary, for the Improvement Of the navy
The Secretary and Commissioners independent Of
each other at least the latter have conducted as If
they They do not TO be responsible to
him and though he is, legally, their chief and not their
subordinate, yet he cannot order ship be repaired,
without their permission concurrence in the hewing
Of every plank, or the driving Of every bolt
But besides the imperfect organization Of the Navy
Department the persons who have generally constituted
the Board Of Commissioners, have not been suitably
quayfed Since its establishment proper persons have
at dferen. times, been sppoin ed to il but most Of
them have been compelled to retire in disgust convinced
that while there they were no longer useful to the navy
Such the case Of Commodore Stewart, who, with
all his theoretical practical knowledge Of maritime az
SonineIClhi, nueeH
reduced to a cypher. To prove tina. the Navy Commits
soners have exercised very decterious influence over
the navy for many years past would be difficult task
and this influence has been particularly active in oppo-
sition TO all suggestions Of improvement, though made
by nautical men Of great abilities and expenence--
Wherever such men, surprising the Secretary TO be the
real head Of the Department, have laid their projects
before him. they have been referred to the Navy Com
mssioners On addressing that Board, they would be
SENT somewhat majestcaly, back to The Secretary, aud
be tossed like shutle-cock between the two, TILL in
dgnant and disguised, they felt that retire was due
to their dignity freemen Such men would find no
aid or encouragement, no direction about the proper
mode Of proceeding. In instances, people have
applied to them al first supposing them 10 be chiefs OF
the Department and instead Of being heard patiently
they have been promptly interrupted with the remark
:" Yon want the Secretary Of the Navy You will find
him in such room" Yet, in such the very pro-
position Of the applicant, one which the law referred
TO their Board Their usual course, at least in the
cepton Of applications has been to keep aoo from the
Secretary and whether this proceeded from that jeal.