The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-05
THE NAVY.


pressed our belief, tina. great injustice has
been done to that branch Of the public service,
through the imbecile manner, in which it has
been con .ucted by those, who (with but few
exceptions) have administered its affairs.
In an article on the Navy, short time
since, we advered to the fact that Mr.. WooD-
BURY while Secretary Of the Navy, issued an
order, having for its object, reform in cer-
tain particulars. which, though it appears as
original, had been in practice for nearly third
Of a century previously.
We regret that, after having charged expli-
city on the present Secretary Of the Navy, the
authorship Of the attacks on the Navy and
its officers, contained in the two articles in
the Globe Of the lst and I'd days Of August
last, we have good cause for thinking that
officer would, like Mr. Woodbury., in the case
we have referred to, strive to deck his brow
with Ito say the least) borrowed plumes.
We have understood, that the Secretary Of
the Navy, has given out that, he sets his face
against the reinstating Of any officer who has
been cashiered or dismissed the service, I'M
der any pretext whatever. This has gone
forth, we learn, with eclat to the Secretary's
firmness and decision.
When we forget to "render unto Cesar the
things that are Caesars" then is justice blind
indeed! or that divine attribute is trampled
down to crafty the arrogant pretensions Of a
too sudden elevation.
When an officer Of the Navy or the Army
has once been cashiered from the service, by
regular trial and tribunal, we think that on
no account whatever should he be reinstated.
But, we cannot permit the Secretary Of the
Navy to bedeck himself with plume derived
from the authorship of that principle which be-
longs to another.
In January, 1888, Commodore CHARLES
STEWART, of the Navy, we understand, was
in this city, on his return to Philadelphia, from
Norfolk, at which place he had left the line Of
battle ship Pennsylvania, which had been ia
ken thither under his command by order Of
the Government ; and at the request Of many
Of his brother officers, addressed letter to the
Chairman Of the Committee on Naval Affairs
Of the Senate, 1.-THE Hon. Mr.. Rives,) on the
subject to which we have referred.
1t will be seen, that Commodore STEWART
thus strenuously advocated the system which
the Secretary of the Navy is now said to have
the credit of introducing long before he was
placed in his present situation. ;=.@
The following is the letter Of Commodore
Stewart to Mr.. Rives:
my DEAR SIR: regret that my short stay in the
city, will deprive of the pleasure of improving nv
acquaintance with You. feel this deprivation the more
as will prevent my conversng with you upon sub
Ject deeply interesting to the officers Of the navy
aude to the application Of certain persons to be rein
stated in the service II would have enabled me the bet
ter to place before your view the perncious effects il
will have upon the service generally, through the ea
ouses, discomfort, and heart-burnngs it will create
and in addition, how it will react upon the Legislative
branch Of the Government providing for the future
welfare and advancement Of the service.
" The rigid protection by the British Government of
all the rights OF her naval service and her uniform dis
continuance Of every effort reinstate those who vo
unfairly or compulsorly left the service, have contr
bued in no small degree to build up that proud arm OF the
BHtons power. Any adverse policy the part Of
Government cannot fail to produce injurious conse
quence to our navy. Dor past history is without
instances OF the disastrous effects Of such to-
wards the navy and that Of the army is repete with
the i'll results Of wanon interference with the rights
Of its officers
"There could be named to you aniustrous instance
of departure of our Government from this policy,
which led to consequences that stained the character Of
our distinguished statesmen with the best and braves
blood Of the navy.
In the needless disregard of the rights attaching
those in military service there is crimnaty and the
most beautiful and important attribute of power, the
faithful guarding Of them from violation In conserving
the rights Of officers far as may be compatible with
justice to the country, and preserving their corps
from furnished reputation you elevate their pride and love
Of service, you augment their Esprit du Corps and
render them band Of chvary. But if those essential
principles recklessy disregarded it renders them
sprtcss body, and sinks them below the noble aspra
tons, by which they should always be distinguished II
appears to me that the laws enacted for the
OF the navy provide for the punishment Of officers for
almost every offence for which they are amenabe, the
Chlef Magistrate should leave the appeals to his sym
Pa ana ms Porer to the regularly constituted guardians
o. 'he service where justice will be sterny administer
eo, ana 2 wise observance Of rigid rules and sound
policy VIII decide them according to their merits"
we fear the letter of our New York correspon-
dent, an extract of which we published last Thurs
day, in relation TO the new banks in New York NAV
have uninientionally done injustice (by omission
to the NORTH american Trust aud Banking Con,panv
which, we are informed, has also paid up and Sc
cured capital OF over five millions of dollars taken
in New York and London, which is now in opera
tion and enjoying high credit; and the american
Exchange Bank, which has cash capital paid in