The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-12

derived from such resource2 The question
needs no reply. Suppose that greater number
OF pupils Were admitted in the Scholarship, and
permitted at the end OF six years 10 be examined
for promotion, than should barely be sufficient 10
supply the Navy withits yearly quota of officers?
Striking balance between the merits and de-
merits of each one, let those having the greatest
number in their favor be commissioned as Lieu
tenants in the Navy, until the yearly number of
vacancies should be filed then let certain in
ducements, il necessary be held out to the Others
Tor entering as mates and masters IN the mer-
chant service, with the understanding that they
shall be received back into the Navy as Lieuten-
ants, should state Of war, and the exigencles
OF the public service, render il necessary 10 call
on them. Ii cannot be doubted, that the advan-
tages Of their education, their heightened moral
character and gentlemanly bearing, would soon
gam for them the preference of ship owners.
Without such advantages in their favor as the
school-ship would give, we find half-pay officers
OF the Royal Navy already in the enjoyment Of
like preference with the ship-owners OF Eng
land. They are sought for the command OF
East lndiamen; they are preferred for all distant
and important VOYAGES and we find the Great
Western, and other Of the English steam-pack-
cts, commanded by Navy officers, who are now
becoming acquainted as pilots with our principal
ports; and are acquiring fund Of information,
that In war would prove most valuable 10 their
country, and injurious to this. perbum sapi-
entibus. Ceasing then TO be al an expense TO the
Government these Scholarship officers would
find employment, at once honorable and profit
able 10 their country and themselves; they
would reflect credit on the wisdom Of their Gov
eminent; and serving, by the force of example,
by their skill, and the tone of their character, 10
raise the standard of the ship-master's attain
ments, they would make still more respec table
that already highly respectable class OF men, and
add 10 the safety of American ships at sea.
Trained in the an-ofwar school of discipline,
their employment in the merchant ship would
daily increase their experience as seamen; by
the force OF early habits and OF education, all
their predictions, whenever a state OF war
should interrupt them III their peaceful pursuits,
would be in favor Of the Navy; and TO il they
would naturally look for employment. BY these
arrangements, every man OF war, IN time OF
peace, may be furnished with her due quota OF
Midshipmen, which cannot be the case under
any system, unless the yearly rate Of appoint
ments greatly exceed the yearly rate OF promo
tions Thus, at an expense too trtiing TO be Ia
ken into account, corps of reserve OF welltraln-
ed officers may be created for the Navy, and
maintained in constant training ever afterwards
without the expense Of single dollar to the pub
lie treasury. Commenting this subject TO the
reader for reflection, with the promise TO enter
more fully into the discussion of II at another
time, let us return from the merchant service,
and the ''corps Of reserve" to the Navy proper
One of the most intelligent officers OF the Ma
w writes: ~ have written to the committee on
naval affairs, to urge the necessity Of more per
feet reorganization Of the Navy" The letter
concluded with the. avowal of the conscientious
belief, that . rather than the present system
should continue, il were better TO dismantle and
sell the Ships and turn the officers adrif 10 seek
livelihood for many of US feel that we are in
struments, UNWILLING instruments, il is true, J
nevertheless we are instruments for decelvIng
and defraudng the public" This is by no means
an uncommon sentiment or a partial feeling
among the officers. BY the act of 1Sl43l5, a
dose Of slow poison was administered TO the
Navy. The Navy has fingered and pinned I'M
der its operation, until its effects have been felt
in every member of the body. Never before has
the spirit OF discomfort, among all grades in the
Navy, walked forth in the broad light Of day,
with half such FESTIVE but determined steps
The period is fast approaching, when something
must be done to stay the evils Of the deranged
system. Officers, and the friends of the Navy,
have forborne, until forbearance has ceased to
be virtue. They feel that to remain longer ST.
lent with the Navy in its present condition,
would be but 10 betray the interests confded 10
them by their fellow-citzens.
The Navy, as at present organized, may be
compared to ship without discipline--the Off
GERS, TO her crew. One Captain has been re-
lieved by another only to perpetuate the evils OF
the system. 'Skuks and lazy louis" have been
made the first and second Captains Of the main
top. The best men in the ship have been "back
listed and put in the waste" without cause. Be
fore the crew of one gun has been properly ex-
ercised, or well drilled, the whole division is
thrown INTO confusion-som have liberty to go
on shore-some are stationed elsewhere-and
others put in their places, only TO be severed in
like manner. All is in confusion, and there IS
no system in any thing on board, except in the
bad management of every thing. If mast or a
yard be sprung, the cost OF repairing IT is more
than the expense of new one-yet il is repair
ed. The most wasteful expenditures are made
in some departments and others are grossly
mismanaged. The crew have demonstrated,
have stated grivances and threatened exposure.
But ears, as deaf as the breakers 10 which they
are drifting have been turned TO their entreaties.
And in the face of such things, official reports
continue to be made 10 the owners Of this ship,
that she is in excellent order, and in the most
efficient state-that the most rigid economy, per-
feet management, and wholesome discipline OBJ
tain in every department-and that ais well on
board. With such picture OF the Navy, Mr..
Editor, does the feeling among the officers,
"that they are made instruments for deceIving
and dcfrauding the public,n appear over nice, or
fastidious2
In the work OF reform and reorganization re-
quired for the Navy, an examination into cause
and effect viii show, that the slow rate Of promo
ton under the present system is not without ITS
evil tendencies. OF the Lieutenants, one-iourth
Of them have been in the service quarter of a
century and more and in that time have been
only advanced single step. The officer who
is al the head Of the Passed Midshipmen's list,
has been in service half of that time, and has not
vet been once promoted and the officer who Is
at the foot of that last, has the prospect before
him, Of serving not less than eighteen years for
his first commission. This is owing TO the cir
cumstance, that the Navy has been overstocked
with Mdshipmen, by appointing more in one
year than can be promoted in two. But the
Il L.. L. D,n1