Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-04-13
Razeeing the Navy.

Razeeing the Navy.
The Chairman of the Naval Committee of the U. ..
Senate on the 10Th of January last, reported Dill
the purport of which is to deprive officers, seamen,
and marines of the navy, of their pensions, AFTER the
SOh June next; and so strike from the Navy PENSION
Roll the names of all widows and children who have
received five years pensions.
The bill has passed its last reading in the Senate,
and unless the parties interested shall ADOPT prompt
measures show its base character and unjust ana
cruel effects it will probably pass also the House OF
esentatves; for it is most urgently recommended
by the Chairman and in accordance with the views
of Mr. Sec. Pauidings late annual report, and has
received his most special appreciation, and that oil
conspicuous member of the Navy Board Under
this imposing authority, it passed the Senate with
out examination it was presumed that all must OF
course be proper when vouched for by such high
authority. Whereas had the project been fully I'M
derstood, no two Senators would have voted for the
bill and this will prove to you, whether you
will or not as follows -
An act of Congress- of Sd March, 1887, granted to
widows pensions for life, until marriage and to
children until Fl years DID, be paid from the dates
of the husbands and fathers disasters. Under this
act $50 widows and lis children were placed on the
pension roll. (See the annual report.) Now, II 10
certain, that those same $50 widows and lis chill
dren are by law, justice, equity, common sense and
everything else, fully and completely entitled 10
their pensions for the periods stated in that ac and
deprive them of these vested rights, as is de-
signed by the sbominable joint bill of the Chairman
Secretary of the Navy, and Commissioner aforesaid
is cruel injustice to them, and most dissraceiui
violation of the public faith and therefore, no two
Senators would have voted for the BILL !" which was
to be proved.
A strange code Of morality must be entertained by
the Hon. r. Williams, Chairman of the Committee,
and father of this bill. 1t is which, if used in
private lie, would be detested by honorable men;
and in my opinion it is not the less detsstable be-
cause promulgated by grave Senator OF the United
States. l regret that the head of the department,
! with the commits soner aforesaid, countenances this
unmanly attack upon destitute widows and orphans,
and upon the rights and prosperity O. our Navy and
for his credits sake, hope it will prove true, as ru
mored, that the bill was approved by his pension
clerk only who it is said, acted in the without
bringing it to the notice Of Mr. Pauldng.
! am advised by a distinguished lawyer, "that
Congress has authority to repeal this act of 1887,
so far it regards future cases but that such repeal
cannot destroy the rights which accrued and were
vested by the act before the date Of the repeal"
am not lawyer, to Judge Of the soundness of this
| opinion, out 90 KNOW tudt Wueu al ohCeh eptei9
the navy, he considers the laws which give pensions
to his widow and children to be mutual contracts;
and if he fuls his part of the contract, by dying in
the service before the repeal of the ia,cs, Congress
cannot, under the Constitution, decline to perform
their part of the contract This is the firm and uni
versaI faith and opinion of the Nayy-excspt the
Navy Commissioner, as Aforesaid
Former laws (see the annual report) contracted 10
grant pensions 10 invads Z" to continue during disa-
bility" But the bill declares that the pensions,
which were accordingly granted to continue during
disability" shall NOT continue during disability"
but that they shall the Both June next This
slss 10 breach Of the public faith, and violation Of
the solemn contracts made with these persons when
they entered the naval service. They nobly per-
formed their part Of the contract; poured out their
blood in their country's service land now, the
Chairman Of the Narai Committee, with Locofoco
Secretary Of the Navy, and the Navy Commissioner
aforesaid are ing to deprive them oftheir rights
The cues tion is not whether Congress acted wisely
in making those contracts; for they hare been made,
wisely or not and the honor Of the country requires
their fnl6ment. La cases that may arise hereafter,
there will be room enough for reform Of the pension
| svstem-and reform is needed. But, in eiIecting
such reform, do not tarnish our national honor.
Heretofore our gallant tars esteemed the head Of
| the Navy Department, as their friendj and, when
thousands Of miles from home, extending and main
tanning the glory Of flag they confidently relied
on him TO protect their rights. And when death
met them in the lin, Of duty they did not turn aside.
Their dying moments were soothed with the know.
ledge that this friend would ensure justice TO their
widows and orphans. But what would be their feel
ings noic, could they tina, same supposed friend
aem pting to take away the small pttance purchased
with their lives; and prostitutng his official power
to throw their wives and children upon the cold
charity Of the world-to beg or stsrve
1t has been frequently said, that Mr. Padding
considers officers efthe Navy better than " tin
kers and eobbers" and IL is known that be has, on
more than occasion, treated them with studied
indignity and rudeness.
The truth 10, his former mode Of life, his habits,
his extreme humbug, his ultra Locofeco notions,
his self Published contempt for the obligations Of
laws and his utter ignorance and disregard Of them,
wholly unfit him for his present station. And con-
sciou, that his qualities cannot command the respect
ofthe officers, he uses the insolence Of power to
make them feel that he is the nominal head Of the
department As a politician, his proceedings are
Just such are best suited to injure the admips-
tration; for no one can deny that the abominable