The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-30
Communications.

MADsoNIsN
REFORM IN THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF
THE NAVY AND THE WAR DEPART
MENTS.
Some remarkable essays have lately appeared in
that distinguished journal, the SOUTHERN LITERARY
MESSENGER, on the REORGANIZATION OF THE Navy.
One remark, in late number Of these papers, com
ing as it does from writer of much practical observa
tion is of itself sufficient the anxious atten
ton of every patriotic mind
Ask any officer, says he, for the result of his
experience during his last cruise and he will tell you
that Of late years. there has been wonderful falling
OF among midshipmen. That they jejune to a
degree and a class, by means efficient,
active in the performance of duty, they
years ogo"
Without proposing to discuss his general principles
the apness Of his illustrations it is clear to me-
that in accounting for the falling off among that grade
of officers, the writer has overlooked pregnant
source Of mischief which, if it be not thoroughly era
Dictated mnst infa,l;hlv disorder and degrade both
branches OF our military establishment, when
oathsome insects penetrate the root the proudest
of the forest is to decay in all its branches.
aude to the notorious fact that Of late years. not
only all appointments to civil trusts, from the lordly
Secretary, down to his fireman and porter, but APP
pointments also for the Nary and the Military Aca
DENY, have been, in almost all instances, made in con-
formity with that detestable MAXIM openly ayowed in
the Senate that to the rictors belong The spells Of pub
lie patronage For admission into either branch even
of the military service the considerations Of ancestral
devotion and sacrifices in hours of the greatest need
the moral bearing, fitness by education signs of mill
tary genius the part of the candidate the equal
&c ILL.,, - "a
pate in the patronage Of the government all such pc
culiar and just claims have been, +" of late years"
postponed for answer to the base inquiry" What
services have the connexions of this young gentleman
rendered al the polis?" Such has been the scan
dalous abuse Of great public trusts committed to the
Secretaries ofthe Navy and the Army in express con-
formity with that full faith and confidence in the
force Of patronage and tie renaity Of he public;
which has constituted the total Of Mr.. Van
Buren.s political creed
Party spirit, fosered by this ''spoils' principle
spreads itself through all classes and agltaes the en-
tire mass Of society and the bcardless youth, on re-
cept of warrant, signed by the President knows as
WELL as If IT were written the parchment itself that
is gwen as quidPro quo, for the personal sink
sicm adhesion and subserriency Of his solicitors 10
him mhose signature IL bears,
Thus, instead of having his amour propre aattered
by the persuasion that fine traits of character
some appropriate accomplishment or youthful promise
Of military distinction have attracted for him the IA
vor of the government he feels that he owes his war
rant to adventurous and sordid influences, and too
soon he learns to that, neither his personal
department. nor love of knowledge had any thing TO
do with his entering neither they essential to his
remaining in the Nary.
Whether indolent or active in the performance of
duty, careless ambitious in the prosecution of his
studies, kind cruel to his interiors suen or respect
full to his commanding officer" full well he knows that
there is pou1-resdent shore, which the Depart
ment has once recognised and will readily offend
Hence it is, among other causes orcby pointed out
by the writer of these essays that the Navy is "of
late years." losing that high tone of sentiment and
character which distinguished in the days of Rogers
and Hall, and Decatur, and Porter and Smith and
Gordon, and host OF Others and in the conscious
ness and pride of which, within my recollection, the
smallest mdshipman looked and demeaned himself
every where, as if he thought himself Nelson, or
was animated by gallant ambition to make himself
one. Then, Navy button was a sure token of
chivalrous spirit, emulous of renown; and whether
in the street OF in the ball room the theatre or