Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-21
|EpoRr OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.

lavy should h- considerably Increased, and would
highly useful even in its present condition.. The
aux OF Admiral Is known IN all the navios Of the
wo,ld except our own; Il has existed through =
ong eonrs- OF pas, ages. and has been fully tested
n The r1nrrence Of all nations. still crisis, and
s.il approved | can perceive nothing IN our 20
kuliar situation TO prevent We from prom ing by the
essen thus at Ird,d. That which has been found
,Iuabls 10 the naval service OF other countries,
ave good reason to believe, will be equally valua
BIZ. IN our own. But, apart from this view Of the
lubiect, there are many reasons of a positive cha
tacier why we should no longer delay 10 place
.lves upon equality, ia this respect, with oil the
considerable nations q the world.
IL i., rs a general rule, wise and polite to esab-
i.h us many grades as possible in all military ser
vice The officer should always have before him
bone station, yet to be reached, and worthy OF a
high and generous ambition. He who has attained
ali that IN attana lie, has need OF any further ex
ertions than IS; enough to sustain HIM where he
IL; all beyond this Is sup-tcrosatory, for he is not
permitted TO hope that either the ut most eIertious
OF his powers, the most generous self sacrifices
in the public service, will ever raise HIM grade
Ihicher in the ranks OF his countrymen.
A captaincy in the Navy is OF very diihcult at
tainment, according To our SLOW rate OF promotion !;
vet all those who are fortunate enough to reach it,
continue e, feel in less degree than before, the
depress,n. influences to which | have alluded.
They daily tee, in the navies of other Countries,
men, not o der IT. the service than Themselves, nor
more worthy ~ any respect, hllrg higher stations
and ENJOYING more PROOFS OF con
hience ani s-htIu = ct their country. They n so
see mel OF .uIll grade with themselves, checTei
and ercIur,gs uy tive hope of well deserved
fprele. !nent 10 yh,ch they know that their own
country pee init them TO aspire. What can
be moe naurd tlan that they should feel dsheart
ened and uortId d, and ultimately be forced to
compare, dis,dv,ntRgeously TO their own country,
/ It's naval service win that ot other cations
! IL is considered wise and proper IN the army To
mise the rank of the officer IN proportion II lie
n xut,iacfal his N md Thor
are in that service different grades OF commits
stoned officers; while IN tue Navy there are but
three; hence i. is very difficult TO arrange the
paratIro ranks Of the two services. Indeed, It is
impossible 20 do 1t without suppoSfHs new ranks IN
. the navy, unknown to the Law THIS, though no,
very serious evi', is Inconvenience which IL 10
desirable 20 avolu; and, 81 tar rs the god Of the
service IS concerned, II u not perceived why cap
tain in the navy should be considered adapted to
the commend oi a fleet, than brShdier general IN
. the army TO the command vi division. The two
services quaiy reqri'e rank according to Il
Of command. 1t is true, there Is no necessity fur
many grsirs IN the navy rs IN the army; bu; the
diff renee Is IN the lower grades only, ana in the
higher.
Oirn.val oGi,7rs arc Of en- sabi,c eI TO serious
diff -ulles and oTharrassments IN the in etchange
OF cIyilie, "a those of other countries on forcss
stations. The 'tuirii OF England, France Or RAJ
sin, Is m, v,a. - atait that he ia Of higher
grade ;han the posi- 'ptan Of the United States
Our comn0nIC;s. III order to enforce from other
countries the saue aspect which they themselves
are uIlln. pyy, are compelled 10 insist that the
highest gridc ni service IN the United States by
whatever t.e il may be dls;nc uishei, is equal o.
the highest grade al serv &C IN any o'hcr country;
and, OF course tnit American post lpiain IS OF
equal rank with the admiral Of any other country
whose commission is not OF Older q i;e. This claim
/ is at least very Questionable. Rank IS a positive
thing and, by Ine consent and usage OF nations is
indicated in the naval service by the FIG which the
commander wears II IS not surprising, therefore,
that the odmiraiS Of Europe should refuse recog
Mise their equals rank the ca plains Of the Un.
ted States whose very flag affords conclusive proof
THAT their own country regards them inferior. II
il true this claim OF Cqn1lIy has IN some instances
been allowed, but is generally denied; and he ICE
that interchange OF freddy c1CrIes,es, useful in
preservin. the harmony ami good understanding Of
nations has ,f.en en- prevented In war, the IN
|convenisncc woUd be still more serious Whatever
concessions might be made IN time OF peace, from
feeling OF respect and courtesy, no Just aim of rank
would be yielded IN time of war. The American
captain, clej 10 ACT IN concert with the admiral #
la friendly nation, Of younger date, would necessa
|ry be compelled TO yield the honor of the chief
command, 10 contest It al the price OF that har
mony which woud be necessary 10 the success of
|ther JOINT enterprise. Ii is he supposed that
nations whose systems have been so long esta bsh-
led and AGED on, will yield IN this respect 10 the PC
|cuiir views and wishes of the United States. The
Inconvenience resulting from our anomalous position
nre seriously fell, and ought, 10 my opinion TO be
|Iy advantageous with that which is occupied by |
Those Of other countries and corresponding COM !
|mands.
Additional ranks in the Navy would be eminent
ly useful instrument OF discipline. The post |
plain Of to-day is precisely equal in rank to the
oldest post captain IN the service. He feds his .
equality from the first moment thnt he attains it, .
and al the same moment the Discrimination TO be .
commanded and controlled by his equal rises with |
him. he wall not willingly submit 10 learn, as II
rt,e1.. 10,
teach. He looks to a separate command for him.
self; he begins to lay down systems OF his own and
turns deaf ear 10 the Lessons OF experience i'm
parted by older heads, because they cannot clIm
any higher rank. The respect and Difference, co
necsss ~ to disc plnc rarely felt, except wnese
there is difference OF rank; and they are mot
strongly felt where That difference is greatest. In
this way the creation OF higher grades wou lie nd.
vantaseorsIy felt through all the grades below them.
IL would be p,rticulrly beneficial in It's influences
nDvn the youoger classes OF off :ers, upon whom II
is 80 important that correct impressions should be
made.
There is yet another encouragement; which should
be held out TO our Navy IN a much more liberal
spirit than has heretofore been manifested. Ad- {
yancement IN the service has been slow, as 10
render toIm1st hopeless 10 a large number OF our
most promising Ofi GERS Oi he lower CRATES. Many
would long have retired from II in dcspir tu,
Tor tact that their education and pursuits unit
Them for p-oinbe occupations on shore. Surely
try twelve fifteen years Of the prime OF his lie,
and he expense Of all qualification for other Dur
suits IS entitled 10 be advanced al least one grade
in the ranks Of her service ! respectfully submit
that u not wise IN us TO place ourselves in posi-.
ton 10 be compelled to ontTust TO age AMI imbrclli.
~ the duies Snch require the vIgOr and energy Of
younger ye1r'; and yet, under the systems which
have heretofore prevailed there are few who can
hope to attain the higher comminds, until they have
niso attained period Of lie at which the best pow.
efs Of man begin TO decay.
II 1t be our purpose 10 increase our naval for-7,
we csnnni TOO soon begin to train a suil,oe bnni
Of oficersio AXE charge Oft !, is borne IN mind,
that although We can build 10 good ship IN a few
ri active instruction, and % strict discipline n dua
" an officer to command her. IT, therefore, we |
would be prepared for the eGtgeucies Of tie next
twenty years, we must begin our preparations 10.
day. IL is mere prOdigslity 10 build 'hips, # we
have no officers to command them. There IS no
schoo fur the sea-Oficef but the ship itself The
theory which he may acquire shore. although a
necessary part Of his education, only prepares him
20 begin 10 learn what he IS required 10 know as a
naval commander. a small Ase', propsrly en-.
poysd, will afford such school to pupils en1u,h
TO supply large one. We should rot therefore
wait 10 build new ships, before We tegin 10 t,ain
their officers. We have at present not ENOUGH for
our Navy, n all our ships were in COMMISSION
Those ships, " actively employed, together with
such as shall be built from tlme 10 time even urd.,
the most restricted scheme Tor the incrcnss of our
naval force, will afford all necessary means Of en-.
ploying and training twice the present number al
ar officers Of every grade.
There is an absolute necessity for 1nrge inrrooss
Of the marine corps On this subject refer IN Nh .
accompanying letter Of Colonel Henderson, and In,