Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-18

l. have been expected. An extension OF The sysIer
contemplated, 80 as to give to boys in the nie
f'or OF the country an opportunity to Join the ser
IS wee, without subjectng them to The e.nen.e of
!, Journey to the rendezvous on the seaboard.
Great dl'tcn'ty,s experienced in the enislnen
= O, se'men. To what ceuse this should be aur,bui
ei am unable TO say; ard consequently, am no
prepared TO suggest any remedy. Il is however
u probably true, tina, tie mere ssamsn is Of too M,
Tie consideration IN tho general estimate of the scr
wee Laws and regulations securing to him IN,
enloymsn, OF his just rights, hbcral wages pune.
traIy paid and strict application f not an cxten
, son, OF the benevolent policy which provides Tor
hun or h's family when he is disabled or killed in
the service would probably secure for our ships o,
war he pteisrencc IN most over those Of the
merchant service.
Experiments in gunnery and projec,ie., which
nave been conducted FOR several successive seasons,
under the detection OF CAPTAIN NJ C. Perry in The
vicinity OF New York, have been continued ON
ooard lne United States steamer Fulton Captain
yonn u. Newton, but under the general control oi
captain Perry. In testing gun in the usual mode.
u unfortunately burst, killing several men and
woundirs others | have caused the subject to be
investigated by court OF inquiry, whose finding
SHOWS tha' however distressing and dc BILE the
I"roiuen' may nave been. no just can DC at
'aeheu 10 the oihcets ~ho conducted the PEI me nt
Measures have been adopted, and are now in pro.
cess oil execution, for supplying the navy with the
requisite guns. Less progress have been made than
was desirable, because oftc great pains which bay,
been iSken to obtain the best guns which could be
1
be furnished of the various desrip,ions used in the
service, including the Paixhan guns.
! Under the Appropriation OF the last session for
'na purpose OF making experiments TO test the
value OF improvements IN ordnance, in the consruc
ton OF steamers and other vessels Of war and in
oiher matters connected with thu naval So vice and
the national defence" nothing has yet been actual.
| ly paic- Some experiments, however have aircn-
Nv neen authorized, and Others are now under the
conSdrrauon at the De paTtment, f,cn which very
oenehcla' results are confidently anticipated. L. i,
not proper, however, 20 make thein public at This
time. Somany scientific and practical men throush.
OUT TIE country are now turning their attention TO
TINS subject that we may reasonably expect erea,
advantages from Judcious use Of this appsopra.
ton.
! have, under your directions. taken measures. for
the construction of a steamer on Lake Erie in COM
| pliance with the act OF 9.h September Isii
| regret 10 say ths, he measures which have been
adopted Tor the preservation OF live oak and red ce.
oar tmccr. under cSsLns laws, have not been at.
'eneed WIN the desired Iesu'is. Whether this is
owing To the incfhcen"y in the avs themselves or
to want ut due vigilance and fidelity in The agents
employed, am urable to say; but have the most
conclusive evidence that the tim Der daily taken IN
Iarge quantities from the public lands without au-
tho'l'y ana coatrary TO law. This Is serious mis-.
chief, aud ore which calls Tor prompt remedy IL
IS corn ienily eIeved that the sgerces row au.
thor'zed oy CIV will no; answer the pnrpose. The
ii~tSs hands who are ergascj in these d-pied
IONS pay no respect 10 the unsupported authority OF
the age"ts and, rs it is almost impossible 10 bring
them TO justice through the ordinary forms of trial
they are left to plum Ter unrestrained. TIE pre-
sence ct a military force, charged with that especial
duty, Is believed TO be abs ,uteiy necessary pre-
serve this most vsiuabe timber. very small force
would answer the purpose. single steamboat
with her ordinary crew and few marines, under
the command OF an active and luticious navy officer
would be able 10 pass rapidly from pon, TO roin'
and extend full protection &c every timber dis,rc,
which IS accessible by water. The cooperation of
revenue cutters might he f'rded, It required Thu,
would be at orce the mos. efectua and the eheap.
| est eNpeolent. Agents might Si:!l he empioy Ell 10
watch the interior districts, aud 10 give notice % oil
ltresspasses committed on them. Power should be
gwen 10 srrest offenders, end TO bring them beC.re
the proper tribunals for trial. The penalties and
iorietursS prescribed by the ac's of 1877 ard 1871
are supposed TO he sufficiently severe; the on!y din
Guilty now is TO detect offenders and brns them TO
justice. Additional legislation, Also is probably
necessary, To define accurately the limits Of the re
served districts, and to prevent all interference with
private rights. The whole subject is Respectfully
submitted as ore which claims the early and Sc ious
att Gtlon OF Congress
| Every efTlr; has been made, in compliance with
the law, 10 obtain water rntted Ameucan hemp Tor
the use OF the navy, but k,tlostn without success
One contract has been made, bu; the contractor. has
| been unable to comply with It's terms. We are
therefore, Tor the present, thrown u7on our former
resources lr supply of this article, but shall con.
wise policy OF Consrss5 upon this point
That reform is necessary, in every part Of oar ns.
val establishment, is on al. HAMS admitted: and il
IS subject Of general regret thar It has been so
long delayed. The delay has been IN the highest
degree Injurious IN the service, md is daily rander
ing reform moe and more difficult, ss II t,cornss
more and more Indispensable. Impressed with this
truth, ano anxious that no time should lie los IN
commenting this important work, | respectfully
bring II TO your notice at the earliest day. | 90 not
propose, however, To present this time more tho
the mere Outlines Of the many i'm portanl subjects 10
which desire to invite yoae attention. 1t IS pre-
sumtd hat Congress, II II should act upon the sub
Ject at all, will refer II 10 committees OF their own
body, before whom hope to be prepared to lay all
the information that may be required
The first step ought to &c the preparation Of
iuH code OF laws and rules for the government and
regulation of the naval service. Without this ey-
cry other measure OF reform w be unaYailins
is of the essence offres governed: that the rights
the dulles, and responsibilities OF all men, IN all con-
diton', should he ascertanet and accurately de.
fined, and IS o. Inc essence OF tyranny that men
should nc punished for imputed offences, or at the
arb { ary di-oc"''cn 81 their judges. This truth
spplirs vi h pecu lar iOrca those who are tn,ag-
ed IN mIitEry service. The striei discipline which
that -e-vce requires renders necessary great va
riey OF rules winch Won d be useless IN the "fdina-
ry c7nJi' ons o. society, which involve no NOR or
socia c0n'e, but which nevertheless II g often ne.
cessnry 10 erilrce by the most rigorous sanctions
ltls ~ The iSh s. degree unjust itself and viola
tive OF g. spirit four institutions, that I,sc lew
and pfculiT responsibilities should be IN aay res.
pect oucert'in. Ard yet u IS IN many crse, eY
tremeiy duff ut - determine uccori Ting TO existing
rules, what IS and ~n1t IS not offence in our ma :
VA service ana IN great variety Of cases II is alto
gether uncertain and dependent upon tie srbitrary
viii OF courts martial IN what mode and [, what
ekent offences, real or imputed, shal; be punished
short review Of our leg station this subject W
serve 10 present 1t IN Its proper light
by the act Of Congress approved 23l April
I-OO, certain general rules and regua atom were en-
Noted, embracing the most prominent and impor.
tant subjects relating to the service These nre su
in forcei but, although they nre Of character TO
apply to the Navy, IN wh,tever condition il NAV
be placed, end were deemed altogether sufficient
tor u m It's then infant state, they too lew in
number and enter TOO little into details, 10 answer
their purpose atthe present day. Acting urnn this
idea, the BOIfd II Navy Commissioners soon nfi or
its establishment in 1915, compiled "Rules Regu.
ldtIons, AMI Instructions for the Naval Service Of
the United States" "wlih the consent OF the seers-
taTy OF the Navy, IN obedience 10 an act Of Con
gress passed TN February 1915, entitled an nc; to
alter and amend the several acts for osabli.hlng
Navy Department, Nv adding thereto a Board Of
Commits ion55s." This compilation, commonly
called the Blue Book, still practically in force and
together w'h the act Of 1900, constitutes the only
system OF fi'es and regulations for the government
Of the Navy.
BY the act establishing the Board Of Navy Com.
mlssioners II is provided "that the said Board OF
Commissioners, by and wih the consent Of tho
Secretary Of the Navy be, ard are hereby authoriz.
TO prepWe such rules an regulations rs sha II
he necessary FOR securing uniformity in the several
classes Of vessels md their equipments, and for
repairing and rehuing them, and for securing re.
sponsibiIIy IN The subordinate officers ard agents;
, which regulations when approved by IN Preside n,
Of he United States, shall be Tesperted nd 0brvsd