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

1 and regulations az they might deem proper; AND
ia Necessary incident OF this authority. TO prepar
spouonai rules Tor securing responsibility in thei
sutordinato agents.
sFess Is SO apparent that deem il wholly unneeeS
S'Iy 10 enter INTO more critical examination il
| order to prove il.
But the Blue Book is not confined TO these OBJ
pe's. Nconiains great variety OF rules and re
suations applying to every department, of naya
uuy' and TO every officer and man connected will
he naval service. I, is designed as genera
eooe OF rules and regulations for the government
| and daily acted on.
Under this code, thus questionable in its authori
w and altogether insufficient, in ITSELF the navy ha,
been governed Tor twenty. three wears! There 10
!" rum, no law upon the subject-no obligatory
rule whatever, except what IL fo1nd in tho act OF
qustc.
This subject was broush; before Congress in
1859. law was passed IN that year autho, IL IN.
tho President to constitute board of naval Officers
10 DE composed OF the Navy Commissioners and
Two post captains, whose duty il should be- "sitb
inc ain and assistance Of tho Attorney General,
t' revise the rules aud regulations go' ern
ing inc naval service, with the view TO adapt them
We present and future exI:rnces Of the ser vice:
winch rules aud regulations, when approved by him
sno sanctioned hy Congress, should have the force
OF aw. nno stand IN lieu ct all Cthcrs tie, toto
enacted" The Board thus constituted convened IN
November OF the same veat. In November 1888.
they submitted the resut OF their abors to the Sc
efe'ary OF the Navy, aud the 23j OF the follow
HE honth tho rules and regulations thus pre p,rcd
were approved by the Presden; OF the United STATE.
And submitted to Congress. On the 7lh February.
1854, the chairman OF the N.va Committee of IN,
tiouse o' Representatives moved that 900 a,l,li.
uonal copies he printed, which Vas directed IN th.
foIIo~in. day. On the Is, May, 1854, the Pest
dent submitted to Congiess certain proposals for
amending the present laws in relation 10 The naval
service" Whether or not these wero the same pi o.
mis- q - Sh L. ah H., k..t.
the 2sd December, 1881 am moi informed ma, "a
II OF any importance IN itself The probability il.
that some amendment Of the rule, oriyin,Ily ~. ,
pared vas presented in May. 1884. on the s,h of
the same month, the chairman Of the Naval Com.
miItee Of the House Of Representatives reno,,cS +,
resolution Toe the printing OF 600 additional comic,
OF The amended rules and rcgu atons for the .,ve,
me"t OF the Navy. No further action was had
upon the subject, and Congress adjourned ON d.
'oih ofthe following month.
f'om this statement II appears that this impo,
tant subject has been before Cons,cs. We, .i,.,
the year 1881, and that nothing ,fr,ctual b,, vet
oeen done TO accomplish the object of the nc, Of hat
year. Soon after the appointment Of Mr. Pauld,ns
as Secretary OF the Navy. he took the subi.ct mr.
and uiged l. Srh all proper yea. Such, however,
was IN: pressure oiother duties upon the Board
'nat u vas Impossible for them attend to the re-
vision OF The naval code, as Mr. PauIdinp A, .;,.d
until DrcemheT, 1910. On the 70. h February isII
they submitted heis report the Secretary Of the
Navy, who approved thereof. but did not Law /, hc
lore congress, as the oct of 1882 directed. Neither
was this done at the called session of May l,,t.
nase row inc honof TO lay this report before you,
and TO ask that It be submitted to Congress
clnnoi recommend the approval OF these ruI.s
md regulations believe them to b. oLi.c,;o,..
bic IA many important respects; and, as the further
action OF Congress IN regard TO them is necessary,
recommend that they he again submitted To reyi
sion. would respectfully suggest that the pre-.
parauon OF rules and regulations Tor the government
OF all classes aud grades in the Navy ought RIO, Ia
be entrusted to any one Of them exclusively. A
mixed commission, embracing the civil as . ell as
The military departments OF service would. lis he
lieved. be best qualified to adapt to every part of
the service the proper laws and rules for the govern
men' and regulation oft Such Commission might
WIN the s'd oi the rules Tow submitted, easily re-
present session.
TO BE cOSrIsuEp1