The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-02-12
The Navy.

The Navy.
The necessity Of organising the navy, and ncreas-
ing it sufficiently to give protection to eur com
merce and our shores, is no longer a question Of
debate. All admit that something should be done
to correct the evils that have grown up in the SER
vice for the want OF proper system; but the best
remedy to be applied not so clear, even 10 Prac-
tical men, and more cloudy still to the minds of
landsmen unaccustomed to MARITIME lite and naval
disc ipline
Instead of losing time in discussi. the minuter
details, we should rid ourselves of the most Proml-
nent defects, and then let such measures be adopt
ed as may appear most advisable to periecttne sys-
TEN Of reform la pursuance OF this course, have
ventured TO make such suggestions tor the improve
ment of the navy seem to me the most indlspen-
sable TO its efficiency frsm practical observations
As every branch of the service requires improve
ment, we should begin with a fair system for the
appointment of mids improve the system Of edu-
cation-make promotion certain to the deserving
introduce more gsades in the line-institute q re-
tired ist-devide the duties Of the Department into
executive bureaus-introduce an efficient system
of labor into the navy yards-equip more ships
establish national foundry and observatoTy-im-
prove the condition of seamen, and enact laws for
The government and protection Of all persons in the
navy. These are changes too manfestly necessary
to admit OF dispute, and are not difficult to effect
One Of the greatest evils of which we have to
complain, is the appointment Of the multiudes OF
mds, when there is no possibility for their promo
ton to the higher grades until they have become
too old to serve in them with honor to themselves
and benefit to their country. BY examining the
Navy Registers, for the last twenty-five years, it
will be seen that the vacancies which have occur
red among all the commissioned officers of the line,
from deaths, designations, and dismissals, have
averaged less than five per cent, while the number
Of mids appointed has been sufficient to supply a
vacancy Of fifteen per cent. The unavodable con.
sequence has been, that mids are old enough to be
captains before they made liestenants, and
many Of the best spirits have preferred leaving the
service rather than remain in it without promo
ton.
TO secure the promotion Of Mids. in due time, no
more should be appointed than could graduate in
time to fill the vacancies that might occur in the
line. Though mids perform much useful service,
yet that duty could be performed quite as well by
Others; and they should not be app inted with q
view to have certain number board of different
sized ships to perform those duties generally as
signed them, bat for the purpose of learning the
naval profession, that they may fill the vacancies
when qualified, and to perform such duties as may
be incidentally assigned them in the course of &C
quiring their profession. To have certain num-
Der annually qualified to fill vacancies, and no
more than would probably be required should be
| and the service rendered by them, while they arc
mids, should be secondary matter.
| Should this arrangement limit the number to less
than may be required to perform the duties tina,
have generally been assigned to them in the ser
vice, portion Of them may always be performed
with advanta ge to the service and to the mids by
petty officers and apprentice boys, Young m'ds
are not Caculated 10 dtrect OLD SAILORS per-
Torrance Of their duties and it isa great error to
exact it of them Il is calculated to diminish the
aspect Of the sailor for the mid when his want OF
knowledge oil profession 10 shown in his super
embarrassed by improper directions OF the inexpe-
l rienced mid when beyond the eye of the deck Ofh
| GER Such duties should always be performed by
petty officers instead OF mds In port,a petty Off
| young mid whom il is their pride to :" weather,
and get drunk in boat-hook's length Of him, with
| out his seeing them drink drop. Another species
Of duty which has generally been exacted Of them
by apprentice boys. Mids being relieved Of these
duties, which should never have been exacted o.
l them, have not more left them, than q few could
perform on beard Of each ship, and they could de-
vote more Of their time to the necessary and more
| importantdaties of their profession.
It is impossible to get right in this natter if we
begin wrong. The evil OF appointing more mid,
than can be promoted in reasonable time, should
be avoided, else we shal most certainly have then
too old to command before they are made Captains
| Having spent so many years in subordinate situa
tons with others to think for them, they arc dis
qualified for brilliant achievements II 10 doing
the country an injustice and the sfhcers fatal in
jury; and still ii is pursued with thoughtless com
| plaisancy to the urgent applicant.
| We have now in seavice ~ Captains, " Com
manders, and $40 Lieuteoan:s. To have Navy oil
peace, and ready to expand to the wants of war; the
two first grades should be Increased to loo each,
the Leutenants to so, and LOO masters This
would give 80 comnissi med officers of the line.
England has more than 1000 In 500, the vacan-
| ees would not exceed ~ per annum; and the num-
Der of graduated mids should be as near as posi-
BILE, the same. As two-thrds Of the appointments,
upon an average, pass for promotion, the yearly
l appointments should be about %. Should this
number be found too small, it could be increased ;
or too great, it should be diminished to correspond
| with the vacancies, that they might be promoted
as soon as qualified it; instead Of waiting until
| they nearly 80 years old before they are made
| Lieutenants. as is now the case.
The excess of appointments this year will great
| ly increase the evil. Unless remedy be applied
! they will be 60 years old before they get command
| man are passed, and when sailors are mo- longer
! fearless on " the deep" To the easy remedy sug
gested, apply the rule OF appointing mids not I'm
der the age OF L. over l6, and in five years,be
them to fill, our country will have their services il
responsible and important situations at an age wher
| they can acquit themselves with honor in peace
and glory in war.
| In making appointments, measures should d
taken to avoid having boys imposed on the servic'
constitutonally or mentally disqualified for it
Once in the service, with few negative qualities
they may remain tax on il through life, and ye
fit for nothing but keeping out Of scrapes. Thes.
impositions so frequently occur, that ii is higl
time an examination was instituted on the person
the character, and the qualifications Of the candi
date, to prevent them.
l luHuence ana iavorftt<m nave hlthcrte Deeh IN
| only rulesto govern the Navy Department in thu
appointment of mids and the secretary is constant
ly annoyed by applications from persons he canno
| refuse, axd whom he should not accommodate. Ii
this manner boys are appointed, who have neve
known to those who lend their influence to get tn
| appointment, TO oblige some friend In this way
boys are sometimes brought into the service tina
are sickly, deformcd, iterats, dissipated, and al
ter feeding upon the government five or six years
the examinations discard the most illiterate an,
dissipated, but the scky aud deformcd are fastene
| upon the service mare pensioners for life. Viii
any one hesitate 10 admit that this abuse should b.
| corrected Will any one deny that it existsl N
| enc that has mingled with che Navy will; and de
lcacyforbids ,mins ividuals to convince others
With all this against them, there are many briian
officers in the navy fit for any enterprise and deed
| of glory; but We should endeavor to make then
all se or at least bar those who can never be use
| full
Were Congress to establish few regulation
Ia IL -