The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-14

and English fleets In the sangulnary battles of the
French revolution, was that the officers and crews OF
the Engiish ships Injured aud disciplined from
long experience in naval warfare The n4val sssvics
should be continuous it was not to be imagined thai
they migk dischaske o6iOess Of the Navy If to-day
there happened 10 Do greater number than was need
ed aud when occasion presented ITSELF that they could
be obtained il was impossible.
Gentlemeu had assumed that large body Of the
officers of the Navy of the United States unen-
poyed. What the facts? He had drawn up,
well from printed documents from other sources,
statement OF the present condition of the officers OF
the Navy of the United States; from which be read
the following facts
There were 46 captains in actual employment, dis
tribuled follows; Ships %, shore g. navy board 3,
post captains naval schools inspector of ordnance
], asylum lin all 46.
The total number was 68. Among this c. il was
to be remembered the hoary veterans of the last
war-nen who had been in the service of the country
for lifetime, and who if at this hour officers in the
English Navy, had either earned their admralshp s
or retired admiIals pension. We had no such pro
VISION and they of course remained the list post
captains. II due them and to the service that
younger men should be employed in preference Yel
there remained but % not in actual service includin
all the sick and those who by age and inrmity ought
to be considered superannuated and those retained
to be employed in casual service.
In regard to ieutenants, all the Leutenants were
on duty except few of those nominated for promo.
lion, and the following exceptions of those not nomi
mated, to wit Sick IL, under charges on leave IN
Europe L. leave in United States g. waiting orders
| 3--n all "a
| Passed mdshipmen off duty +. Ofthese three are
sick, one under suspension, and two on leave.
From this analysis it would appear that OF the grades
| of post captains, leuenants and passed mdshipmen
there were abuses in there being unemployed per
| sons.
There remained the grade ofcommanders, and that
contained larger number than the others OF per
O 10 n
service of the country required, the explanation
he should present The policy of the Sscretlry OF
the Navy that small number of Objects should
be unemployed. The reforms the Secretary contem-
plated were In progress, and the statement he now
presented show what had been their progress thus
far. -.f
Mr.. TalPLErr inqur the number of commanders
In and out of service. According TO his compu-
| tation there were 80 out of service
Mr.. MERIwETHER referred 10 the estimate of the
Secretary of the Treasury of the required for
commission and warrant officers waiting ORDERS for
lS42 which 1926, 400, for officers follows: 81
captains, Al commanders SO lieutenans Is surgeons,
6 chapIains, 70 mdshpmen. The Secretary i.tend-
ed to add SO new mdshipmen, and asked $lI, 700 to
pay Them and keep them rendering service for the
year
Mr.. CUSHING did not know how the gentleman
supposed that officers board squadrons should be
rel eyed unless there other officers to take their
service. The estimate which the navy was con-
Quoted was that there should be these reefs of Off
GERS. That fact accounted for the circumstance 10
which the gentleman referred, of officers waiting or
ders. 3 H
Surprising the Navy to be kept in active service as
the public interests require, the following number of
captains will be necessary, viz
Of twelve ships of the line already built the
stocks, that lwo-thirds always in commits
sion; and Of the twenty tgaes and steamers already
built and in progress, three fourths always in COM
mission there will be five commodoIes, besides the
captain of the flag ship for each of the principal
ports of Boston, New York. and Norfolk, port cap