The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-04-22
p u 5 Il 5 T. KnI + Il.
Warrington.

promotions Ia the Navy.
The routine bushes Of the Senate this morning
was of little public interest.
Mr.. Buchanan presented three memorials iron
the county Of Berks, in Pennsylvania, lin which Inc
memorialists state that, in consequence oil the reouo,
tioa of duties Ga leather, iron, coal, hats, Shoes anu
ready made clothing OF every kind, those arucesoi
foreign manufacture come IN direct compeu'ioh
with the domestic articles they ask protection
against such competition. They represent them-
,elves IN he in favor of the land distribution law, and
,sk that that proyision of the law which suspends
its eperatiop. il q tariff of duties higher than twenty
nor cent be required 10 support government, be re-
pealed.
Mr.. Aliens resolution, calling upon the President
for information relating to the proceedings in the
State of Rhode Island, was taken up, and after a
brief discussion, was passed over.
Some unimPortant business vas transacted, when
the bill to incorporate a Manual Labor School in the
city of Washington was taken up, and discussed to
q late hour, when it was ordered TO be engrossed
for a third reading, when the Senate adjourned.
In the House this morning, after the presentation
OF petitions and memorials, the civil and diplomatic
appropriations bill was taken up, and the amend
ments adopted in committee of the whole were con-
CURED in, land tho bill ordered to a third reading.
A bill changing the place of holding the Circuit
Court of the United States in Ohio, was read a third
time and passed.
The House then went into committee Of the
whole on the state of the Union. Mr.. FlLLMoRE
moved to take up the Army appropriation hill, but
The. motion was rejected-ayes 72-nays IS. Mr..
CUsAINo then made an unsuccessful effort to get up
the Exchequer Bill. The then took up
ahe Apportionment bill. The ratio of 5000 was
s,iken out. and 5000 inserted in lieu thereof. If
this amendment should be adopted, the number of
representatives will be two hundred and sixty.one.
The committee then rose, aad the Speaker laid be-
fore the House an invitation to the members from
the Secretary of the Navy TO visit the two steam
ingates, and on motion Of Mr.. WISE, it twas agreed
TO adjourn on Saturday at twelve, Tor the purpose.
The House then adjourned.
II is understood that one cause of the delay of the
Senate in acting upon the naval Nominations, now
before the body, il the difficulty OF who
of The large number are really unworthy Of promo
lion. Il tie a tack Of great delicacy to discriminate,
but the interest Of the service requires that some
plan should be devised, by which the Senate may
become informed Of the merits OF those upon whose
promotions they are called TO act. MI. UrsHuR
very properly takes the list Of officers, and sends all
who have not previously been passed over, or are
not resting under charges formally preferred; but 1t
is obvious TO all who are familiar with the service,
that every grade contains men who are unit Tor
promotion.
One of the youngest commanders in the navy isl
man little short Of eighty yean Of age. 1t IS said
he served in a cavalry company, during the Eevo-
luton, commanded al that time by the late Presl-
CCnt MOOTOH. In lSlZ nc was oppOlutCQ d sailing
master, and in 1872. without an examination, was
promoted to a lieutensncy, and was among the hrst
ten commanders made last September. 1t IS proba-
bic that he never was out Of sight OF land, and has
certainly not been attached TO a sea going vessel for
the last twenty years. But few officers of the navy |
have ever seen him, and it is quite likely that he is
much more competent TO manage a troop OF horse
than to command the sIoop OF war to which his ma
val rank assigns him. 1t is utterly ont OF the ques-
lion, ,hat he can be in the slightest degree qualified |
for the rank he holds, and this case Of itself, though
vice, is sufficient evidence that there is something
defective in the system Of promotion in the navy.
Mea cannot be moulded alike by naval discipline
any more eff.clually than by any other training.
The star is fair and equal to all, bat before they |
have made m lch progress differences must apr er.
Some excel, take the lead. and keep II; Others, from
various causes, prove deficient, get behind, and
never can recover position And even relative merit
is constantly changing. The best interest of the
country is to advance, as rapidly as possible, the am
bitieus, the active and meritorious; while the lag. |
CARDS should receive that neglect which is justified
by their vice, imbeciliiy. professional ignorance, or
Incidence. What can more effectual discourage a
man devoted to his profession than to find his pro
gress obstructed BY another who has lost all but a
mere pecuniary interest in il! Such things have
been, almost to the death OF a proper ambition in the
navy.
The Executive and the Senate are, by the theory
of the government, required to appoint or promote to
Office only those qualified to discharge the duty of
that office; but they have not done it-they could
no, do it. 1t Is NOT one.tenth OF the dlsquallfylng
circumstances In III OtIlCcI > CdIccI, OI CUdTdCtCT,
that can be reached by a court martial; and how
can the Executive, or the Senate either, it they had
the time or inclination, obtain information relative
10 the disquaiifcauons OF persons whose long oblec-
knownf The officer who IS himself expecting pro.
nation fears to agitate the question ofmerit in the
case of any one very near HIM, lest it should defer
his own promotion. II II is the case OF a sup rlor,
thea the jnnror, If he had an opportunity to express
an opinion. shrinks; from a suspicion of being ac- |
tuated by pereonal Interest,"; and should a superior
l. III 49, - u,.a ha - - NIL tA |
generally expressed briefly, for he cannot feel
that individual interest, in every case, that
is necessary 10 carry conviction to a mind, that at
the same time, Is beset by the importantly OF friends,
and that canscientiously fears to perpetrate Injustice.
Some means must be adopted by which the relative
merits of naval officers may be more certainly as
certaincd.
The Secretary of the Navy now requires a large
promotion to be made, and the Senate can have no
objection, TO the number; but they. appear TO have
JUS, found out that they committed some mistakes
IN the last promotions, and they are very properly
drs.rous OF avoiding a repetition OF the same thing
But how is it to be done The Senate is jealous Of
executive power. and even 1t a Judicious SELF ctlon
should be made, those wko differed, would cry out
injusfice-wa'ch the changes OF the times, and finally
recover their lost position, under more favorable cir
cumstances and through the Influence of powerful
friends. Such games are even now In progress in
the Senate. No one has even found the slightest
objection to the examination OF the midsh,pmen,
before promotion to the:rank OF lieutenant. 1t works
well in every respect, aud something of the kind
should be introduced for the other grades. Either
select a board Of the older officers to recommend
who should be promoted, or as has been proposed
before, to make such grade designate who are quail
fed for promotion on, of the next grade below. Let
all the post captains, or as many as are conveniently
accessible, designate by some simple sign In the or
der they sland on the Naval Register, the comm an.
ders deemed worthy of promotion. The commanders
might do the same for The leutenants, and when the
returns are brought together, the Senate can see at
a glance hsw an officer stands In the estimation OF
those who have had the best opportunity Of knowing
him professionally.
This appears TO be a most delicate test Of merit,
and would at once show up the very bau or very
Indifferent and IN the absence of all information 10
The CONTRARY, the Senate might act with perfect con-
fIencc upon the indications; at least, it will point the
way for scrutiny.
1t would take no power from the Executive or
Senate, for 1t imposes no obligation either TO nomi.