Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-20


b r,. tc should br e:ti;icd 10 cXamina!on !o7 war
ran; as ceased niLs.lipnan iAat examination shou!d
% roo.c.s aiI thorough, and none Should he entitled
10 II who aid not proGace lie most satisfactory proofs
Of good condnct, a;!alnmon's, capacity and general
illness Dy ti.,s the, The hey will nave attained
nar.od Of lie vixen the character generally well de-
ypl,reJ au IN solc degree, fixed; so thai tie country
VII have rood I, ason trust hi:, III the higher grades
.. the service. A corps vi officers. formed OF such
materials would probably present few Instances OF
misconduct imcapaciiy, aud would reflect honor on
TIE caup,ry, While Rendering II the mUs valuable
services.
This system could not f4! 20 reeve The personnel Of
The NayT after a time, CT all present ncur'hfances
uu, would .nlv tend 10 Keep it in healthy co0d
lion. Eat It woud be too slow III lis operation, 10: the
cure of existing evils. Probably there never was a
similar institution in any country, INTO winch abuses
have not crept after long period thirty years oil
profound peace, and Of consequent neglect Govern
cn.s and Their people too apt 10 overlook the mill
,ary aru; wien there IS no immediate need OF lis pro-
lection; forgetting the wise MAXIM that III peace we
should prepare for war GA. Navy has experienced It's
ClI share 81 those un.avorlbe Influences: and Tie
tura, consequence is seen The admitted fact, that it
conians so,e officers who do credit TO their commits
Sims Their number, however, is much smaller than
.nrh, haze been justly expected, under The operation
n 90 rianY Giscouragng end cof:npiing causes Eve
~ nation finds necessary, after particular intervals oi
peace, to revise and reform It's military establishments;
and the tine has arrived, when such corrective
mar he aAyaaagcoasly applied 10 the Navy If the
United States. The oaiy difficulty is III adopting the
rihl process To dismiss from HE service officers who
have coma;i;cd TO positive offence, would be un ust
and cruel! The nature of III, profession is suci as
4, d;sunar hen for nearly al! the pursuits of industry
IN share iiost Of them have been kept long on pro-
baton and have been thus encouraged 10 expect that
they would remain in The service Many oil them now
have families dependent on Them, who would he eX-
posed 20 great suffering, if the public support should
10, he nj tY %
horne IN mind That The officer slipuiaes with his
tr~ that lie Will be both willing and ab'e to perform
al the ducs &c the station "lich he soEcis and re-
csisc Il; her aG5; aad he has, therefore, no right 10
compair that she REJECTS him when he proves either
neglrctiu! o. incompetent Perhaps more just ri
cqn he adop:eJ than - compel The officer 10 retire,
upon = certain proportion o: is annual Fay. sys-
tcn Of compulsory fIroayh, properly regulated, and
s,.:i against abuse, weuid have the mGst salntaIy
,rcied 10 lodge such power ti.e Secretary Of HE
Navy would probably no, b. generally acceptable The
natural jealousy Which every feels OF whatever ap
poacEcs to arbitrary power, would present strong ob
lection with mcs. PERSONS TO nrusting SO muc! To the
discretion Of any Fer myself however, have
NJ doubt tina; Tie only danger would he that The power
would be too cautiously aud too seldom exerted Pub
lie opinion Tins country, is sure corrective of all
abuses Of thai sort; AMI 10 Glan who valued either
his reputation or his comfort, would hazard The one or
tie other by challenging that public opinion Tor the
Indulgence any feeling unbeconing the impartial jus
tee OF his station. Still, however, II is desirable, mol
only that the De pariment should be in fact just and
IMPARTIAL bat tina; the public aud the Navy officers
should leiiere il TO be propose, therefore, that
whensye the Secretary Of the Navy shall be OF opinion
that an officer is uni foT the service, lie shall DE re
CURED present his to the Senate ior !urongb
stating fully, II required so 10 do TIE reasons Tor thai
opi:iion. Ii the Senate after such inquiry is II may
choose 10 institute shall with him, the officer
Shall he put iurough upon certain proPositIon-say
oneal his pay, and be considered out OF the service
In this way, the same power that appoints, will re-
move and the act, receiving the sanction OF the Senate
sill! be placed above the Suspicion oil injustice or op
preston.
i, may be urged, as an objection 10 his plan, that ii
will create body of GuaSt pensioners upon the Trea
en5y who have done nc,hing 20 deserve such favor
THIS is rot true in point OF fact These officers are
already the service, aud if they be not put on fur
ough will receive their EhO'C pay instead o only halt
Off; y, officer viii ever be pat Through il he be real
~ qqa;s. CIR the service; and If he b. not qualified,
he ought to .e, aud prssrrae viii not be, called
INTO service at all. OF course he vii! remain dead
weigh. upon the Treasury, 10 the full omouni OF h!s
s.;cs pay. 10 put h'm on inrlQugh, therefore, is
pos,ve relic; 10 The Treasury 10 the extent OF one
:if his pay.
Butthc evil, if it really lie oac, Will be Of very short
Duration When hc Navy o:cer shall come to under
stand that there is process certain and summary
than trial ~ court marital, ry which his dignity and
las itcomc may both be Iedaced, lie vail b. cautious
n ~ bTn. himself within sGch peril. The effect o.!
lie fafinus s;giem will he 10 create motive OF.
tie part OF The naval officer 10 c=eF, himself 10 excel ~
his pro ssion, and 10 place himself above suspicion in
point Of personal character aad conduct The belief,
atelonTe prevailing, that an officer, oi any standing
in the Navy ccad :al Be driven oa OF II, or al least
liza, 10 coud rot be kept cut ci H. hac lad strong IN
uence in rnjainc lis discipline, and corrup.ing Its
rails end manners. The iurlnueh system, firmly admin.
s;pret vii! ce.re to ts,s Impressions and with
III" assistance & uaaparng cnd InipnTalAdmlnstra-
ton Of the Ia - through courts martial, viii soon purify
ae service, and Will Ion: kept pure when the in
c.:iccnt whc in the Navy shall have been re-
moved il IS probable that the Treasury will thereafter
be rarely taxed with the pay iurloused officers Tie
necessity OF mode Of proceeding, by which the
Navy may be rid Of The incompetent well as OF tie
rniliv, is universally admitted; and | have MT been
able 10 devise any node more just more effective, or
pss Objectionable on The score Vi expense, t;an that
which now suggest.
If this sysem should be fully md f4ilhia!ly carried
COT: do not perceive that any thing more viii he ne
cesssry 10 insure tie Navy, competent and honorable
officers. Hitherto, II has been their great misfortune,
,ha. with fewer opfortrailies Than others 10 educate
themselves, TIE Cos Tnnent has done no'hIig 10 edn
cate them The cadet from West Point, enters the
et:ay wei! founded i'll lie principles OF! solid and nstu
learning and fully prepare 10 engage with advantage,
N any pursuit i.aihr. Of civil or military HE. The
ceni,dl;e for tic Na9Y. the contrary, IS deemed
we'll enough cnaliied If lie be able 10 read, and
y rile, 60 answer few simple questions in geo.
r:aphr and English grammar and 10 solve PLAIN pro-
LIENS in The ciemeeiHry rules Of arithmetic. Why
should ;h:s lreGcc lie :i2de; Important. a. proper
preparatory aucsii9n :nay be - the army officer, il
IL even uote important 20 the officer of the ravy
mar, from tie fact that he lias iew opportunities to
mpioye himself, ii il 10 be remembered that he IS the
most ffeqnen representative of his country abroad
tie Standard hy which lor:;gn nations will be most
an. 10 measure iior moral aud intellectual charaesr-
lie Is also !-eqGcnt!y ;s"sted w::a Important and
delicate nsra ciacns involving i:r rights Of our c
z.ns, and The peace ard honor Of OF! couniry. The
function of the naval commander is mach useful
important; and clgro i, than - generally supposed.
10 his skill ard vigilance are I"'To-cd, Il, every hour
Of tie day and night. The safety OF the ship, aud The
res OF i,er c5cw. The honor OF h5 country flag,
and in great Ge.rrc her harmonious relations N
pace, and her protection in war, amog iE" awful
trusts wi.h shich he is clothed. Very few men can
lie found quail ied IN every respect for SO high and
imposing an Office; aud anhanP.!y there ire too ew
among those who bold i, who daily feel is im.
porisncc and dignity. bun'b!y think that il is a