The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-13
From the Savannah Georgian
NAVAL COURTS MARTIAL.


There seems TO be something wrong in the Navy.
What il is, do not pretend 10 say but the great
number trials of officers oflae to indicate
little arrangement in their corps. Juniors preferrng
charges against senloTs-senloIs terminating ju
nors, present a ameniable picture of naval dgHity
and discipline. Midshipmen, Lieutenants Surgeons,
Pursers, Commanders, and Captains have all been
brought before these tribunals, various and often
times dshonorable charges, which, in many instances,
the finding of the Court has sustained. From an ex-
animation of number Of cases, il seems TO US, that
much Of this business of Court Martiang, is but a
for private revenge or personal pique, and has
not half much TO do with the good of the service
as il ought. Nor do we imagine that this state of
things will be remeded until these tribunals are regu
lated by certain statute laws, systematizng, defining
and enforcing proper penal code for the Navy,
enaining what is, and what Is not testimony; and,
above all s guardog the rights and honor Of each
officer, that there shall lie no undue Difference to
rank no partially TO favorites, improper severity TO
any. As the matter now u.s. each Court is governed
by its views of what is law and exercises its own
judgment in the reception or rejection of evidence.
1 here are fixed principles of equity in naval
matters to appeal to; presidents of authority have
not been dgested into statutes and the most arbitrary
and conflicting, and even tyrannous decisions have
been made by court after court until like some OF the
ordeals of the middle ages they Tighten the innocent
oftenlimes conviction while the bold iavores es-
cape with immunity.
To verify our remarks, and show how little de-
pendence can be placed the yerdicts of these
courts, let take up the records OF the Courts Mar
tial which convened at Norfolk some time since, be-
fore which were tried Captain VIM. *. Latimer,
Surgeon Hunter Purser Bridge Lieuts. Ellison Cor
don and Dove. The finding of the Court, to greater
or less degree, was against them all, and the sem
fences Of that tribunal wereior Capt Latimer, sus-
pension from rank and command for three years.
For Lieut. Ellison, we do not remember. For Sur
geon Hunter suspension, on half pay for five years.
For Purser Bridge, public reprimand board every
commissioned ship. For Lieut.. Goidon, suspension
for two years For Lieut.. Dove, dismission from
the Navy
But now for the Secretary Of the Navy VS. Courts
Martial. Not single one Of these sentences tcds APP
proved 10 their full erteni Capt Latmer's sentence
was RENTED as to period Of suspension Surgeon
Hunters sentence dsapproved altogether
Purser Bridges sentence was also disapproved Lieut.
Gordon's was reversed and Lieut.. Doves was not
any reversed, but instead of being dismissed the
vice. he was restored to his rank, with leave of alb
sence to travel in Europe.
Now ask what is 1t that causes the Secretary
President to go 80 counter TO the finding o! these
Courts Isit because Of the influence of personal
bias or prejudice on the part Of its members Is
because of the unequal severity Of their sentences
Both of these doubtless have heir influence, and in
the above cited, did have alarming Influence;
but frequently the decision of the Court is nuIifed
for informally in its proceedings or for the immature
and hurried judgment of its membeIs. This would
all be obviated by judrous system, Of Naval laws,
by which every court should be governed and every
case adjudged then only can we expect uniformity Of
decision and event. handed justice,
Another series of Courts Martial has just closed in
Baltimore. Three of the officers tried were Cap
tans, viz Clack, Levy and Latimer. Capt Clack
was found guilty OF drunkenness, gambling &c, and
cashiered. Capt Laimer also found guilty of
charges preferred against him. and sentenced be
suspended from rank and command for one year and
Capt Levy also found guilty and sentenced TO be
dismissed but the President has disapproved the
tence and ordered new trial. The offence of Capt.
Levy is comparatively trang one, and yet, notwlth-
standing thirty years OF mertorious service the court
now sentence him to dsmission while Capt Latmer,
who has been found gully before tico Courts Martial in
co successive years. is only sentenced 10 years. pen
sion. If this is Naval Court Martial Justice can
only say, liberia nos But these Courts Martial are
not yet We understand that all the officers at
tached to the Warren to be tried before Of
these tribunals and also that charges have been filed
against Commodore Ballard, for opening letter
addressed to another lying and perjury" and that he
too is soon to be tried by court martial Verify
were we not true in saying that there seems to be
something wrong in the Navy, which nothing but
remodelng Of the whole system can expurgate