The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-14
From the Savannah Georgian.
NAVAL COURTS MARTIAL.


There seems to be something wrong in the Navy.
What it is, we do not pretend to say; but the great
number OF trials OF officers late to indicate no
little arrangement IN their corps. Juniors preerring
charges against seniors-senioIs recrmlnating ]u
nors, present lamentable picture of naval dgHity
and discipline. Midshipmen, Leutenants, Surgeons,
Pursers, Commanders, and Captains have all been
brought before these tribunals on various and often
times dishonorable charges which, in many instances,
the finding of the Court has sustained. From ex
animation of number Of cases, seems to us, that
much of this business of Court Martialing, is but
for private revenge personal pique and has
not half much to do with the good of the service
as 1t ought. Nor do we imagine that this state OF
things will be remedied until these tribunals are regu
lated by certain statute laws, systematizing defining
and enforcing proper penal code for the Navy, as
cerlaining what is, and what is not testimony; and,
above ALL So guarding the rights and honor of each
officer, that there shall lie no undue Difference to
rank partiay to favorltes, no improper severity to
any. As the matter now is, each Court is governed
by its views of what is law, and exercises its
judgment in the reception or rejection of evidence.
There are no 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 frghten the
oftenmes conviction, while the bold favorites
cape with impunIty.
To verify our remarks, and show how little de-
pendence can be placed the verdicts of these
courts let us take up the records of the Courts Mar
tia which convened at Norfolk some time since, be-
fore which tried Captain VIM X. 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 were-for Capt Latmer, 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 on board every
commissioned ship. For Lieut.. Gordon, suspension
for two years For Lieut.. Dove, dlsmission from
the Navy
But now for the Secretary of the Navy Courts
Martial. Not single Of these sentences APP
proved to their full ertent. Capt Latimer's sentence
was RENTED as to period of suspension Surgeon
Hunters sentence disapproved altogether
Purser Bridges sentence also dsapproved Lieut..
Gordon's was reversed and Lieut. Doves was not
anly 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 it that causes the Secretary
President to 60 SO counter to the finding OF these
Courts? Isit because of the influence of personal
bias, or prejudice on the part of its members Is it
because of the unequal severity of their sentences
Both of these doubtless have their influence and in
the above cited did have alarming influence;
but frequently the decision of the Court is nullied
for nformalty in its proceedings, or for the immature
and hurried judgment of its members This would
all be obviated by judlrious system of Naval laws,
by which every court should be governed and every
adjudged then only can expect uniformity of
decision, and even handed justice.
Another series of Courts Martial has just closed in
Baltimore. Three of the officers tried were Cap
tains viz Clack, Levy and Latimer. Capt Clack
found guilty Of drunkenness, gambling &C., and
cashiered. Capt. Latimer was also found guilty of
charges preferred against him. and was sentenced to be
suspended from rank and command for year and
Capt Levy also found guilty and sentenced to be
dismissed but the President has disapproved the
tence and ordered trial. The offence of Capt
Levy is comparatively trifing one and yet notwlth
standing thirty years of merorious service, the court
now sentence him to dismission, while Capt. Latimer
who has been found guilty before t,oo Courts Martial in
successive gears, only sentenced to gears supen
lion. If this is Naval Court Martial justice, we 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 one 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 not true in saying that there seems to be
something wrong in the Navy, which nothing but
of the whole system can expurgate.