The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-15

THE NAVY.

While the present embarrassed condition Of ~.
Government finances might give rise to obie,,,r,.
against any material immediate increase m ~. -
penditures upon the Navy there should exist IN, o,.
opinion as to the proprety and necessity of an nm,
date efficient reorganization of the Den,r4n,,
volying, il would, little or additional char.
The necessity of reorganization has been the CO.,
viction Of the successive Heads Of this Denortn,e,
of the officers Of the Navy, the public press and :
the people at large While Congress, distracted ,,,
the conflicts of party strife, has hitherto neglected h.
give ii that attention which its importance So inner,
| lively demands,
| Upon this vital question Of National defence :,
propose in the following and all subsequent no,c.
we may take of it, TO dismiss totally all party fe,
and TO view II exclusively, as great National nts
sure equally dear and interesting 10 all partie.
With this spirit invite all our brethren Of Tia
Press TO into the discussion, and to force ,,r
the notice of Congress the popular viii upon li,.
subject
The reorganization Of the Department itself i. D.
truth, the most important branch of the Rcpor, ~
cause without thorough reform here, the co-oper,
ton of Congress with every other recommendatio,
made by the Secretary would prove not only inavar
ing, but would occasion an increased expenditure of
the public money for no adequate good
| Fortunately, this primary REFORM by the reorp,r
cation of the Department itself, will occasion no ma
terially increased drain upon the Public Treasure
The discussion, therefore be entered upon freed
from this prolific Of strife which 50 generally
mingles itself with the merits of every public cues
ton The proprety and necessity, of this essential
preliminary being settled, all the other suggestions
and recommendations of the Secretary can be actef
upon more inteligently and benefcially
That our Navy must be increased is a questonu,
to be disputed. The only matter that is properly ID
subject of debate, is, shall ii grow up under an 81
cent and harmonious system or will Congress- alp
this increase to go under the present incCagrut
disarranged as il certainly is To do so, wouid boy
foster monstrous unweldy organizations utterly /
efficient to guard the interests of our country to ',
dictate its honor or to advance its glory; it would r
Their to magnify disgrace and swell the I'd
umphs and spos of our enemies.
The SccreiaIy III his report, points out some oft
principal the long acknowledged defects of the exs,
ing system. The first, the mos, striking and pehap
the most important is the Board OF Navy Commit
sioners at present constituted this said entireh
without reference the officers who for the time ID
ing or who al any tlne may compose II. The fauI
is not intended be laid To the Board, but upon III
system by which it is compelled 10 act.
A great many of our editorial brethren have a, Vi
rious times exposed with demonstrative light the in
jury which Navy sus aims from the wretchedy DID
tcctive organization of this Board, which received
perhaps, its strongest condemnation from those wi
have at various times composed IL and who had pracl
tical knowledge Of its gross defects.
We invite all who have thus used Il cir efforts hit HI
erto without avail for reform in this matter to max
one united elliott while we have such able and sucl
earnest support from the presen head Of the Depart
ment and the universal perience Of the Navy she
ding the clearest light oftruth upon it.
| At cur leisure we propose resumng this subject
| is with regret that We add that the comnee of tht
Senate appear 10 have given lille attention to thlt
important matter submitted 10 their special chare,4
We could wish that they manifested little Il
the spirit which he ublc feel upon this subject.