The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-12

the sefvlce, and will long Keep II pure. hen the
Inefficient who arc now ia The Navy shalt have been
removed il 10 probable that the treasury will hereaf
ter be rarely taxed with the pay offuroughed officers
The necessity of some mode OF proceeding, by which
he Navy may be rid of the Incompetent as well as OF
| be guilty, is universally admitted and have not
been able 10 devise any mode more Just more effective
or less Objectionable the score OF expense than
that which now suggest.
IL this system should be fully and faithfully carried
out, do not perceive that any thing will be ne
cessary TO insure to the Navy compeen. and honor
able officers Hitherto it has been their great misfor-
tune that with fewer opportunities than others To edu-
cate themselves, the Government has done nothing to
educate them. The cadet from West Point enters
the army well founded in the principles of solid and
useful learning and fully prepared TO engage with adj
vantage, in any pursuit whether of civil or military
life The candidate for the Navy, the contrary,
is deemed well enough qualified if he be able to read
and write TO answer few simple questions In geo.
graphy and Eugsh grammar, and To solve plain pro-
blens in the elementary rules Of arithmetic. Why
should this difference be made Important as pro-
per preparatory education may be to the army officer,
It is more important to the ofi,e OF the Navy
Apart from the fact that he has few opportunities To
improve himself is 10 lie remembered that he is the
frequent representative of his country abroad
the standard by which foreign nations will be most
apt to her moral and intellectual Character
He is also frequently inrusted with important and
delicate negotiations, involving the rights of c
Gems, and the peace and honor of country. The
function of the naval commander Is much more use
full important and dignifed, than is generally sup
posed To his skill and vigilance are intrused, at
every hour of the day and night, the safety of the
ships, and the lives of her The honor of his
country's f,g and in great degree her harmonious
relations in peace, and her pro eciion in war
among the awful trusts with which he is clothed
Very few men can be found qualified in every
spect for 50 high and Imposing Off ;e and unhap-
PLY there are too few among those who now hold it,
who duly feel its Importance and dignty. humbly
think that 1t is high duty of government 10 adopt
.srl. "A. a..
STANDARD of character in the naval anJer, and to
fit hi II in knowledge, ia professon, SIX ILL., and in per-
sonal character to dschargs the high and solemn du-
les of his Office. This can be bsst done by giving
hi suitable preparatory education, and by Provid-
ing proper AMI ready m cans OF rs moving hun from the
ranks OF his profession, whenever he may be found
unworthy to occupy place IN them
| respectfully renew the suggestion heretofore
male, that there Is yet on' thing m,fe, n,cessiry
to complete the process of rstorm. The naval Off ,er
should feel th It he h p ice Ia the respect and
ilence Of hi country, and that the honors and dis
tnciions watch his services shall have earned, will
MT be withheld ffon him. PaoMoTioN Is the vital
principle of military service; and hence "a many
CRATES should bs established may BE- found consis-
with the due order and elf ency of tho service
rhe experience of every day t,nds TO confirm in
III, belief thit the several grades of A Ian raj, Wee
A imra and Roar Al niral on III, to b, establi she'd
ia our Navy. had the no lor to bring this subject
your notice in my last report, and to urge such
seemed t. to BE- suil ient In support of the
rec IN men la,ion now renewed. | have DOLLY to add
that this nportant measure nsed not increase the
p,niaS of the Navy at all. 1t will afford oppor,u-
nity reward by we'll deserved prom ,!ion many Off
in tn, several grades, who well qualified for
ths highest stations AMI mDh important du les Of the
services. These msn, most OF whom would som be
come the ornanants AMI Icace OF any other navy in
the world, likely un Ter QUO present system to
grow grey in slborIni,e and OBSCURE sations; their
meds uiackno Slei eel AMI their usefuIn 81 thrown
lwly. Wemiy al least be allow ID to regret that the
hi sher officers ofthe Nivyti)'e wh), by their SER
vices in var have ref ,ctel mo,t hon their coun-
try aud given the h,h proofs of their merits
raply pssing from tn, stags of hfh, thlt if
our policy 10 this respect should ultimately change,
hers are Likely TO reap he honors which they have
richly earn,d. Tais sh ul b. d,eme by gene.
roIs country reasoa for ad,pting at on;c, policy
which be onI all doub will utln ,tey be forced upon
us, # we sh,li c,ntinuo TO n,nain any Navy at ali.
again respectfully ask for an increase In The num-
b,r of Marines and Of marine officers of thu lower
grades Mt less tam twenty millions Of d)llars of
tbs public property, are now exposed in our navy
yards to conalgra,ion AMI theft f,r want of prop,f
Murine guards Taeits t. cons siderable extent have
recently been d.tec,el and doubtless others
have been committed watch never will be de-
detected One fire, which single additional
marine night proven, would probably destroy
in a few hours m,re than the EXPENSES OF the whole
marine force for years. Surely it cannot be true
)my, to leave much of the public properly ex
posed 10 such great dan gers r wInt Of very cheap
protection as a few additional m,riaes.
1t is an object of great interest TO me, T.
mike the Navy subseIvient t, the encouragement
OF American industry. This may bs d,ne, NJ, only
by the pro ectiDn which it affords to Aneric IN
commerce, upon which have already commented)
but also by of the supplies which it requires
We are probably, the only people in the world, who
with perfect convenience, build, equip arm, feed,
and clothe navy Of the largest size from our own
home resources. nation of any magn tude, hav
ing all the materials of war constantly at its CO M
mlnd, is essentially powerful. Hence it is of the
utmost Importance that should adopta policy cal
culited at once to cherish and to deveope these
sources Of strength and security. The measure
more Immediately necessary to accomplish this OBJ
ect, have already been brought to the notice of
Congress but they have no! yet been acted on, it
would seem to be proper that should again refer to
them.
The first In imp ,rtancc Is the preservation of navy
timber, growing on the public lands. No other coun-
try possesses rich store of this material the
United States. Properly protected, it would afford
supply for the largest navy in the world, for in
d +nite time, without any sensible diminution. But
regret to say that the laws which have been enact
cd with this view, are In soms respects imperative,
and in all respects inefficient Deprcdatons of the
IN ost rlnous kind daily committed, in spite of all
the vigilance which this De oartment can use and in
defiance of all the power which it is autho rzed to
exert Oar own people are daily selling to the Gov
ernment, timber which they take against law, from
the public lands and it is understood that large sup
plies Of the same timber, already contracted for
by foreign governments. 1t is impossible to prevent
these deprciations under existing laws. The sub
ject is, in my opinion, worthy Of the serious and
prompt attention Of Congress. IL they should
thoroughly investigate it, the information which this
Department afford will not fail to convince them
of the necessity of reform in the laws relating
to it, and of additional grants of power and means,
to the officers OF the Government to whom they
may choose to ntrust this valuable part of the public
property
The subject, next in Importance, is the establish
a he
tsrs of the lover Mississippi. l had the honor to
give my viey upon this subject, in report to the
Senate of the 3st of January last Respectfully
ferring to that report, forbear to repea at large
the suggestions which it offers will only say that
the object which | have in view, is to afford what
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