The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-24
THE NAVY.

One great step towards reform in the Navy, and
without which all others would avail but little, is the
through and complete reorganization of the Depart
ment itself.
The necessity of this step can be clearly demon
strated and the money which would be saved by
well digested system for the government OF the De
partment is of itself consideration. which will COM
mead the Recommendation of the Secretary upon this
subject to the mind of every man.
The abolition of the Board of Navy Commission
ers and the substitution in its place, of several Blu
reaux is absolutely essential.
The great defect in the Board of Commissioners is
that responsibility cannot be brought home to it; and
that from its very constitution it is utterly ncompati-
BILE with hat promptness and decision that should
characterize an Erecutiue Department. But indie
pendently of these objections, weghty they are,
the duties as performed by this Board of the most
inconsistent and absurd character.
1t is part of tile duty of the Board to attend to
the equipment of ships, and to superintend the inter
nal police of Navy Yards, &C., and this duty is all
marked out in the "Bue Book, most suitable name,
certainly for the code of "Blue Laws" which it
tains.
With regard to the equipment of ships, few facts
NAV serve to illustrate the absurdity of the 'Bue
Book" rules.
By the authority, and by the direction of this same
Blue Book" articles to great amount. but of no
use whatever to ship, most literally allowed
For instance on board the line OF batt'e snip rem
sylvania, there is expenditure of money for ar-
ces which do not add ioa to the efficiency of the
ship, such as making the combngs of her hatch of
brass and vet requisition for Mix Stopper would
be denied although the safety of the ship or the fate
of battle might be jeoparded for want of it the one
is granted and the other denied, because, forsooth
the "Blue Book" says so. Tbs Mix Stopper is an
invention of late date. and its importance may be H.
Illustrated by referring to an incident in the Battle of
the Mile"
Lord Nelson orderei Sir S. Hood to take certain
position opposite Of the enemy's ships He
brought his ship to the point desired and let go his
anchor, but for want of some such machine as a Mix
Stopper his ship could not be brought up bot gather
ed sternway running the gauntlet of broadsides from
every ship he passed until she had run out all her ca
BILE Another officer, who was ordered to a contigu
Gus position seeing that Sir S. Hood was out of his
station had the judgment to repair the defect by la
king the lost position. To this exercise of judgment
to be attributed probably the success ofthe British
fleet at the great battle of the Nile If that ship had
possessed Mix Stopper she could have been brought
to within an inch of her desired position This i'm
portant machine worth, perhaps, one or two hundred
dollars is not in the "Bue Book" and cannot be al
lowed but useless brass combings are allowed be-
cause they ale in the "Blue Book
This is single fact illustrative of the system by
which the Navy is now governed. Again: ~
Three Post Captains, Constituting the Navy
Board) actually prescribe what medicines ship shall
take to sea and the medicines allowed for all
climates whether to the torrd the frigid zones
Thus ship, bound to the West Indies was allowed
but six ounces of calomel and when her surgeon ask
ed for more he informed that the ship had as much
as was allowed by the "Blue Book"
Again If the Navy Board be abolished, and Blu
reaux be established in its place. the amount, which
will by this means be saved will over and over again
nav any additional expense incurred in the eorgapl
cation We will take the Medical Board for example.
A ship going to sea, furnished with a valuable
set Of surgical Instruments which cost large sum Of