The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-07-11
For the New Era.
THE NAVAL BUREAUS.

may have from them an asha,ntic cough that
will be all. The great body of the Navy
strictly In favour of having the laws which iurmtd
the Bureaus steadily carried out, particularly the
practical and younger portion of the Navy. The
division of duties among the Bureaus if each
was occupied legally would not interfere with the
military spirit of the Navy Officer, the con-
trary, that arrangement of the Bureau system
which divides the Civil from the Military is wise
and judici0ns, and the destruction of the Commits
sIoners and in its stead establishing Bureaus,
having at the head of each Bureau an appropri-
ate individual was brought abOnt by the united
wish and exertions of the people and the younger
and practical portion Of the Navy. 1t is we'll
there should be Captain at the head of Docks
and Navy Yards. The internal regulations of
these Depots are necessarily Military-requiring
some one conversant with. Naval and Military
nsages The head of the Bureau of Ordnance,
photography, &C., requires talents of more than
ordinary cast, both Military and Scientific. This
Bureau embraces the two sciences of Gnnnery
and Surveying; it is well that a Navy Officer
should be at its head--and the duties of the Blu
reaus carried out wholly by the personae ofthe Ma
vy--their education fits them for it. and the law
requires it, but when we come to examine the
Bureau OF Construction, &c, we find the duties
entirely 'dssmilar from that of the NAVY Officer
his education, habits and manners wholly un-
| fit him for the position, and if he was educated
| as Naval Architect the law requires Civilian
at the head of this Bureau, and as long as the
law is in existence its requirements should he
strictly fulfilled AS well might be put Navy
Captain at the head of Surgery as place one in
charge of the Clothing Bureau--what have we
to do with Stop Clothing, Stay Tape and Buck
ram, Tobacco, Needles. Old Hats and Soup
1t is reflection on orr gallant corps-it is really
turning sword into yard stick. our profession
is averse to 1t and our natures abhOr it-our pro-
fession is essentially one of honor and science,
and 1t is taking us out of this line to place us in
| those situations which degrades u.s. These are
my views, and they the views of the great
majority of the Navy. In fact after eight years
eXerion and battling with the old hacks of the
Navy, the young locomotives demolished the Ma
Wy Board, and they are determined to use
every effort TO have the law carried into effect.
Ii then, the system proves defective, they will
urge lis repeal-if ii proves beneficial they will
uphold it. 1t is the desire of the younger por-
ton of the Navy that it should keep pace with
the improvements of the day, but so long as it is
governed by superanuated old grannies, or more
properly speaking, worn out hacks. it will con-
time TO be inefficient advancement is the motto
of the great body of the Navy-the people de-
mand it, and zoe ,ciH hare IT,
The great fault of the old Commissioner sys
tenn was the want of indiuiduaL responsibility,
and upon that ground the Bureau system was
tinually encroaching upon the authority of the
Secretary, until his position became mere null
lily, and II | am not mistaken, unless the present
incumbent keeps his weather eye open he will
find himself the mere tool of the heads of the
Bureaus. They have in two instances encroached
upon his prerogative. refer to one of the Cir
culars of the Navy Department, dated April
18th, lS45. This appears to enanae from Mr.
Bancroft, and relates TO the distribution of duties
he
to the Bureaus unlimited powers, and at present
by its action on the department receives all COM
munIcatons, examines them prior to their action
by the head of the Navy Department; by what
means it obtained Mr.. Bancroft's SIGNATURE at
some future day I'll inform you, but its existance
is sufficient to show the early encrOachment of
the Bureaus upon the prerogative of the Secreia-
ry. We would warn the head of the DEPART
ment to beware of the hydra-it takes the ewes
of an Argus TO watch them, and the hands of a
Briareus to bind them. Proteus-like when de-
tected in one shape they assume another.
From the brows of the individuals who are
the heads of the Bureaus. would not pluck
leaf of their well earned laurels; on the contra
ry, like to see them Furnishing, green and fra
grant, but to see the warriors laurels DISPLACED
and in its stead tape string, or his sword turned
into yard stick, must be not only mortifyinp to
himself, but degrading to the Navy. But on the
other hand, if this degradation is assumed by his
own request, his aures should be torn from his
borw and the lash of the press well laid on
Their fame and actions belong TO their country.
and that country, feeling deep pride in them is
determined that no act of their own shall deprive
the history of the country of their fame, and il
has determined to hand it down TO posterity pn
contaminated by any act which would tarnsh it
say " lay on" and if they bolt from their Mill
tary track whip them in and oblige the great bo
dy of the American people, the young Navy, and
your friend, JACK FLYBLOCK, u. IN
OFFICERS UNDER THE CORPORATION
OF WASHINGTON.
To Tie Editor Of Tie Ujtion.
Please publish the following list Of the persons
renominated by w. W. Seaton. Esq mayor of
this city, on Monday last, the 23d instant, to fill
the various situations under the corporation for
the year next ensuing. These, we are given TO
understand, comprise all the offices within the
gift Of the authorities Of Washington; and we
are further informed that but one person named
among the sixty is friend and supporter Of the
present administration and that the post filled bv
him is only worth about fifty dollars per annum.
This is, indeed, carrying out the senatorial senti
,DrN. IS Ne At -.