The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-07-31
ON FURLOUGH.

very great power has been given TO the Sec
rotary of the Navy by act of Congress, which
is to place officer on Furlough. involving the
important consideration of HaLfpay; and this
power is one of great deicacy, and from many
causes may be liable to great abuse. The Secre-
iary not being acquainted with the character,
claims and consideration due the services of all
the officers, must rely information from others,
and we apprehend that some of our Naval officers
would not consider it indelicate to name certain
brother officers, who in their judgment ought to
be placed on half-pay and it may prove serious
ly injurious To man with a large family. The
Brooklyn Eagle says, that considerable dissatis-
faction prevails on that subject, and If an officer
ordered on foreign service cannot from family
considerations be ready in time, or be able to take
long voyage, he is Immediately puton furlough,
and consequently on hafpay. How can Lien
tenant support large family on half-pay? 1t is
a power which probably should exist, in order
that officers may not without cause endeavor to
avoid duty but at the same time ii is which
should be very cautiously and Understandings
exercised.
The above extract is taken from the New York
Sun. We look upon the power thus put into the
hands of the Secretary as one of the most impor-
tant and useful that he has possessed since our
Government has been established, and we cannot
conceive that any disadvantage TO worthy officers
can grow out of it, so long the power is held by
a civilian who certainly should exercise the duties
of his station with an impartial hand, as we are
sure the present incumbent will do. The pre-
sumed ignorance of the Secretary of the Navy,
instead of operating injurously TO the officer to be
put on turlough, will make him more jealous and
careful how he exercises his authority, and tho
rfa ,uil ho fba
sequence. We hesitate not TO believe that there
may be some instances where " some of our naval
officers would not consider it indicate" to injure
their brother officers, but we fancy those are ex
tremeIy rare, and the controlling authority could
readily detect any such undue advantage being
attempted to be exercised, and it might result in
the effect of obtaining furlough somewhere else.
The Brooklyn Eagle says, " considerable dis
satisfaction prevails on the subject" &c. Indeed
where2 Why among the officers who are not
ready from ".famity considerations" when they
are receiving full pay, to serve their country
when called upon, of course. And then it asks,
How can Lieutenant support large family
on half pay 2" We should like to know how an
honorable man can consent to receive any pay
when he is neither ready nor willing to render ser
vice for it. 1t is a valuable check upon certain
loafers that >sot Of this right Of Ctrlough pos
sessed by the Secretary, and we know that he
will use it discreetly, and we trust frequently
We heard anecdote in point, which shows the
decision of the Secretary. He had issued an or.
der To some officer in the neighborhood of Brook
Ign to report for duty in The Gulf of Mexico The
officer had 4" family considerations" which rem
dered it inconvenient for him to go sea, and he
cot the certificate Of a Surgeon that he was pre-
disposed or liable to take some disease. On in
quiry at Washington from scientific authority, il
was found that under certain contingencies hap
pennp the officer might be afflicted with rheu.
matism The Secretary renewed the order for
the gentleman to get ready for sea- and in view
Of all the circumstances, sent the Surgeon, who
had given the certificate, tosea with him, to tend
his friend in case that friend should possibly be az
1cted with the rheumatism. lfany further diff
Guilty is started by those gentlemen, they will, no
doubt, be furloughed. We would ask the Eagle
if it knows any thing of this case, or if it has
heard those gentlemen express any di;satisfac-
tom