The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-29
From the New York Globe
THE ARISTOCRATIC AND EXCLUSIVES
FEATURES OF OUR NAVAL BUREAUX, &c.

The ARlSIOCRATIC AND EXCLUSIVE
FEATURES OF OUR NAVAL BUREAUX, &c.
About the year 1915, at the close of the late
war, law was passed nv Congress creating a
Board OF Navy Commissioners, To consist of three
captains ut the Navy, 10 whom were delepat ed
large powers and important duries previously ex
ercIsed by the Secretary of the Navy alone The
general superintendent of dock YARDS the build
Ing and repairing of ships, the purchasing of tim
Der and materials, and the PROVISIONING and fttinU
OF vessels for sea, confded 10 them exclu
svely ; so that the Secretary, instead of ma vino
the whole department. under his eye and drec
uoh, was liltle more than an autnmatun at The
head of the Navy, in name but not in fact
Old and antiquated Captains were invariably
selected to constitute this Board, supposed, in
deed, to have much experience in the details of
naval affairs. II proved, in the main that these
captains were all the worse for being antiquated
and none the better for having seen service al sea
They were neither practical men in buiIdinp. por
engineers, nor draughtsmen. TO be sure they
might sail vessel very well on the broad ocean
and fight her as well in the face of an enemy
but mere their accomplishments and practical
knowledge ended. The creation of the B,ard
proved great mistake. Miserable models of
naval architecture, the consequence of their iono
rance, and hlunders innumerable, marked the
course and the sway of these men, who, by La,,.
were compelled TO undertake duties to which thew
were nearly OF quite inadequate. Hence, after a
while. the Board of Navy Commissioners came to
he dstrusted, fell into comparative disgrace with
the people, and frequently and not without ius-
tce, was denounced through the press as an in
cHbus upon the nation large, and upon our Ma
val establishment in particular No civilian was
permitted to share in their labors for the law of
Congress had 80 ordered it. Three post captains,
and none other, and they generally the Oldest and
as nearly past service as possible, were sure to
direct in all things. The naval architect fur
models, the rope maker for cordaoe. the cannon
founder for the batteries, the baker and butcher
for provisions, the tailor and clOlhier for clolhinU
the ship carpenter, the sail maker and the black
smith, were of no account whatever. Not word
could they say without danger of rebuke. or loss
of contract. 30 far this carried in fact. that
the petuaDt ban of one Ofour old comnodores was
put upon the nubest vessel in our service. even
before she was launched. because the architect
dared to have will of his own, and adhered Ia
his own model. For 20 years did she lie at the
wharf nncOmmissloned and unequipped and never
did she see blue water while her veteran enemy
long one of the Commissioners and President of
the Board, had life or authority sufficient to carry
out his maledcliOD.
1t was also under such wilherino Influences
that vessel after vessel, deserving no other name
than unsightly clumps, possessing greater mower
OF making lee way than head way, was added TO
our Navy, provoking laughter and derision borb
on sea and on land, and modification everywhere
1t was thus, under that law, that Courisi,ror,
were compelled to know too much and ,vbc,
superadded to this, the inclination ~ exert f.,
the uttermost the power thus confided. Won NAV
be sure as pretty little compound of iunorance
and old fashioned quarter deck tyranny, was crea.
ted in midst, as the most cUvetOus of the pro-
fesson could crave. In this way, by sort of
special legislation, power stole from the many Ia
the few, from the people to the Commissioners
and, though often complained Of, is still likely
under the name Of BuredvD,' 10 he perpetuatec
as an aristocrallc feature If the Navy. The ty.
Tanny Of rank and place will be sure TO carry il
all hollow against merit and solid acdnirement
and, strange TO say, our Democratic Legislatures
are always swift to yield precedence to the Dres.
ttge. 1t is of this we now complain. and with
good reason, as we intend 10 show We wonld
have our Offices open to every American citizen
possessing the requisite talents; and while The
head Of the Navy Department is invariably civ
ilian, shall contend that its subordinate offices
ought to he distributed among the people at larce.
leaving the sailing and fighting TO be done bv the
sea-going class, their proper duty and vocation
for they are brought up TO that profession. and
that alone. From necessity we must even cher.
ish them in their arislocratic grades, and prono-
tons. and appointments, and conventional Ell
quette but let us stop where we arc in prefer
ring them to civil Offices, for which they are not
fitted by previous education and habits Let ne
not create Offices for them. 20 which no other per