The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-05

promotion as its right, and the highest rank and
pay awarded the longest life Yet the chances
are that the Oldest are not the most meritorious.
Excellence seeks the opportunity of displaying IL
self, and is selected for the most perous and
wasting service; while mediocri,y fails to be en-
ployed, and obtains length of days in safe and
dfiiuent retirement Promotion by seniority is q
premium upon inactivity.
Many Of the best among the older officers received
high promotion while comparatively in early life.
The younger officers of to-day equally full OF
talent and ambition; but the present system refuses
to them the opportunity of command while life is in
its yigor, and reserves it for the decline Of their
powers. In consequences, the average age Of cap
tains is constantly increasing, and is already
nearly sixty. The average number Of annual
promotions is about two. The average age of COM
manders, from whom captains are and should be
taken, is not much less than fifty From their great
numbers, the little sea-service to which they are
called is favorable to longevity. Continue the pres
ent usage twenty years longer, and, while hope will
be crushed in the young men in the service, the
class of commanders will itself be composed of none
but aged men, and there will not be captain under
threescorc years and ten.
This custom discourages the most worthy, and
leads the incapable and the indolent to cling with
tenacity to their commissions
Why should the incapable be promoted Why
should they be allowed to postpone the promotion
of the capable' Why should galantry, temper
ance, integrity in the payment of debts, distinction
by service at sea- weigh no more than opposite con-
siderations' Why should men deficient in capacity
and inexperienced in their profession be advanced,
and, as consequence, officers with every naval
and manly virtue, and the brilliancy and vigor of
matured powers be left to wait till grent age gives
them the preferment which genius, alacrity, and
merit could not attain
No naval service can maintain an efficient and
elevated character under long continuance of q
system which levels merit and demerit, and tends to
change the profession of the navy from career
of rewarded honor to a career for a livelihood.
navy even contains a very few officers who have
scarcely been at s. a, and some who have not seen
sea-servce enough to accomplish them in the proper
qualifications of their profession.
Those that are capable--and our service abounds
in them-those and those only should be promoted.
The Office Of captain in the navy is high executive
trust. Like the Judges Of the Supreme Court, he
considers himself as appointed for life The Oldest
captain when in service, receives salary equal to
that Of Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States; the pay of the youngest captain, even when
doing no duty, and only waiting orders, is much
above the average salary Of the district judges of the
United States. He bears the flag Of tho country to
foreign climes; he has authority over officers
and men; he directs the power Of armed squad
rons he is the protector Of the persons and interests
of our citizens abroad. The body of captains should
be body of chosen men. There should not be
dInOHS tnc HuIUUtT OHc VI uOuDuu uC HOu-
naton and confirmation to that post should be acts
of solemny, fixing the attention of the country en-
HANGED in value by approving public opinion, and
conceded to those only whose characters and career
are guarantees of honorable conduct and profession
al merit all their life long.
itism In promotions there should certainly be no
favor. The records of the department, or the con-
current opinion Of officers will disclose professional
merit. If these could be dsrdgarded, the Senate
may interpose. If the Senate yields, the voice Of
public opinion the press, the vigilance of party the
the end, make impartiality necessity Ger
tainy protect merit from neglect. lndiscriminate
promotion is injustice to the country, and, If perse
vered in, will prove fatal to the navy.
The efficiency Of the service demands reduction
in the number Of officers in active service or await
ing it. Sudden indiscriminate, and excessive pro-
motions compel the recommendation of such a re-
duction. There are so many captainsand command
err, that under existing laws, were all capable OF
commands, and each cruise to consist of three
years, each captain would be at sea orce in
twelve years, each commander once in eighteen
years. This evil attracted the attention of the
last Congress; and the power SO necessary to the
service, Of placing reluctant officer on ftrough,
was restored TO the department. have been inform.
ed that this power was granted with view to have
a large part Of the captains and commanders put on
half-pay. But it does not fully appear 30 on the
confident in the belief that large number of cap
tains and of commanders might, with public advan-
tage, be placed on fiirongh, and smaller proportions
Of other grades Should Congress direct this to be
done, their will cam perhaps be carried into effect
with less division Of opinion in the service than
might at first be pprehended-especially if the fur
lough-pay were in some cases to be one.haf Of the
pay Of officers on duty at sea. board of officers,
properly constituted and the records Of the depart
ment, with other information within reach, would
readily make the necessary determinations.
The service should be relieved from the burden Of
carrying along SO very much greater number of
officers than can be employed 1t is not just to the
people of the United States to retain on pay, as
waiting orders, men who since their promotions,
have received ORDERS and, from the excess of off,
GERS and for other reasons, can never receive them
None should have the pay as waiting orders but
those who are one day TO receive orders, and are
able and willing to obey them. Some very few
have lived at ease on shore for so many inactive
years, having no connection with the navy but to
take rank and pay, that want of knowledge of their
profession has become added to original inaptitude
for the service
have proposed, would be incaculable. They who
know officers will agree that, after proper dimi-
nutions, you might in vain look through the world
for service that would do more honor to its coun-
try.
Wherever the principle of discrimination has been
appHeu, the navy mas Oecn DeHcHteu coHt years
ago the rule was established for the corps of sur
geons and the result has given the navy body OF
well-educatcd and well-trained surgeons, of which
any nation might be proud
The same system has been applied during the
summer to the engineers, and with very beneficial
results. II is the only system which will shut the
door against favor, and prevent the Offices in the
navy from becoming branches Of an authorized pen
sion list
This is seen most decidedly in the case of mas.
ters The United States navy has the grade of
masters high station, well paid, and requiring
great ability and experience at sea- Full pay is
given to thirty-one masters; Of this number, some
are, and have been, incompetent to their duty;
nor can learn that more than six or five, or per-
haps four or three, are able to navigate a ship.
Those who are, and by an examination prove them
selves to have ever BEEN incompetent should be dis
charged; the rest should be employed in their turn
at sea, or be put on halfpay.
To the younger branch Of the service, have felt
no scrupe to extend somewhat farther than was
heretofore usual the principle Of discrimination by
authority of the department. The number of mid