The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1846-01-16
inc lhs pfsssrValion q tho peace or man.

sDEL4NEA4s
lins the preservation d the peace or man.
kind.
Z contains al tie elements Or efficiency.
L Las able and skilful officers, who compete
with alacrity for every post Of danger or
adventure. fts men excel IA seaaanship,
courage and fidelity 10 their eonntry. In.
suited to purposes 81 maritime dominion, i
inspires respect iof tie American flag in
every part Of The world. Yet q regard for
its best interests, desire 10 promote the
welfare Of lis meTilog0us officers, and q
sense Of Justice e The country, induce me
to add, that ils annual cost Is dispFop6rti IN.
ate % its magnitude; and the system Of ifs
Organization and pkeferments depriyes merit
81 boRe, hy confeflinQ the highest rank in
the profession without much regard 10 capa.
city Or previous activity in The public ser.
vice.
Favorable mention Is made Of the appren.
tice ayslems g capable Of producing vaIua,
] bic results, notwithstanding the difficulties
which have thus far attended its action.
+ The Secretary calls Tor some amendments
lof the present law 70 protect the treasury,
and respecting the cops Of purserr.
In reference to the officers, Mfr. Bancroft
is 81 once liberal and JUST. Recognising
the great merit which abonnds in Tie ser.
vice, he seeks 10 encourage Il BY giving il
substantial reward; and proposes, therefore,
To substitute il the navy. for promotion by
seniority, promotion By selection. We can
Iadd nothing to the force Of argument by
which he sustains, in his own language, the
importance Of this change.
The number of officers in The higher
grades Of the service is represented as great.
Ter than the country can usefully employ;
and the report recommends that portion OF
these-such as from infermity or from some
oiheF cause are not adapted to active duty
lshouid be placed on retired list, and re-
lceiVe half pay. These are important pro-
lpOsals; bnt they recommend Improvements
which other countries, 70 a great extent,
have adopted, and which our own will not
fear % adopt, II, upon examination, i shall
believe them wise.
ItexpatIates, with great beauty and force,
on the condition Of the common ssamen.
One Of the most gratifying features Of the
report Is the tribute which il pays, as justas
II Is eloquent, 10 the sailors Of tie navy; and
the determination which il manifests to pro-
tect the American canaan in all his rights,
\ must commend itself 70 ihe warm approval
j. of the country. We cannot deny ourselves
d the pleasure q quoting the following pass
age 0a this subject:
3 Is the glory Of our navy that our sailors
g are held BY affection and choice. They en-
: list voluntarily; they are freely discharged
9 on their return home from cruise; and with
few exceptions, they readily enlist again.
i They love the service, and on whatever sea
Q they are found, they are Americans at heart.
9 Efforts have been made to break up viola.
J ton Of Law which has too long existed on
: ship.board. The mercy of the statute inS
8 trusts the power Of the lash exclusively 10
I. the commanding officer. No oiher officer
}. worthy Of acommand will infiict punishment
0 except after due examination into the oEfen.
9 ces charged. The former custom OF dele.
: eating this power to subordinate officers is a
: fragrant violation Of the will of Congress
u and the people. T6b men have. rights and
L must be protected in them.-Experience
shows that discipline Is never so good as
y when the commanding officer sets the ex>
J ample Of suboldinationa By obedience 10 the
g laws Of his country.
. Freedom to enter the service; protection
ie in their tights duiiug that service; freedom
y 10 leave it after cruise; skllful medical at,
~ tentioa, with comfortable quarters at naval
a. hospitals, in case Of sickness; a pension in
p case Of disability; home at the naval ASYLUM
Dc IN old age-these provisions show that the
~ sailor has not been neglected By his country
men.
g. cannot coneluede this communication
q without repeating, that the evils in our nav
ca 10 which ] have called attention, spring from
@. the defects in the system that has been fol
raj lowed, rather than fiom the want Of pTope
w personal qualities in the officers. A perior
he Of peace, which Il is 70 be hoped may con
ne tinue, left employment at sea without tn
1e- strong attraction thar comes from the i'm
ng mlnence Of danger and che prospect Of win
IRE Ming renoWn; and the department. while
ne possesses authority 70 summon intOaetivi
The services Of all, without exception, IA
ees yet had no opportunity Of rewarding thos
.ss. who distinguish themselves by alacFity an
Ye- capacitys a exploring expedition VA
ap- indeed, sent forth and kept at see Tor a Ion
the seriesof years; and many cases Of oTdinaT
nds employment have supposed great hardship
Ton and piiValious; but not 4 lieutenant or
lct- midehipman has il any One instance recef
cd so much as The slightest advancement b
mt pond those s 10 remained DURING Tie san
use period On share, Of al easier stations. On
me S the only service where activity and ina
% iipiiy have Jared alike; and i is the hieht
tes evidence of the capacity and Integrity
Z e our officers, End the vast amount 81 taie
q which . proper system would call forth, tb
ID spite Of this usuags 81 indifference. Vii
g pfepsils inno other country, and ought
.Ies sroer Il = vail 81 am o,,,, ~.
80 q honor and he pE.1e 81 professional q,
s0 hage still eaucaled gaIlaut officers cnou