The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-08-11
LETTERS TO MISUNDERSTANDING
IN THE NAVY YARD


We have heard it stated by those who are No
friends to the present administration at least, that
me reason why there is no work in this Yard is
because the Navy Department, is excessively an :
noyed with letters and complaints from individu
ais and parties here. Now if this is the fact.
which we will not pretend to dispute, the question
arises, who are the authors and writers? We
nave made the inquiry among our friends, and
we Mud the annoyance does not come from them
then, IT 1t is true, as these opponents assert
they must come from that quarter from which,
with remarkable delight, comes the cutting gibe
and jest, to the idle and disheartened mechanic
that meets him on every hand from those, who.
whatever may be their other merits, cannot claim
to be the friends of the administration
We have no doubt that letters do go up 10 the
department that had better be kept at home, and
we advise some TO write less, and think more
lest they bring themselves in disrepute and ,rou
Bile; but we can see no reason why a freeman
who is aggrleved should not fearlessly and freely
state his grievances to the Department-and we
conceive that such statements should receive the
respectful consideration and attention of the Sec
rotary, without it being considered an announce
because 1t does not come through the hands of
privileged commissioned officer. The agents of
the people who occupy the Heads of Depa rtmen,s.
receive high salaries and distinguished honors.
for doing their duty and that duty is to attend TO
the wishes of the public, listen to their com .
plants. redress grievances under the law, and re-
buke injustice and petty tyranny in their subor-
dinates. This is opinion. ard we shall not
hesitate to express 1t before the world, wherever
and whenever it may be necessary, and can pos
sibly do good.
We rejoice TO learn through the Commodore of
this Yard, that portion, of our mocha MICS have
been employed again, in fitting out the ST. Louis.
orders for which came down on Saturday. We
are gratified, also, to learn, that number of la
borers are now employed in bringing the Yard
into something like proper order, in asserting and
housing the timber, and doing many other things
which we have heretofore spoken of as absolutely
necessary to be done, to save loss to the Govern
ment, and which presented The Yard in a most
deplorable and dsgracefol condition to the eve of
vislters. We have often, heretofore, stated this
Yard as being more entitled to a LARGER share of
public work than any other in the United States.
(where latterly 1t has received less,) because of
Its superior advantages, its location, &c. and the
more important fact, that unlike other Yards, the
mechanics who have been educated in it have not
an opportunity of getting employment in the large
commercial towns, as those of the other Yards
have.
We have the best reason to believe, that the
secretary ot the Navy sees these things, and tina t
II is his determination to give steady employment
to our mechanics, Notwithstanding the attempts
OF political foes TO induce the contrary impression,
for party effect.