Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-01-08
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good IDEAS upon the Improvement OF the
Navy, and some suggestions, which we
take the liberty Of saying are not iudicious
one in particular we notlced, that seems
10 call for some consideration on the part
Of the fuends Of that important arm Of the
national defence.
The Secretary suggests that, as new
plan for promotion, the system should be
adopted of letting every officer advance
according 10 his attachments aud abl lily,
aud not as IS at present practised, promot.
ing by IN the service. AT first blush,
this new scheme of the Secretary seems
to be one admirably adapted to the repub-
Iican institutions Of the county, and one,
indeed, that would be advantageous in
acy Navy in the world. What better
p'a6 could be devised? What more i'm
partial and just, than placing every man
where his merits point, and allowing no
old rusty Lieutenant TO change or 10 dou.
BILE his epaulei;es, to the hindrance OF a
smart young officer, whose skill as sea-
man, and whose science as an officer,
commend him TO the favorable considera-
ton of the Navy and the country; and It
would be surprising to us to see al, the
andwar1, and some Of the junior seaport,
editors of the country, breaking forth into
laudation of the scheme. To US. it APP
pears as much superior 10 any other plan,
as is a perfect patrlarchal form of govern.
ment to any other that has been practlsed:
but, We may add, that however beautiful
in theory q patriarchal form of govern
ment may be, in practice with numbers,
it is found to work shockingly bad, and
so with the scheme OF tho Secretary Of
the Navy.
II the officers are to be promoted &C.
cording to their merit, and not according
to their sge, or date Of commissions, who
is TO be the Judge? The Secretary of
the Navy? Alas the present Secretary
Of the NAVY, and We, have had N our
times the difficult task OF deciding upon
the individual merits, the comparative
merits, we mean, Of class of boys, and
then found the utmost difficulty 10 decid-
ing, even to our own satisfaction, as TO
who should take rank among The junior
uop' lOI IOuOlS, anu iuut
when we had the full power of judging OF
the efforts and success of the pupil, by
personal observation, and by perfect
knowledge Of all the studies which they
were pursuing. But how little does any
Secretary Of the Navy know Of the real
merits of navy officer! How little does
he know OF the ability of the man to hand.
reel or steer, or TO manage ship in the
hour of engagement! All these things
may come under the eye of a commander,
and be judged Of by HIM, but even his re-
commentator, or ceusure, should be re-
ceIyed with great caution. He is man
Ike others, and may have an unkind
feeling to crafty, or parilallty to feed.
Should there be Court established for
the examination Of candidates, as there is
for the Assistant Surgeons? Then a
good long study of Hamilton Moore,
would enable the candidate to give very
credltaSle answers as TO how movement
should be made; but there would be none
to testify whether the candidate for pro-
motion would be likely to make that
movement. The habits Of the officer are
almost every thing--h's determination to
do, is almost security that he will do.
This plan, then, Of the Secretary, can
only be carried out by placing IN tho
hands of the President, or Secretary, by
some new law, the whole business of pro-
noting officers according to HIS IDEAS Of
merit. Why, what idea has he OF merit
Look at the application at the Depart
ment for appointments Not the least
regard is ever had to even the prescribed
regulations, unless it be 10 put off some
uuweIcome applicant, who will scarcely
have been told ihat there are two hundred
before him who must be served first, be-
fore he will see it announced in The pa
pers that man IS appointed whose apph-
cation was still later than his own.
Had the plan which the Secretary now
recommends been adopted twenty years
ago, there would not now be remaining a
single Post Captain OF all the gallant
band that adorn the Navy List. Some
Virginia cousin, or some great mans de-
pendent, would have been showed up to
the disgust of those already there, and
those gentlemen, who have done the ma.
ton honor, would have resigned their
commissions, rather than TO be particI-
pant IN rank so meanly obtained.
Let any man look at the appointments
which have been made from Virginia
within ten years, and hen see whether
he could doubt that if the practice allowed,
these Old Dominion people would have
gone up, as we'll as gone IN. Ii the sys-
TEN of lavoriteism is to be kept down 10
our Navy, we must not allow Of such OPP
poriun,les as would be given, were the
Secretary s scheme adopted. We do not,
Of course, suppose that he would misuse
it, bu, others would. There are some
pieces of drift wood in the way OF ascend
ing the stream Of Navy promotion, but
these distractions are looked out for;
they are ia the course Of things, and no
one cares. But only let il be known tina.
the habit Of promoting without regard to
date of commission, and we should see
such an influence brought to bear upon
the Department, rs would smother the
whole concern.--U. S. Gazette.
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E,o.. C,,p. The achonrar Catha rina