Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-09-25
Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot.

Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot.
WAsmSsroN, September, 20, 1916.
Mr.. BaneSofls leave-aking and departure-His first infOr-
nation that no was 20 leave tho cabineL-The Clerks
and Judge ~Mason-Clsnahan's ChiL-Commodorc
Stewards Protest.
MIR. Bancroft, the Ex-Secretay Of the Navy; who is
more unpopular than any one who ever was appointed to
tho navy department. lett this city last evening for the North.
lie visited the several bureaus OF tho Department, ycsler-
day, to take his leave of the chief officers and clerks OF
inc same. sm incredibly informed that the parting was
very cold-ehilhngly so-with a few exceptions. Gideon
Wells, from Connecticut, a congenial spirit. at the head Of
one OF the beaureaus, ts said to have been tolerubly cordial
IN his parting SITUATIONS. Probably he and Mr.. Bancroft
were both laughing in their sleeves to think how they were
didding the people and playing possum with each other.
Capt smith, at tho head Of another bureau, one oC the ex-
Seeretary's pets, Is said TO have also been passably cordial.
Tits also said that Com. Morris, another chief OF a bureau.
absolutely smiled success to the EI-Seere,ary, in eonside-
rauon y the tact, perhaps, that MIR. Bancroft had 4 short
time before appointed the Commodoros son a Mid.hip-
man IN the Navy: But when the Ex-Secretary took leave
OF Comulodoro Warrington. another head OF a bureau, IL IL
reported that the gallant Commodorc's indispensable frown
brought down the mercury in the hermometer almost to
Iep! The Commodore remembered his friend Crane, the
high-minded and sensitive gentleman ct the oldon school,
who had been annoyed and harasssd by Mr.. Bancroft into
his very grave; and hence no was not in the least prodigal
OF his courtesy towards the Ex-Secretary.
IL . asserted that up to about three OF four weeks before
his retirement from the Navy Department, Mr.. Bancroft did
not know that he was to leave the Cabinet. Il is said that
an eS-Colleeter OF Now York was the first gentleman to
aPPnse him OF the fact. and that Mr.. Bancroft then selected
the Mission TO England as his recompense!
a few days since the clerks in the Navy Department
waited on the new Secretary. Judge Mason, to pay him
their respects. 1t is reported that Clanahan, who signed
tho paper to Mr.. Bancroft rejecting upon his predecessor,
Judge Mason, had a ehiH that day, and therefore did not
Join his brother clerks in the interesting ceremony,
In previous letter. l believe, | promised some extracts
from the fro'estoi Commodore Stewart against Mr.. Ban
eFotts overslaughing system. l make the following:
"Our moral obligauon lie such that il is hardly possible
that the officers composing a Board could have much per
sonal knowledge Of the qualifications or disqualification Of
nose whose claims Tor promotion arc TO be considered
To illustrate this remark, l will slate. that OF the sixteen Of
heers whose claims have been passed upon by this Board,
/ haEa ~
than two OF them, although l have numbered more than
forty eight years OF service, twenty. three OF which have
been passed al sea. Most OF them were unknown to me
even oy name, and as the remainder OF the officers compo-
sing this Board average n sea service of but eighteen and n
half wears, ltls highly probable that a majority OF the Board
never had an opportunity for forming an opinion of them
rom personal knowledge in any one case. Yet notwith-
standing this, the Board by a Joint and secret ballot, has re.
commended The promotion Of certain officers to the injury
OF Others, and that certain other officers should be consider.
ed unworthy OF promotion altogether.
The adoption OF this joint and secret ballot has gone far
to render the proceedings Of the Board Justly obnoxious.
IL has assumed for itself the detested au1bu es Of = Star
Chamber,-not recognized by any law nor under the prot.e.
non OF any law; without even the obligation of m oath 20
DO justice to the officers on whose claims it has passed, or
TO the service: without any evidence Of their merits or dis.
qualhcatons-and without assigning any reasons for its
opinion either individually or eollecuvely,-t has given
eondemning Judgment on the reputation Of men long in
the service OF their country lone OF whom is now abroad
serving with disuneuon) by emphatcnlly iniimaunR thai
they shall not be promoted, and thus virtually disgracinR
them for ever in public estimation.
There is nothing so precious to an officer as his rcpu.
taton when arraigned for alleged offences before a Court
Martial; be earnestly and at great cost seeks his yindica-
uon; he eonfronts his accusers; he objects to his Judges: he
offers his witnesses, his explanation and defence, and tAs
truth Is stfed. The judges are under oath 10 decide ac-
eording TO the law, the evidence and their consciences, and
alter a tar and impartial trial, the punishment If any, falls
upon the accused sanctioned by law. And vet such nun
ishment by Court Martial can rarely surpass in severity and
IN It's effect the Judgment pronounced by this Board
Board sitting in secret conclave, It's victim absent and nm.
heard IN his defence; without charges against him. without
evidence OF any kind. acting on suspicion or hearsay; with.
out personal knowledge Of his qualifications, and many of
the members OF the Board infued perhaps by personal pre-
Judices and enmiuies.
before such a tribunal no one would be safe; a CLIQUE
or even a single member of the Board might bring irepa-
rable injury upon the prospects OF any officer in the service.
Such proceedings, so contrary TO all received notions of
propriety and public justice, and so opposed 10 the prinei.
pies OF our Government, /, for one, never could counter.
ance or be q party TO. No other course was therefore kt 10
me, in the various ballots for the selection of officer. for
promotion, than 10 mark on my ballot that 1 declined 10
pOts.
"Yet so desirous do / find myself TO comply. 50 far NJ ia
within my competence, with the regulations Of the Hon.
Secretary OF the Navy, that feel it my duty to state eSpli.
Guy my opinion upon the chief enquiry Propounded, upon
the decision Of which rest his subsequent requirements.-
These, also, / conceive 10 be fully responded 10 In the opin-
ion | have now the honor to give.
The Hol. SecretaTY's main proposition defends upon
al others, embraced in his letter Of the 2Ist Of July, 1886.
in the following words "You will express your opinion
whether IN your Judgment, promotions in the Navy should
be made with exclusive reference 10 senionty.' In obedi-
ehco TO the injunction contained in this paragraph, | give
It as my opinion that promotions in the Navy should always
be made with exclusive reference 10 seniority, except when
great ggilantry before the enemy shall en;itle the officer IN
the exalted distinction Of a preference over his peers: OF.
where immediate guilt or incompetence shall be declared
to exist by a tribunal legally and expressly constituted to
oetermine the question"
The foregoing comprises nearly the whole Protest. IL
speaks for itself aud for Commodore Stewart. who drew
II up, and who, II must not be forgotten, is Of the same school
OF politics 70 which Mr.. Ex-Secretly Bancroft processes to
belong. The difference u, the brave old Commodore has
always been a Republican, while the E1-Seeretary has been
every thing BY turns and nothing long"