New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-02-08
As.imIIafed Rank In the Navy.
To ne Edi,or Of rat Tribune;

/ To ne Edi'or o. iht Tribune;
+ paragraph in your paper Of the ped January
does the Secretary Of the Navy great wrong You have
been led into error % the facts Of the case love
us,ice snd believe yoB Incapable o. doing Injustice 10
political aGversary any else. Nor DO mean 70
in.nuste that you would knowingly make rnissiate-
msn On the contrary believe you scorn the man 'ho
woulc and are ready at all times to Acknowledge any
errors and 10 right any wrongs which BY any chance you
may have been led 70 commit.
Permit me- therefore TO make the iollovHg statement
with regard 70 the facts Of the which you sluie in
the paragraph Aforesaid, and which Is a. follows
So W. co in their progress Of usurps,on hat
the Secretary Of the has been taking himself to
20 create the Navy 70 give the PuTsers rank snd
epauetes But II not bat remark able that ne od
pointed Purser, Byheby what stock Of eomPlesancs
that gentleman Secretary MaoD must have to 't BY ana
witness n s.sist In ng the POls sull0ne pom the
necks OF all his Tyler friead Tyler who brought MN
Of HE cabinet with s6o0O year We believe be has Wit
messed the execution Of the very last OF his Virginia
friends
Nov the facts Of the these, and first with re-
gard 10 the appointment Of Judge Mason by Mr. Tyler
when Nj Gmer lost his life by the explosion board
the Princeton in February, 1874 Judge Mason was at his
home In Virginia, leading most agreeable, useful ard
philosophical life. Though not rich. he had what
better than riches, 0eEeel 'oSRy and ease and was
dispensing his elegant hospi;aes in the midst Of the
mos. charming society that his state affords He was
Judse II the United states District Court for the Eastern
Of Virginia The duties Of this oce were alto
eeher mis- tastes and they called him 10 Richmond and
Norfolk in the most pleasant seasons Of the year. and
among hosts Of warm and devoted feads They gave
his philosophical mind useful and agreeable occupation
during short nlerva' ami left him the rest Of the esr to
devote 70 the education Of bis children The cultivation
OF his farm the society Of hi friends, &c.
his cfice as Judge was for lite. HIS salary and The
profits Of his farm 0 consider the mser only 10 the
Ugh, Of dollars and eents far out weighed the salary o.
50 900 IN Washington; and the that there seemed
be probability Of his holding the ONCE OF Secretary
for more than year.
But be was Invited 10 take charge # the Navy De- ar
men and placed there by sEd with the advice and
consent q the SCnte, unanimously given Il was durrg
extraordinary unctuIe Of circumstances IN which he
could better serve his country perhaps than any oher man
The sacrifice required Of him great but his nigh
ssrse Of the duties which the his country and
his feelings Of patriotism required hun To mAkeit
and 1t made with the highest and the best OF motives
HIS political relations perfectly understood, and ne
enjoys high degree the Of the late President
and his friends, many Of whom arc stu In ONCE.
While Judge Mason was Secretary Of the Nav uadef
President Tyler pursershp IN the Navy was offered oy
the latter 10 young Mason who had formed passion for
the 81 A. and who old 70 enter the Navy ~
mdshpman. Judge Mason, with the celcacy which every
honorable man knows how 10 appreciate refused to let us
have the appointment.
In the organization Of Mr. Pok's Cabinet Judge Mason
invited to take the post Of Attorney Genera-the
duties Of which, notwithstanding the success with when
ne DaQ ADMINISTERED VI
he had acquired and the friends he had made in this branch
Of the public service were much more congenia 10 ms
tastes.
II was while in thl. situation that Mr. Bancroft. with
out solicitation, but In admiration as he himself declared
Of the judges with regard 10 his sons appointment
before offered young Mason the place Of Purser The
young mans heart was set uponit the motives OF dell
cscy no longor In the wsyhe was Of age and
the father waived his objections,
As III regards the subject OF naval rank, no one who
knows Judge Mason who considers the statements OF
facts just made will for moment, suppose him TO be In
aenced in his official oecsuse he happens TO have
a son the navy.
On the 5st August, $50 Mr. Bancroft issued an order
giving rank 70 Surgeons Congress met and adjourned
and complaint heard there as 10 ileeaiy. When
Judge Mason returned TO the Navy Department nuuer
Gus and esnes, appeals made by the Pnrsers-not
by Purser Mason though Tor he was In China and sno
OF Mr.. Bancroffs OTdersbut by the old fursers,
who complained the Secretary o the order a. nvdous
inasmuch as placed the Surgeons with whom they had
always been on an Official equality, above them.
They farther urged that Paymasers and surgeons In
the Navy have the relative rank and that such bad
always been the case in the Navy, until Mr.. Bancrots
order The result WIS., that Secretary Mason yielded 70
their wishes. and suppose stands prepared 30 MAINTAIN
the legality OF hs acts whenever the same shall be eha
lenged
have disposition TO bias your mind one way or The
other either the legality propriety Of the reguls
ton establishing relative rank In the Navy. That is
matter with which have nothing DO. My object is TO
give you plain statement Of facts-tO enjoy the high
privilege OF he ping those right that suffer wrong
and To leave you adopt that which your sense
OF justice may prompt you to take. Yours, A.