The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-06

OF Congress, we desire 10 make
few remarks upon amendments that are, or ought |
to be, thereunto appended
Citizens generally, members of Congress patti |
culary, either from lack OF interest or of light, are
ignorant Of the rules which govern, and the prin-
cples hlch actuate, the naval man. The mer-
chant, who, from peculiar habit OF mind, brings
every thought and action down to Its market
able value-who discsrns no poetry in lite save the
'spoery of notion" IN the rise and fall OF cotton
or the CANCELLATIONS of the stock market, lmagines
that in the navy, on Change, the 'almighty dol
lar" Is the governing principle, the "rulng pas
slon;" while the honorable Congressman, who
with studied Indifference pockets his "per diem"
acts he thought that the trust reposed IN the pa
triotlsm, valor and fidelity of the naval officer
ought to be sufficient to induce him to leave his
''country for his country's good" and considers
the putting money in his purse" entirely work
OF superefogation. Perhaps, too, some few of
these legislators, being versed IN other than their
smother tongue" may remember the significant
proverbs "ia paavret6 est un glaivs bien acerS,'
from which, as fact, they argue that the capacity
to fight the part OF "man Of war;" Is IN direct
proportion to the emptiness of his purse. Others,
again, recalling their schooboy Latin, assert, fear.
duce ct decorm est pro patria morn" whence arse
those frequent but abstract attempts to shed that
last drop of blood" which is ever oozng out, in
Irosy speeches, written for the benefit of constl-
iuents and reported for the benefit OF the Un,oy,
end InteH,gencer.
We would have all interested in this matter, "to
halt between these two opinions" neither colncid-
ne with the "man OF money!" still less with the
patriotic "man of words;" but assuming with us the
Jnste mil,eu, bring the governing principles of the
naval officer down to the practical standard of
common sense, viz that he ID allured into the
corps by the enticements of military llfe-'sthe
pomp and circumstan CO of glorious war"-and re-
mains in 1t from force of habit added to the agree
able sensation of receiving, periodically respec-
table stipend.
Now, in the matter of salary, these "truest sons
of truest blue" have nothing to complain; in the
matter of rank, everything; and this brings us to
the consideration Of that which ought to be an IN
eispensabe appendage to the appropriation bill of
the ensuing year, viz: law creating a "retired
hst'' for aged and imbecile officers of the navy
In the war OF 1872, our navy, smaller even than at
present, upheld with honor the countrys flag, and
proclaimed, in many we'll fought action, that Brl.
tannla could 'no longer rule the waves" Then skill
and bravery were added to the energy and hard-
hood of youth. Perry was but seven-and- twenty
when he "met the enemy;" and nothing but the &C
tivlty and houehtless daring of that age could have
carried HIM and his flag in an open boat, from
sinking vessel, TO one in which he was yet
to conquer. With rare exceptions, old age
is apt to count the cost before embarking
on such expeditions; but even when the spirit
of youth fingers in the mortal tenement, the
weaknesses of the flesh prove sad obstacles to CHI
valrous acts. This seems peculiarly the CASE
upon that unstable element which poets have named
the "rolllng Deep The totterng step of age
requires surer footing than is to be found on the
deck Of ship, which "reels to and fro and STAG.
gers like drunken man." and yet, with these facts
staring US in the face, we have scarce an officer on
the list Of captains whose years have not mum.
bered the three score and ten, and whose bodily
energies have not long since departed this life.
We would not speak dlsresrectfully Of these gen.
tlenen, many Of whom have done the State ser.
vice, and for this let them receive an honorable
discharge from active duty, and competent SUD-.
port for the remainder of therlves Others there are
who cannot come under this category; to these let
the country also be just, to who, having Zone
talent, straightway wrapped it IN napkin and bu.
RED it," For this purpose, and for these who are
sick, and whose constitutions have been shattered
by exposure IN the line of duty, the navy calls for
"retred list" The immediate interests of the
service demand that this list OF octogenarian CAP
talns should be replaced by men who possess the
skill and gallanty of the heroes of 1912, with the
youth, energy and progressive knowledge of the
present day. Such men are now TO be found in
the navy. languehing in the subordinate grades,
and expendlng the activity and strength of man.
hood in the petty details Of the subatern's duty.
There are two other amendments which ought
to 60 hand in hand with the appropriation bill, and
concerning which, If permitted, we will make a
few remarks at another time
EXCITEMENT RELATING TO THE FANCY PRIZE
FIGHT-We do not remember ever to have seen 80
great an excitement among certain classes of So
ciety, as has been developed dsring the last few
days IN relation to the approaching prize fight
between Yankee Sullivan and Tom Hyer II is
similar In some respects to the agitation produced
In the public mind by the first accounts of the
Mexican war, or the preliminary movements be-
fore the great duel between Colonel Webb and
Tom Marshall of kentucky.
All these excitements, sprlnginQ out of prize
fights, duels, or war, are Of the same nature and
formation, AMI derive their interest from the
brave attempts which fellow mortals make to put
each other out of existence, IN the expertest and
most scientific manner possible.
1t is generally reported IN this latitude, by the
friends of each pugst, that their own man whom
they back, will succeed over the other 1t Is said
tHat Yankee Sullivan Is confident of success,
that he has written letter to his wife, who
in hath m 81
fulness and confidence, and requiring her to
prepare splendid dinner the Saturday of this
week, when he expects to be back IN New York,
and dine at home with his friends and hackers,
after well furnishing Hyer, his an .agonlst. We
believe that Hyer, on the other side, writes IN a
similar strain OF confidence to his sue cess The