The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-19
NAVAL ADMINISTRATOR.

himself. l.4ts ass
NAVAL ADMINISTRATION.
1t will be seen from the following abl
letter of "Independent," that the govern
ment does not find itself clothed with powe
to fit out an expedition, in search Of the los
navigator, FRANKLIN, dehors the vessels Q
the Navy, which the Navy. Board has deter
mined are too large for the purpose.
The remarks of Independent" in regar'
to the administration Of naval affairs by off
GERS Of the navy, who have contrived t
make themselves fixtures in the Department
are Just and proper. We would go farthe
than independent" We would see th'
laws so altered as to forbid the employment
Of all naval officers in the execution Of nava
laws and in the administration Of naval af
fairs, and we would extend the same prohi
bition to military officers in their relation t
military administration. Mr. CUSHING ono,
remarked, that the army and navy depart
ments Of the government were administered
not for the benefit Of the country, but for thu
benefit Of the army and navy. The business
Of the army and navy, is to defend the coun
try, and their officers should not be permit
|teh to execute the laws creating and regu-
lating the army and navy. The preseh
plan is against the whole philosophy Of gov
|ernment. 1t entrusts the execution Of the
laws to the subjects ofthose laws. With as
much propriety could the execution Of penal
laws be entrusted to those who may be the SUBJ
|jects other enactments. We never had any
doubt, that both army and navy officers would
he gladly relieved Of the duties of civil ad-
|ministration. 1t would certainly be for their
Interest, if they were, and for the interest Of
1.-THE people too.
Correspondence Of the N Anne rican and u s. Gazette
WASHINGTON, June Is, 1s49.
The board Of naval officels-consisting Of Com.
|modores Warrington, Skinner and Smith---to whom
1.-The Secretary of the Navy referred the proposition
for fitting out an expedition in search Of Sir ohm
Franklin have reported uganst the feasibility of the
on various groundsbecause the season ID
too far advanced to req CHI the west coast Of the
projected plan, and because the government owns
mo vessels adapted TO this peculiar description OF SER
Vice. In the course Of the report these officers state
that the fancy viii oh Of all the public vessels is the
|best fitted for hs. enterprise, expected in the
month of April, but has not yet returned to port
They suggest the purchase Of two coasting vessels
|of about ZOO tons burden to be suitably equipped with
sores and munitions necessary for the severity of the
|northern attitudes, and provided with thiry-ve Of
Ulcers to each vessel For this purpose an aggregate
Expenditure Of $4,000 is named, as likely 10 c6vel
1.-The practical outlay. Under these auspices they re-
commend that the expedition be fitted out SO as &c
start at an early period in tho ensuing year.
Upon examining the act of $780, and the naval ap.
preparation bill Of the last session Of Congress- Mr.
|Preston--hough, as am well assured, disposed tc
give every degree of cooperation and countenanct
Ito this noble mission Of benevoleuce and humanity
found himself without authority to mike the pur
|chase suggested by the Board of Commodores. Ou
Iacts Of appropriation are specific and when dis
erection is confided to the head Of department rh
objects for which moneys may be applied, are defin
led and carefully enumerated. Not SO with the naya
service Of England. 1t is competent there for tn
board of admiralty to apply the finds appropriated t
the service, according TO their besu Judgment and ex
Iperience. This explanation the practical oper
Iation of the two systems it is pi 'oper should be un
|derstood by persons who are noe familiar with thu
"details of our governmental Organization, and who
without it, might not be able TO appreciate why i
was not competent tor the secretary of the navy Il
issue an order for the expedition, OF his own motion
praton for this particular service and every bera
minded citizen, however remote may be the prospec
Of its ultimate success will join cordially in the wish
that it may be correspondent to tile humanity of thu
object and equal TO the character Of generous
enlightened government.
II isia little remarkable in this connection, that
board of experienced officers should have recon
mended project upon doubtful authority, or with
out consulting the scope Of the laws Of the service
which they IRE attached; and 1t is not less remarka
BILE, in view Of the facts stated in Lady jane Frank
Inns letter, that they should have suggested thu
undertaking Of this expedition merit year. when it i.
notorious to the world, that under the most auspi
'cious circumstances the time will have passed when
ANY hope can be reasonably entertained. Without
Intending any disparagement to the officers who now
preside over the bureau at Washington admitting all
their merits, and conceding them ability and fidelity
lii does appear to me, and to others whose opinions
are entitled TO more consideration that the interests
of the navy and Its economy and discipline would
be greatly promoted, if some of these officers were
relieved, even temporarily, from their present nrdu-
GUS cares and duties. In government like ours nc
class Of officers however mertorious, attached q
the military or naval establishments should be per-
mtted to enjoy the exclusive privilege Of directing
its affairs or Of becoming fixtures of the system, by
which they may become enabled to exercise undue
influences, and to disparage the just claims Of their
equals or superiors.
| Now it is well known, that the naval service has
grown unpopular, from the continued ascendency
Of particular officers at Washington, who through
a series Of years have exercised a secret and con-
rolling power, and who, under all changes of ad.
ADMINISTRATION, have exhibited the happy faculty of
commodating themselves to the times, and Of pre-
serving their places independent of active and eff
Client service It Is high time these gentlemen
should be sent to sen upon other duty, and thai
young and fresh and able-bodied men, who are alive
10 the spirit Of progress and who do not regard i'm
provement as innovation, should have an opportu-
NIFTY of distinguishing themselves and of infusing
Vnto this great Of national defence the ygoI
which, should belong to It. Naval officers are moi
Expected to be educated diplomats or courters, al.
though the metropolitan circles have for years
Ihons.ed of members of this profession who would