The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-05


captains 80 commanders, 800 lieutenants, with
corresponding notifications in the inferior
grades. Such a reduction would adapt the
supply of officers to the state OF the service,
and, by affording employment to all, with occa-
sional intervals of relaxation, would tend to
advance the standing of professional skill and
requirement. 1t would still leave in the grades
Of and below a lieutenancy Il sufficient number
for the duties of ordnance, photography, scen-
tiiic observation, the coast survey, and all special
service, besides active duty at sea and at the
navy yards, and other shore stations.
While the propricty OF this curtallnent would
appear to be manifest to give symmetry TO the ma
val corps, and to fuse life and animation into all
its parts by more active employment, and there
fore TO he demanded by the public interests, JUS
tice 10 those who have dcN oted themselves to the
service Of their country, and have given to it the
prime of their manhood, requires that it shall be
effected in the most delicate manner TO the feel
ngs Of those discharged and that suitable remun-
Grafton shall be made TO them for the dlsappoint-
ment and change in their means OF LIVELIHOOD.
We are not, however without presidents for
such n proceeding in the reduction of the navy
by the act Of March I'd, 1921. Whether the
designation Of the persons to be discharged shall
be devolvcd Oh the President, us in the instan-
ces us recited, or board OF officers convened
for that purpose, is respectfully referred to the
wisdom Of Congress.
Having by this process determined on the size
of the navy, it will be necessary, in order to rem
der it effective, to provide that from time to time.
as officers may decline in capacity for useful
public SERVICE either from approximation or
other cause, they may be retired from the active
, list on terms both ust and liberal.
The duty of the Government to take care, in
old age or Unavoidable decreptude or disease, of
its gallant and faithful servants should be in no
l respect protermittcd, but nothing should be al
lowed to interfere with the efficiency of the navy
| for the purposes Of its institution. lncompe-
= tency from vice and dissipation should be viewed
. with dspIeasurc ncompctcncy from unavoid-
: able and honorable causes, with commscration
and kindness But in neither case should COM
= mand or promotion be denied to those who must
1 really and etftctually stand between the coun-
e try and its enemies in the hour of danger. Even
G in judicial offices, held during good behavior, in
:, all well regulated States, provision has been
!, made, for removal from Office for mental or
G physical incompctcncy, as we'll as for Grimm
d ality.
l. In this conncxon il is worthy of serious con.
J. sideratiOn whether mere seniority OF commits
), sion should not be dsregarded in promotions to
u grades above that Of commander Although
d the power of the President in nominating to all
Offices is unlimited by the Constitution, and de-
II pend mt on no qualifications in the candidate
&c and, although in few instances there have beeu
departures from the rule in question, yet gen
y eral usage has made ineal promotion to all
s. grades in the navy almost a matter OF right
e 1t is certainly convenient, nasmuch rs it pre-
vents favoritism and advances disci plinc and
C subordination, by suppressng hostile rivalry to
It adhere to this usage to certain point of eleva-
e ton, but it is Inconsistent with the spirit OF the
C age as well as with all our ideas Of propriety
J. that the highest rank in profession whose &C
y tive members are habtua!v exposed, If not t.
the dangers of battle, to those Of the ocean, the
o ten pest and of rrstentaI climates, and il
$ which there is so wide Il field for competition III
d requirement, skill and conduct, should be made
j. to depend OH longevity or survWorship-the
), mere conditions and accidents otentailed estates
= in family settlements. tits, therefore, proposed
that in all future promotions to Il captalncy or to
n higher rank, if such shall be established, SEMI
f oFitv shall not be regarded, and merit Shall Be
s esteemed the only criterion of selection. This
+ will appear to be the more eInnently Just and
V proper, since, under the present system, no brc-
/ vet rank or other advancement in the naval ser
r vice is allowed to reward the most heroic cx-
$ plot or acknowledged professional superiority
G promotion coming none the sooner 10 the best
Il none the later to the worst, provided they car
u escape Uelll1 cut OH lIol SCiN Cc ny liiS STU
q tcncc of Il court martial.
q Another defect in the present establishment
too manifest to be overlooked by the most
|, casual observer, is the disparity between the
= ages Of subaltcrn officers and their grades, pro-
: cecding from the fixed numbers in each rank
4 and the failure to provide for any promotion eX
J. ccpt in cases of vacancy. The senior passed
d midshipmen, now in the service, are older thar
|, were Perry, Decatur, and Macdonough wher
c they achieved their victories with so much re-
2, to the country; the senior lieutenants pas
l, the age when military duty is required Of tht
citizen in the militia; and the commanders ant
is captains proportionaNy Older. The aspiring
r youth, now entering the navy, my not hope t,
r reach the rank of commander in the periof
II which is ascertained to be the average duGatio'
If Of human life. This long apprenticeship, whicl
is not reQui ed for learning his duties, but is oc
5, casioned by keeping him waiting for promotion
j. until the exit of some one above him, not only
it depresscs his ambition by dcferring his hopes
:. but denies him opportunity for the culture 0
$ his seif-rcance, confidence in his own skill! anC
II Judgment, and the hundred namcless attributes
J. of thorough officer, which are only to be ac
$ quired by being thrown upon his own resources
t and responsibility.
II To remedy this defect, which has become the
. more grievous and striking since the limitation
t tons by the law of 1912, already referred to
2 two methods have been sevcrally suggested BY
n officers Of great merit and intelligence.
+ list. TO reduce the number Of midshipmen
: so rs to furnish only so many rs may be re-
= qured to supply the higher grades, as vacancies
may occur.
, I'd. To educate number equally as'ercat as
that now established, and to fix an age in every
grade, upon the att inmcnt of which, if no va
) cancy exists for promotion they may be retired
! from the navy to find employment in the merc'r-
ant service, and supply reserve corps, in case
OF war; Of the most efficient character.
t Whether either Of these is worthy of adop-
ton, or some preferable cure may be devised for
this inpcrfection, is submitted for the delibera-
f ton of Congress.
also most earnestly recommend that the
service itself be elevated by recognising by law
the Office of Commodore, and by creating Mt
; least two officers of the rank of Rear Admiral.
The increase Of rank III the navy, often proposed
/ in the earlier history Of the country, seems now
to be demanded by the highest consideration Of