Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-12-07

shce ana nave continued be made with some ires
ary az TO Intervals and amounts until the present tme IN,
without any definition BY Congress Of ,he numhsr .rd A.
scrption Of vessels deemed necessary for the nation.
The numbers 10 the various grades the o he
navy has until within recent period been left still moro IN.
defined than the number Of ships Since the rs,..; -
the number Of vessels and men, after the f
friendly relations with France by treaty in 1901 mo .stu
for than forty years limited the sum total Of
to be employed in the navy or in s several ranks and off,
The number Of commissioned officers in anv ersda ~,
and including captsncy depended on the President and
Senate and the number of ecers on the President
Head Of the Department alone. By provisional clause
in the annual appropriation bill, approved August 4th Is42
the number Of officers in the respective grades of the navy
directed not to be increased beyond the number in SER
vice the lst Of January ls42 and any further appoint
ment of mdshpmen forbidden until they should be re-
duced to the number in service the ls of January Is4
In this retrospective povso Of appropriation bill the
Der of officers Ied by standard not then before the
eye the Legislature but be searched for in the roster of
the service for the preceding years and by this after be-
ing thus ascertaned, it continues to be regulated.
The personnel Of the navy thus established comprises SO
captains 81 commanders 327 eutenants So surgeons 81
passed assistant surgeons 4s assistant surgeons 81 pursers
"a chapans professors Of Mathematics masters in the
line of promotion and 464 passed and other midshipmen to
which to be added besides other warrant officers according
to the annual appropriation for pay and subsistence $500
petty officers seamen ordinary seaeu andsmen and bows
The capacity of the country to enlarge this force when
ever Desirable may be readily perceived by stating that we
have now in the mercantile marine 5000 Of tons Of
shipping an amount greater than that Of any other nation Of
the world and according the ordinary estimate Of men
every hundred ons there In our merchant service
In this array Of hardy mariners to recruit
from, and in our vast resources for building equippng and
armng ships Of war; we the elements of naval power
unsurpassed in the history Of nations The problem to be
solved by the statesman is how far these elements are to be
brought into use. Whether the present establishment with
s accustomed regulation and direction adapted 10 our pre-
sent necessities, or whether may be reformed regulated
and improved better answer the great objects Of ts
bear constantly IN mind that we have arrived new era in
our history arising from occupation and vast extension Of
our territories on the coast Of the Pacific.
not maIler OF that's system which has grown
TO It's present dimensions without any law of increase should
be found unshapey and dspopooned An obvious fault
Of the present organization Of the personnel Of the nayy as
above set FORTH is the disparity between the head and the sub
ordinate parts Inc natural desire for promotion has brought
into the higher grades greater number officers than il re-
CURED by the present force of ships and me or than will be
required 10 any state of things likely soon to occur
The shore stations compehendg navy yards receiving
ships and naval asylum and including of each for the
Pacific coast will require lS captains, 81 commanders Sc
eutenan ~ surgeons 10 passed and assistant surgeons
IA pusers u chapans, 60 passed and other mdshpmen
leaving for sea service 56 captains rs commanders 27
euenans surgeons 10 passed and assistant. surgeons
Assuming the present number Of $500 petty officers sea-
men, ordinary seamen andmen and boys as the force to be
commanded and dividing it into six squadrons each to con-
slst OF ship Of the ne gate, Of the ls class
y dr, M
poymen at one time to "a captains 80 commanders 1856
eutenant SO surgeons go passed and assistant
purses chaPains, 1876 passed and other mdshpmen
eavng unemployed, either land or sea- 26 captains 46
commanders 10 eutenants surgeons, 10 passed and
Instant surgeons purses four chaplans passed and other
I1--
In service subjected to hardship DANGER and deprivation
II the comforts Of domestic @ there should be- at all times
uch number OF officers to allow reasonable respite be-
active cruises at sea- and to provide against losses from
udden casualty. Ef77t7
But duty shore itself relief from duty at sea- il is
believed that the above list Of supenumeary officers at least
the three highest grades is greater than is demanded for
IN effective naval establishment and therefore recommend
hat the numbers be reduced 60 captains 80 commanders
100 eutenant with corresponding notifications in the nfe
ior grades Such reduction would adapt the supply of
ulcers to the state Of the service and by aording employ
nent to ALL with occasional intervals Of relaxation wond
end to advance the standing Of professional skill and acquire
nen 1t would still leave in the grades Of and below lieu
enancy sufficient number for the duties ordinances HYDRO
aphy scientific observation the survey and all special
ervce besides active duty at and at the navy yards and
ther shore stations.
sWhle the propre Of this cutament would appear to be
manifest to give symmetry to the naval corps and to nse
lie and animation into all is parts by more active eploy-
1ent and therefore to be demanded by the public interests
lslce to those who have devoted heseveso the service
heir country, and have given to it the prime Of their man.
ood requires that it shall be effected in the most delicate
to the feelings of those discharged and that suitable
shall be made to them for the disappointment
ve without precedents for such proceeding in the reduc
ion Of the by the Of March 3d. 1901 and the large
ducion Of the to peace establishment by the act Of
lach ID, 1921 Whether the designation of the persons
be discharged shall be devolved on the President as in
10 instances just recited, board officers convened
u that purpose is respectfully referred to the wisdom Of
congress.
Having by this process determined on the size Of the nayy
will be necessary in order to render it effective to provide
lat from time to time, officers may decline in capacity for
seul public service, either from experimentation or other
suse they be retired from the active list on terms both
lst and liberal.
lhe duty OF the to take care old age or in
Unavoidable decepude disease Of it's gallant and faithful
ervan should be in respect preermtted but nothing
1oud be allowed to interfere with the efficiency Of the nayy
" the purposes Of its institution Incompetency from
ice and dissipation should be viewed with dspIeasure-
from unavoidable and honorable causes with
and kindness But in neither case should
'mmand or promotion be denied to those who must really
nd efectuay stand between the country and its enemies
the hour Of danger. Even in judicial Offices. held
ung good behavior, in all well regulated States provision
as been made for removal from Office for mental or pbvsica
as well as for criminality.
10 this connexon it is worthy Of serious
neither mere seniority Of commission should not be disregard
promotions TO grades above that Of commander Although
ie power OF the President in nominating to all Offices il un
mted by the constitution, and dependant on no quaca
in the candidate, and although in few instances there
ave been departures from the rule in question: yet general
sage mas made nea promotion to all grades in the navy
mosa matter OF right certainly convenient inssmuch
prevents avorism and advances discipline and bord
alon BY suppressng hostile rivalry adhere to this usage
certain point OF elevation, but is inconsistent with the
pint OF the age, well with all our ideas Of proprey
lat the highest rank in profession whose active members
naouay exposed not to the dangers of battle those