Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-12-07

cussed and considered but left undecided bv the
laure and appropriations for increase A. we'll a. .ins
ance and repair, have continued to be made with some s-n
any as % Intervals and aIouni until the present tms bu.
without any dehninon by Congress Of the number and e
scpton Of vessels deemed necessary for the national
The numbers 10 the various gdss of the personnel of he
navy has, until within recent period, bean left s NOR, m
defined than the number Of shps Since the reduction q
the number OF vessels and after the
friendly relations with France by treaty in 1901 no statue
for than forty years limited the total of
to be employed in the navy, in ito several ranks and Off
The number Of commissioned officers in any grade nm
to and including capsincy depended the President and
Senate and the number of ecers on the Preden,
Head Of the Department alone By provisional clause
in the annual appropriation BILL approved August 4h Is42
the number Of officers in the respective grades of the navy
directed not TO be increased beyond the number in
vice the ls of January, l642 and any further appoint
ment of midshpmen forbidden until they should be re-
duced to the number in service the st of January
In this retrospective provso of appropriation bill the num-
Der OF officers was liked by standard then before the
eye the Legislature but TO be searched for the roster
the service for the two preceding years. and by this after
ing thus ascertained, it continues to be regulated.
The personnel Of the nsvy thus estabhed comprises So
captains, 81 commanders 327 eutensn So surgeons 81
passed assistant surgeons 43 assistant al
"a chspains IL professors Of msthemacs masters in the
line of promotion and 464 passed and other mdshpmen to
which is be added besides other warrant officers according
TO the annual appropriation for pay and subsistence $500
petty officers seamen, ordinary seamen, andsmen and boys
The capacity of the country to enlarge this force when
desirabe may be readily perceived by stating that we
have in the mercantile marine 5000 900 Of tons of
shipping, greater than that Of any other nation
the world and according 70 the ordinary estimate Of six men
to every one hundred TONS there n merchant service
10000 seamen. In this array Of hardy mariners to recruit
FROM and in for buiding equppne and
armng ships Of possess the elements Of naval
unsurpassed in the history Of nations The problem to be
~luol k.x 49, = -
brought into Whether the present establishment viii,
Its accustomed regulation and direction is adapted to our
sent necessities whether it may be reformed regulated
and improved so as better to the great objects of s
institution And, in considering these questions we must
bear constantly in mind that have arrived at new era in
our history, arising from occupation and vast extension
our territories on the coast Of the Pacific.
s not matter of surpsethata system which has grown
It's present dimensions without any law Of increase. should
be found unshapely and dsproporoned An obvious fault
of the present organization of the personnel Of the navy
above FORTH the disparity between the head and the sub
ordinate parts. The natural desire promotion has brought
INTO the higher grades greater number Of officers than re-
qured BY the force Of ships and mea OF than will be
required in any state of things likely to occur.
The shore stations compreheng navy yards receiving
ships, and naval asylum and including one Of each for the
Pacific coast will require ls captains 81 commanders Sc
eutenan ~ surgeons 10 passed and assistant
IA purses IL chaplans so passed and other mdshpmen
leaving for sea service Sc captains 76 commanders 27I
eutensnts Al surgeons, 70 passed and assistant
% purse 10 chapain 404 passed and other midshpnen
Assuming the present number Of $500 poty officers sea
men, ordinary seamen andsmen and boys the force to be
commanded, and dividing into six squadrons each to con-
ss of ship Of the line, figate steamer Of the ls class
steamer Of the I'd class soops Of war; it will give
poyment at one time to "a captains, 80 commanders 1856
eutenant SO surgeons so passed and assistant
pursers chaPans, 1896 passed and other mdshpmen
leaving unemployed either on land or sea- 26 captains 46
commanders, ll5 eutenan surgeons 10 passed and as
slstan surgeons puse four chapan passed and other
In service subjected to hardship DANGER and deprivation
Of the comforts Of domestic @ there should be- at all times
such number of officers allow reasonable respite be-
active cruises at sea- and to provide against losses from
sudden casualty.
But duty shore is itself relief from duty at sea- is
believed that the above list Of supenumeay officers at least
10 the three highest grades greater than is demanded for
an effective naval establishment and therefore recommend
mat the numbers Be reduced to 60 saPtan 80 commanders
800 eutenants with corresponding notifications in the n
nor grades. Such reduction would adapt the supply Of
officers to the state Of the service and by aordng employ
men to ALL with occasional intervals of relaxatiop would
tend to advance the standing Of professional skill and acquire
ment 1t would still leave in the grades Of and below lieu
tenancy sufficient number for the duties Of ordnance hydro
saphy scientific observation the survey and all special
besides active duty at and the navy yards and
other shore stations.
while the propety Of this curtament would appear to be
to give symmetry to the naval corps and to nse
life and animation into all ito parts by more active employ
nent and therefore to be demanded by the public interests
70 nOse VINO nave devoted themsevesto the of
heir country, and have given the prime of their man
,ood requires that shall be effected in the most delicate
manner to the feelings of those discharged and that suitable
enumeration shall be made to them for the disappointment
ind change in their of livelihood We are not, how.
ver without precedens for such proceeding in the reduc-
ton OF the navy by the Of March 3d. 1901 and the large
educton of the army peace establishment by the act of
March, I'd, 1921. Whether the designation Of The persons
be discharged shall be devoved on the President as ia
he instances just reced, board of officers convened
or that purpose, is respectfully referred to the wisdom Of
Congress.
Having by this process determined on the size Of the navy
will be necessary, in order render effective to provide
hat from time me officers may decline in capacity for
lseu public service, either from or other
ause 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 in
decepudeo disease Of it's gallant and faithful
ervans should be in respect pretermited but nothing
should be allowed to interfere with the efficiency of the nayy
or the purposes Of its institution. Incompetency from
nee and dissipation should be viewed with dspIeasure-
from unavoidable and honorable causes with
'ommiseration and kindness But in neither case should
command promotion be denied those who must really
md eectuay stand between the country and its enemies
n the hour OF danger Even in judicial Offices held
Turing good behavio in all well regulated States provision
been made for removal from Office for mental or pbysca
ncompetency as well as for crimnality.
In this connexion it is worthy Of serious consideration
whether seniority Of commission should not be disregard
grades above that Of commander Although
he power OF the President in nominating to all Offices il u
limited BY the constitution and dependant ON no quaca