New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-05

While the propriety OF thus clrtaAaleht Ne9'l
euDear To be manifest To give symmetry ~ the
naval corps, and 10 nfuse litc and animation 'l'3
all its parts by more active employment ahd
therefore to be demanded by the pubic interests
iustice to those who have devoted themselves 70
+ the service of their country and have given to It
the prime of their manhood. requires that II shat
be effected in the most delicate manner to the
feelings OF those discharged, and thar suitable re-
nuneration shall be made TO them for the dsao-
Polntment and change in their means OF lirell-
hood We are not however without preCedeuts
for such proceeding in the reduction OF the navy
/ by the act Of March3, sol, and the large reduc-
ton Of the army TO q peace establishment BY the
sct OF March 9 1921. Whether the designation Of
the persons to be discharged shall be devolYei on
the President, as in the instances jgst recited,
on 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 VIII be necessary, in order to ren
der it effective, provide that from time to time,
officers may decline in capacity for asen pub
lie service, either from approximation or other
cause, they may be retired from the active list on
terms both jQst and liberal
The duty of the Government to take care, IN Old
see Grin unavoidable decrepitude or disease OF
its gallant and faithful servants should be in no
respectpretermitted, but uothing should be allow
ed to interfere with the efficiency OF the Navy tor
the purposes Of its institution. IncomPetency
from vice and dissipation should be viewed win
displcasure-in competency from unavoloaote anu
honorable causes with commisseration and kind
ness But in neither case should command or
promotion be denied to those who must really and
efeetuav stand between the country and IT'S enc
mics in the hour of danger Even in jnd 'lsl 9th
ces held during good behavior in all wei, s5uia,,
ted States provision has been made for removal
from Office for mental or physical incompetency as
well as for eriminality.
In this connection it is worthy Of serious con
sheraton whether mere seniority of commission
should not be disregarded in promotions TO grades
above that of commander. Although the power
of the President in nominating 10 all offices is I'M
limited by the Constitution, and dependent on no
qualifications in the candidate, and although III
few instances there have been departures from
the rule in question, yet general usage has maze
liuea promotion to all grades IN the navy almost
matter of right. II is certainly convenient, mas
much as it prevents favoritism and advances DIS
ciplne and subordnation, by suppressing hostile
rivalry, to adhere to tins usage 20 cersaln point
of elevation, but 1t is inconsistent with the spltlt
of the age as we'll as with all our ideas OF pro
priety that the highest rank in profess ION whose
active members are habitually exposed II not to
the dangers of battle, to those OF the ocean, the
tempest and Of presidential climates and IN winch
there is so wide field for competition IN acquire
ment, skill and conduct, should be made to depend
on longevity or survivorshlp-the mere conditions
and accidents of entaied estates in family settle
ments 1t is therefore, proposed that IN all future
| promotions to captaincy or to higher rank, IL
such shall be established seniority shall not be re-
earded and merit shall be esteemed the only crl'
terion of selection This will appear to be the
! more eminenty lust and proper, since, under the
present system, no breyet rank or other advance
| ment in the naval service is allowed to reward the
most heroic exploit or acknowledged professional
speriority, promotion coming none the sooner 10
the best, none the later to the worst, provided
they can escape being cut otf from the service oy
| the sentence OF a courtmartal.
A do i'm he
manifest to be overlooked by the most casual OBJ
server is the disparity between the ages OF suoal'
tern officers and their grades, proceeding from the
fixed numbers each rank and the tallue to pro-
vide for any promotion except III cases OF vacancy
The senior passed midshipmen, now III the SERVICE
are older than were Perry, Decatur, and Macdon
ough when they achieved their victories with so
much renown to the country the senior lleuten.
ants past the age when military du ty Is required
of the citizen in the militia and the commanders
and Captains proportionally elder The aspiring
Youth now entering the Navy may not hope to
reach the rank of commander in the period which
is ascertained to be the average duration OF human
life This long apprenticeship, which is not requir-
ed for learning bis duties, but is occQsoned by
keeT,ng him in waiting for promotion until the exit
Of some one above him, not only depresaes his
ambition by deerring his hopes but denies him
opportunity for the culture al his sereiance con
fidence in his own skill md Judgment, and the
hundred nameless attributes OF a thorough officer
which are only to be acquired by being thrown
upon his own resources and responsibility.
To remedy this defect, which has become the
more grievous and striking since thu limitation
imposed on the number OF officers and promotions
by the law OF 1912, already referred to, two meth
DDS have been seyeraly suggested by officers oil
great merit and intelligence.
lsf To reduce the number of Midshipmen, so as
to Furnish only so many as may be required to
supply the higher grades as vacancies may occur
ID To educate number equally as great as
tIo oh m 6y i'm
grade upon the attainment of which, II no vacan-
cy exists for promotion, they may be retired from
the Navy to find employment in the merchant ser.
vice, and supply reserve corps IN case OF war, OF
the most efficient character.
Whether either of these IS worthy OF ADOPTION
or some preferable cure may be devised Tor this
imperiection is submitted for the deberation oil
Congress.
also most earnestly recommend that the ser
vice itself be elevated by recognizing by law the
office of Commodore and by the creation OF ateast
two officers of the rank Of RearAdmiral. This
increase of rank in the Navy, often proposed IN
the earlier history of the country, seems now to
be demanded by the highest consideration OF policy
and duty. Not to speak Of its effect in promoting
discipline and effectiveness, by an Increased and
concentrated responsibility IN the highest grades
of the service, it would add to the dignity OF our
officers, not unfrequently the representatives OF
their country in direct intercourse with foreign
Governments, and to the respect accorded to them
by those Of other nations In their intercourse
abroad, and furnish new and powerful incentive
to excellence in the minds Of the meritorious and
aspiring of all the inferior ranks. We have at
this time veterans in our Navy, with the commits
sions only Of captain, and the titles, by courtesy
OF commodore, because they have commanded
squadrons, who meet on the ocean, as rear admit
rails and vice admirals cotemporares in other
services, with whom in early life they associated
as co-lieutenaEts, and who now with superior rank
have often commands numerically inferior 70
their own. nation which must be classed
among the great naval powers of the world and
which, in the abundance of its resources and it's
situation between the two greatest oceans, is
capable Of occupying the very first place, should
no longer delay the establishment Of higher naval
ranks, and should look to and prepare for the COM
mand OF fleets as well as squadrons in any ex-