The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-04

period which i ssceaaed 10 be the average duration 81
human life This long apprenticeship. which Is not
nr him in waiting for promotion until the exit Of some
one above him. not only depres~es bis ambition by defer
mig his hopes but denies him opportunity for the culture
ment. and the hundred nameless attributes OF thorough
onisei Which s only 10 y ssqalrsd ~ being thrown
upon ms .s owS ,b's snu x lhsonsa, -
greyous and striking since the Limitation imposed on the
number OF officers and promotions by the iawof fsa2.
already referred TO- two method. hays hssa ssyssly sag
LIST To reduce the number OF midshpmeu, a. 10 fur.
nish only many as may be required 10 supply the
higher grades as vacancies may occur.
3D. To educate number equally rs great AZ thai now
established and 10 fix age IN every grade upon the
tanment OF which, II no vacancy exists for promotion,
they may be retired from the navy 10 ind employment in
the merchant service and supply corps in
oil war, OF the most efficient character
Whether either oil these Is worthy OF adoption. or some
preferable may be devised for this mperfecton, is
submitted for the deliberaton OF Congress
also most earnestly recommend that the service itself be
elevated by recognising by law the Office OF commodore.
and by the creation OF at least two officers oil the rank of
admiral This increase OF rank IN the navy often
proposed in the earlier history OF the country
to be demanded by the highest consideration Of policy
and duty. Not to speak oil lis effect in promoting dsci
plne and effectiveness by an increased and concentrated
responsibility in The highest grades OF the service, il
would add to the dignity Of our officers not unfrequenty
the representatives OF their country direct Intercourse
with foreign governments and 10 the respect accorded
them by those OF other nations in their intercourse
abroad, and furnish and powerful incentive TO ex
ceence in the minds Ut the meritoous and aspiring OF
all the inferior ranks We have al this time veterans in
navy, with the commissions only OF captain and the
titles, by courtesy OF commodore, because they have
commanded squadrons, who meet on the reer
admiras and vice admirals, contemporaries in other
vices, with whom in early life they associated CO.
euenants and who with superior rank have often
commands numerically inferior TO their own. nation
which must be cassed among the great naval powers OF
the worll and which, in the abundance of its resources
and its situation between the two greatest oceans
pable of occupying the very first place. should longer
delay the establishment Of higher naval ranks and should
look 10 and prepare for the command oil fleets as well
sqnadrons in any exigency which may call for il
Oar navy. It's aggregate OF PERSONS is about equal 10
the army The commanders of some OF is squadrons
have actually under their command more men than d.
vision, the command oil major general and yet its
highest commissioned officer, captain ranks with a
colonel BY resolution OF the Continental Congress
~ providing navy o the war 81 the revolution the
established as follows, viz admiral, as gene
raj vice admiral, lieutenant general admiral,
as major general co nmodore as brgader general
captain of ship OF 40 guns and upwards, colonel
SC
This scheme of relative rank prevails in the British
service at the present day II is worthy of remark that
although at no period since has there been less than one
major general OF the army OF the United States naval
officers, though in addition to their proper commands
they are from the nature of their service, much more
frequently than those OF the army called TO for their
country in diplomatic intercourse with distant nations,
whose artificial states OF society render rank so import
ant consideration, have been advanced beyond
commandment oil regiment No comparison can posi-
bly, be INDUCED 10 the dsparagemen OF either OF these
necessary arms Of our defence, which have so harmon
ously co-opeated against the public enemies wherever
opportunity has permitted, and good reason be
perceived why the highest officer OF the one service
not g. e. rule now as n nj no and here
OF the other II Congress shall think proper add the
rank OF lieutenant general 10 the army a reward for
the long service and brilliant of veteran soldier
may be accompanied or followed by its correlave OF
vice admiral IN the navy, according 10 the pleasure OF
the legislature
Oh The two rear ad iras proposed one might be most
usefuly employed at the department ITSELF when on
more active duty, such supervision and direction of
the personnel OF the navy might be assigned him by
the head OF the department analogy the coancxion
Of the General in Chief and the Ad1iant General with
the Department OF War The other, when not in COM
mand al should establish his quarters al San Fran
cisco. other point the Pacific coast. and should be
invested with command all the naval officers and
seamen west OF the Rocky mountains, well the
naval forces in the Pacific and in the China and East
India reporting all his ORDERS and the operations and
proceeding under them the department. at stated and
early periods The distance OF Pacific from the
seat OF government even by the most expeditions route
soo great for an energetic system OF naval operations.
by OF the transmission OF orders and dispatches
and fro, for the enforcement OF proper discipline
under the existing law. In the latter particular
squadron there is in less eligible situation than il
before the acquisition OF California The commander OF
squadron on foreign station is empowered to order
and TO approve and carry into effect their
sentences; but, IL be within the United States, court
only be ordered by the President the head of the
department Thus military justice. which formerly
OF eulOrCtment where Tue rVuanfOn was sumCeny
numerous 10 furnish the necessary officers 10 constitute
court 10 dependant now on orders from Washington,
and has become too ardy in It's administration for the
ends OF the service This Inconvenience is seriously felt
aud demands early remedy. Il is. however. but one
OF many illustrations OF the necessity for staonag
that coast an officer OF higher rank and larger authority
than any now existing in the navy.
The object IN maintaining naval force in the Pa.
chc and demanding that shall be in the highest degree
OF efficiency, 10 two-fod
LIST To protect a coast than thousand miles
IN length, occupied by sparse population, probably
not exceeding IN the whole 10000 souls, wothrds OF
whom dependant seagoing commerce tor the sup
ply oil their ordinary food aud raimen and separated
BY mountains and deserts OF thousand miles in extent
| from our other settlements sHa#U
I'd. To give adequate protection and encouragement 10
our counymen engaged in the whale fisheries, in
merce IN the South Pacific and 10 that expanding
merce with Eastern Asia which possessions the
Pacihee will enable 10 command, with proper I'M
proyvment Of our lawful advantages. naval policy
adequate 10 these ends be ndspensaby required
TACT perhaps not generally known, that the longest
voyage. in the time necessary for its accomplishment,
now made by navgaors Is that from Atlantic 10
Pacific pors and hence IL will appear rnanliesly expe.
dent in cruises on that ocean, 10 hi out naval exped-
tons from the Pacific coast, which shall return ther at
the end o their vessel sent there iron the At
antc according TO the present arrangement TO return at
the end OF three years. loses year OF The three going
and returning. And from the marked difference in the
home 10 re6i, she will need condition OF repair to
bic her 10 weather Cape Horn, and pass up the bolster
Gus cast OF the Atlantic, which will qualify her Tor
extended cruise IN the Pacific The extraordinary state
OF prices now prevailing forbds the idea OF building
vessels recruiting that coast. Indeed, the