The republic., 1850-12-05

sectional dock, also with stone basin and rail
way, al Philadelphia within the same period
Proposals have been invited for the construc-
tion of sectional or floating dry dock, basin,
and railway on the coast of the Pacific.
The personnel Of the navy comprises 6S cap
tains, 81 commanders, 327 lieutenants, 6S sur
gcons, 81 passed assistant surgeons, 43 assis-
tant surgeons, "a pursers, "a chaplans, l2 pro-
fessors Of mathematics, masters in the line
Of promotions, and AGA passed and other mid
shipmen; to which is TO be added, besides other
warrant officers, according to the annual appro-
priation for pay and subsistence, 800 petty
officers, seamen, ordinary seamen, landsmen,
and boys.
The capacity of the country to enlarge this
force whenever desirable may be readily per
ceived by stating that we have now in the mer-
camille marine 100000 Of tons of shipping,
an amount greater than that of any other ma
ton of the world; and, according to the ord
nary estimate Of six men to every one hundred
tons, there are in our merchant service l80, 600
seamen.
An obvious fault Of the present organization
of the personnel of the navy, as above set forth,
is the disparity between the head and the sub
ordinate parts. 1t is believed that the list Of
supemumerary officers, at least in the three
higher grades, is greater than is demanded for
an effective naval establishment. 1t is, there
fore, recommended that the number be reduced
to 90 captains. 80 commanders, 300 lieutenants,
with corresponding notifications in the inferior
grades. The size of the navy being thus de-
termined, it is further recommended that, from
time to time, as officers may decline in capacity
for useful service, they may be retired from the
active list on terms both just and liberal.
The Secretary proposes that in all future
promotions to a captaincy or to higher rank,
if such shall be established, seniority shall not
be regarded, and merit shall be esteemed the
only criterion of selection. This will appear to
be more eminently just and proper, since, un-
der the present system, no brevet rank is al
lowed to reward the most acknowledged pro-
fessional superiority.
Another defect in the present establishment
is the disparity between the ages of subaltern
officers and their grades, proceeding from the
fixed numbers in each rank and the failure to
provide for any promotion, except in cases of
vacancy. The senior passed mdshipmen, now
in the service, are older than were Perry, De-
catur, and Macdonough when they achieved
their victories.
To remedy this defect two methods have
been severally suggested by officers of great
merit and intelligence:
lst. To reduce the number of midshipmen
so as to furnish only so many as may be re-
quired to supply the higher grades as vacancies
may occur.
I'd. To educate a number great as that
now established, and to fix an age in every
grade, upon the attainment Of which, if no va
cancy exist for promotion, they may be retired
from the navy to find employment in the mer-
chant service, and supply reserve corps, in
case of war, of the most efficient character.
This whole subject is submitted for the de-
liberation Of Congress.
Another recommendation of the Secretary is,
that the office of Commodore, Ga title now given
merely by courtesy to officers who have com
manded squadrons,) be recognised by law, and
of admiral. This is considered important
in order to place the highest officers of our
navy on an equality with those Of other ma
tons whom they are accustomed TO meet on the
ocean. 1t is Necessary, ALSO in order to put
them on an equality as TO rank with the higher
officers of the army. BY the established rule
of relative rank, captain, the highest officer
in our navy, ranks only with colonel. No
good reason can be perceived why the highest
officer of one service should not be equal in
rank with the highest officer Of the other. A
rear-admirsl is the correlative rank TO a major
general. If Congress shall hereafter add the
rank Of lieutenant general to the army, it may
be accompanied by its correlative of vice
admiral in the navy.
OF the two rear-admirals proposed, one might
be most usefully employed at the Department
itself, when not on more active duty, in con
nexion similar to that Of the General-in-chief
and the Adjutsnt General with the Department
of War. The other, when not in command at
sea, should establish his quarters at San Fran
cisco, or other point on the Pacific coast, and
the naval officers and seamen west Of the
Rocky Mountains, as well as the naval forces
in the Pacific, and in the China and East India
seas. The distance Of our Pacific coast from
the seat Of Government is too great for an en-
ergetic system Of naval operations, or even for
the enforcement of proper discipline under the
existing law.
The necessity Of maintaining an efficient ma
val force in the Pacific, 10 order to protect
coast more than one thousand miles in length,
and to give protection and encouragement to
our whale fisheries, is fully set forth in the re-
port. The longest voyage now made by nayi-
gators is from our Atlantic TO our Pacific ports.
II is therefore advised, as a matter of economy,
both in expense and time. that when a suffi-
cient number Of ships shall be placed on the
Pacific side Of the continent, they be retained
there for permanent use, the crews being en-
listed in the Atlantic ports and sent out in Gov
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