The New York herald., 1850-12-05

the fact that according to the present organization
Of the navy, there can be no promotions exeePtin
cases of death ofresignatons In fact, promotion
depends, as Mr.. Graham judiciously remarks, on
the mere conditions and accidents Of entailed es-
tates in family settlements. 1t is this that has
made the American navy "family concern"
complaint that has been constantly made against il
for series of years pasta few old fogies pos
sessipg all the posts that are worth striving for
Under the present system, the ambition of the
young men in the navy is chilled, or entirely sup
pressed, because, no matter how meritonous may
be the young officer, or no matter how ambitious
he may be, promotion comes no sooner to him, nor
any later TO the worst in the service. The reme-
dies which the Secretary proposes for this defect in
our present naval system, are, first, the organiza-
tion of retired list; and secondly, that, hereafter,
merit and not seniority shall be the rule of
promotion. II these reforms We're applied, il
is easy 10 see that the whole navy would
undergo thorough reorganization, and would be-
come much more efficient than il ever was. The
most ambitious and enterprsing, and, therefore, the
best young officers would not as is frequently
the case, leave the service in disgust and seek to
crafty their ambition in other professions, in the
merchant service. Another defect which the Sc
cretary refers 10, is the disparity between the ages
of the subalten ofiice and their grades, and the
failure provide for any promotion except in cases
Of vacancy TIC remedy he proposes
First, To reduce the bsr of mdshipmen, SO as to
furnish only many may be required to supply the
higher grades, as vacancies may occur.
Second, To educate q number equally as great as
that now established and to tx an age in every grade
promotion, they be retired from the navy to find
! employment in the merchant service and supply re-
nf tha az Nfa ~rha
scter.
The subiec of relative rank among the officers OF
the navy has engaged the attention Of the Secre-
tary He proposes that officers in that service
should hold the same relative rank aAoicers in the
army, is the case IN Great Britain. He also sug
sests that two a3niirals be created as the
ward Of meritorious and long service, one 10 be
stationed IN Washington and the other in San Fran
ciseo-the latter TO be invested with command over
all the naval officers and seamen westof theR ocky
Mountains, as well the naval forces in the Paci-
fic, and in the China aud East India seas. Il is
clear that such officer is necessary that coast
removed il is so far from the City of Washington.
II appears that, in abol shing fogging in the
rcvy, without providing fo- any substitute punish
/ ment Congress has created some trouble and dis
order IN the service. 1t leaves offenders, he says,
/ exposed 10 the extreme penalty Of human law, to
which foeging was, in many instances, only a
| milder alternative. This is certainly matter of
| great moment TO the navy, and we have no doubt
that Congress, in its wisdom, will remedy the
temporary difficulty which their hasty legislation
occasiOned.
We are glad to perceive that the Secretary of the
Navy is in favor of extending the mail steamship
service, and recommends the establishment of
line OF steamships or sailing vessels to run between
San Francisco and Macao or Shanghai in China
IL any such line be formed, il is TO be hoped that it
will be composed OF steamships. The experience
which we have acquired is conclusive that they
are the best in fact, it does not admit of a mo-
ment's question, while, at-the same time, they are
admirably adapted for transporting the light and
valuable merch andse of the East, such as silks,
teas, &c, NC. Mr. Graham is perfectly right in
saying that the merchant steamships are valuable
acquisition TO the navy and we are glad TO see that
the prejudice which exists in certain quarters that
we know of, towards the mail steamship system,
has not reached him. The mail contract system
should be fostered, encouraged, ami extended, in
every reasonable way, and ought never TO be
abandoned. AS we have repeatedly shown, il fur
/ nishes the country with an arm of defence Of
fence, the cost of which, in time of peace, is com.
/ psratively iriilng, while il affords to the young
men Of the navy the opportunity Of acquiring a
! perfect knowledge aud experience of steam as a
motive power on the ocean, desideratum not TO
be overlooked by any government, especially ours.
/ We like the report, and hope that Congress will
promptly act upon the many valuable suggestions
/ which il contains.