The republic., 1850-12-04
No. lat.

the duties of ordnance, photography, scientific OBJ
servation the coast survey, and all special service,
besides active duty at and at the navy yards,
and other shore stations.
While the proprety of this curtailment would
appear 10 be manifest to give eymmetry to the
val corps, and TO nfuse lille and animation into all
its parts by more active employment, and there
fore to be demanded by the public interests, justice
those who have devoted themselves to the service
Of their country and have given to it the prime Of
their manhood requires that it shall be effected in
the delicate manner to The feelings of those
discharged, and that suitable remuneration shall
be made to them for the disappointment and change
in their means Of livelihood. We not, how
ever without precedents for such proceeding in
the reduction of the navy by the act of March Sd,
1901, and the large reduction of the army to a
peace establishment by the act OF March I'd, 1921
Whether the designation of the persons to be dis
charged shall be devolved on the President, as In
the instances just recited, on board of officers
convened for that purpose, Is respectfully referred
HAVING by tnis process orrermiueo or
the navy will be necessary, in order render il
effective, TO provide that from time time, officers
may decline in capacity for useful public service,
either from approximation or other cause, they
may be retired from the active list on terms both
The duty of the Government to take care, in old
age or in unavoidable decrepituce or disease, OF its
gallant and faithful servants, should be in 20 re-
spect preermtted but nothing should be allowed
to interfere with the efficiency of the navy for, the
purposes of its institution lncompetency from vice
and dissipation should be viewed with displeasure;
incompetency from unavoidable and honorable
causes, with commseration and kindness But in
neither should command or promotion be de-
MED to those who must really and efectualy stand
between the country and its enemies in the hour OF
danger. Even in judicial Offices held during good
behavior, in all well regulated States provision has
been made for removal from Office for mental
physical incompetency, as well as for criminabty.
In this connexion il Is worthy Of serious consd
GRAFTON whether seniority of commission
should not be di-regsrded in promotions to grades
above that of commander Although the power
| of the President in nominating to all Offices Is
limited by the Constitution, and dependant
qualifications in the candidate, and, although in
few instances there have been departures from the
rule in question, yet general usage has made
hDeal promotion To all grades in the navy almost
matter OF right II rs certainly convenient, mas
much as it prevents avoritism and advances d.sci-
plume and subordination, by suppressing hostile
rivalry, TO adhere TO this usage a certain point
of elevation but il is inconsistent with the spirit of
the age, as well as with all our ideas Of propriety,
that the highest rank IN profession Whose active
members habitually exposed, If not to the dan
gers battle, those of the ocean the tempest and
Of pestential climates, and in which thereis wide
field for competition in requirement., skill, and
conduct, should be made to depend on longevity
survivorship-the mere conditions and accidents OF
entaled estates in family settlements Itis, there
fore, proposed that in all future promotions TO a
csptaIncy or to higher rank, il such shall be
established, seniority shall not be regarded, and
merit shall be esteemed the only criterion of selec
ton. This will appear TO be the more eminently
just and proper. since, under the present system,
no oreyet rank or other advancement In the naval
service is allowed to reward the most heroic ex
ploit or acknowledged professional superiority,
promotion coming none the sooner TO the best,
none the later TO the worst, provided they can
cape being cut of from the service by the sentence
of court ma rtial.
Another defect in the present establishment, too
manifest to be overlooked by the most casual OBJ
server, Ia the disparity between the ages of sub
altern officers and their grades, proceeding from
the bxed numbers in each rank and the failure
vacancy. The senior passed midshipmen, now in
the service older than Perry, Decatur,
and Macdonough when they achieved their viSto-
ries with go much renown to the country; the
nior heutenants past the age when military duty is
required Of the citizen in the militia; and the com
manders and captains proportionally older. The
aspiring youth, now entering the navy, may not
hope TO reach the rank of a comma nder in the pc
riod which is ascertained to be the average dura-
ton of human life This long apprenticeship
which is not required for learning his duties but
u occasoncd by keeping him waiting for promo
ton until the exit Of some one above him. not only
depresses his ambition by deferring his hopos but
denies him opportunity for the culture Of his self
reliance, confidence in bis own skill and Judgment,
and the hundred namelcss attributes Of thorough
officer, which only TO be acquired by being
/ thrown upon HE own resources and responsibility
To remedy this defect, which has become the
more grievous and striking since the Limitation
/ imposed on the number of officers and promotions
by the law OF 1872 already referred TO, two methods
have been severslly suggested by officers Of great
merit and intelligence.
4 lst. To reduce the number Of midshipmen, go as
TO furnish only 80 many as may be required TO sup
ply the higher grades as vacancies may occur.
I'd. To educate a number equally great that
now established and 70 fix age in every grade,
upon the attainment Of which, If no vacancy exists
for promotion, they may be retired from the navy
70 find employ in the merchant service, 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 for this
tuune ffeI he deli.
/ SOugress.
slso most earnestly recommend that the service
itseli be elevated by recognising by law the Office
OF Commodore, and by creating at least two officers
Of the rank Of Rear Admiral. The increase Of rank
IN the navy, often proposed in the earlier history Of
the country, seems now 70 be demanded by the
highest consideration Of policy and duty. Not 10
speak Of its effect IN promoting discipline and ef
iectivencss, by an increased and concentrated
sponsbiity In the highest grades Of the service, II
would add 10 the dignity Of our officers, unfre-
queutly the representatives. of their country IN di
rect intercourse with foreign governments, and TO
the respect accorded TO them by those Of other ma.
tone IN their intercourse abroad and furnish
and powerful incentive 10 excellence in the minds
Of the mcritOrOus and aspiring Of all the inferior
ranks. We have at this ufnc veterans In our navy,
with the commissions only OF captain, and the q
tles, by courtesy Of commodore, because they have
commanded squadrons, who meet on the ocean, as
roar -admirsls and vice admirals, contemporaries
Ia other services, with whom in early life ihey
sOcistod as co -lieutenants, aud who now with
pcrior rank have often commands numerically in
eriOr 10 their own nation which must be
classed among the great naval powers Of the world,
aud which, in the abundance of its resources and
its situation between the two greatest oceans, -
capable of occupying the very hrst place, should
mo- longer delay the establishment Of CHER naval
ranks, and should look 10 and prepare for the com
mand of fleets ne well az squsdrOus In any exigen.
cy which may call for It.
Our navy, in its aggr gate Of persons, is about
equal To the army. The commanders Of some Of
lie squadrous have actually under their command
more men than division, the command OF major
general; aud yet its highcst copmissioned officer
captain, ranks with colonel. by resolution Of
the Continental Congress In l77b, providing a navy
Tor the war Of the Revolution, the relative rank 4
officers in the land and naval services estab
lshed as follows, viz. an admiral, as general;
vice admiral az a lieutenant general; rear .sdmi-
raj, as a major general; commodore, as a bngs-
dier general; captain of a ship of 40 guns md up
wards as a colonel, &c.
This scheme OF relative rank prevails in the Brit
ish serv &C at the present day. II is worthy of
mark that, although at no period since has there
been less thon one major general Of the army OF the
United States our naval officers, though ia addi.