The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-30

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

that will probably be made to restore it during the
next session of Congress. Quite confident that the
tone Of public sentiment is such that il never will be
again given to the decrepid and inefficient Officers
whose power lies in its existence think it needless
to advance a single argument in opposition to tho
advocates for its restoration.
Having an extensive acquaintance among the Of
fcers of the navy, have been much struck with
the tone and manly spirit which pervade the ranks
Of the passed midshpmen who seem more properlv
impressed with the actual wants of the SERVICE and
who have more chivslry than all the other grades
put together, and in whose hands, venture TO say,
the navy would take most healthy tone, and soon
prove an ornament and pride to the country. AS
briefly, then, as possible, will jot down, for what
they are worth, some few ideas gathered in CONVEX.
sation from few of that grade whose intelligence
and character make it my pride to know them.
VI all classes of men in this country, our naval
officers are less impressed than ANY others, with the
necessity Of egisatng and ovidng for the future,
and of placing their peculiar institution upon a
tire intelligent population Of the United States are
studying how to add to our growing greatness the
American navy stands still or retrogrades This is
not the fault of all, but of the few "od codgers'
who hold the reins Of power
Abolishing logging in the United States navy
and merchant service, will be set down, by future
historians, as one of the remark able acts which al
ready characterize this age Of civilization and ad
vancement. A great revolution, effected not with
out violent opposition on the part of class of Of
fcers, OF whom | shall presently speak, and it was
not until the public mind ad ma de itself distinctly
understood upon the subject, that it was effected.
revolution has been achieved in human progress as
great and as antagonistical to the old system, as
when our forefathers astonished the world by
erecting republicanism triumphant against des-
potsm. From what can learn, and from having
some little experience in naval matters myself, the
sold fogie' growl and opposition to its loss, is
proper and true, as far as they themselves
cerned, for without the lash, they are powerless-
it was their body guard, protection and text book
A view which offer to you this subject is,
think, one not in print but emanstes from an Off
Ger, Of whose qualities you are we'll qualified to
judgo-an officer whose theories may be startling
and shocking to " old fogiedom;" yet still he has
the moral courage to utter them 1t is to this pur
pose =" You must re-educate the entire body of
naval officers, eradicate old prejudices, and i'm
press upon their minds the e,essity for adapting
their tastes and tempers to the order of things
so unmistakingly called for by the nation. Every
naval man whom you hear complain of the utter
impossibility of maintaining discipline in the SER
vice without the lash, is one Of that class, who
without it, are helpless, and have no resource in
their own abilities; thoy have not tho superiority
of mind, physical energy, genius, or talent neces-
saTytO cOmmandrespect and obedience" master
spirit will, in all communities and in all trades,
reach the topmost height, command admiration,
and control minds Of inferior calibIe. Nine-tenths
Of the officers Of the navy Of what is Familiarity
called the Commodore Rogers school, which was
fathered by that officer after the war with Great
Britain, and modelled in emulation of the British
navy-a system which, handed down to the present
time, has inflicted m ore injury upon the navy than
any one, not behind the scenes, can well imagine
i need not cite instances or proofs-they are too
we'll known-well sir, educated in this school,
there are officers in the navy, with high rcputa-
tions, who now go raying about ships deck, cry
ing, " What am to do! what can do!-the men
won't mind mel can't fog them," &C., &c.-ohi-
GERS who never have studied to perfect themselves
In mental or moral superiority, but relied upon the
cat to uphold their authority and dignity, and gain
a name for them of being the smartest officers in
the navy, because the most cruel and arbitrary.
Such officers, sir, never did carry on duty but by
superior knowledge, which are the essential elc-
ments in making up the brilliant and distinguished
military man, are most lamentably wanting by
such men, Deprived Of the lash, they have neither
their fellow men, or the charity to overlook
and correct their faults. All men, in all kinds of
life, tacitly acknowledge and give place and respect
to those whom their instinct tells them are their
superors. There are officers in the navy, who with
pride, say that they mover had necessity to have
man punished with logging; and those off ,ers
not be surpassed upon ships deck, either for the
brilliancy Of their evoutons GOODNESS and penetra-
tion in times Of danger and emergency, profound
skill in their profession, the re ady obedience
and admiration which they exac. and excite from
their subo 'dinates-or still greater need Of praise,
the intense envy and hatred Of their inferior, though
senior, officers. Yes, Mr.. Editor, in carrying out
the reform Of the navy we must strike at the root;
rst gathering the fair fruits and wholesome seed;
then bare the trunk, and replant what is healthy
and good for the republic in fresh and new soil.
Burn the rest Men, cir, who, a, BEST ha 20 but little
knowledge of government, and are, from the pecu-
liarity OF their profession, impusive, and, there
FORE often wrong are apt 20 be SO deeply rooted in
their pTejudiccs that no reason can influence their
ideasrefecion is foreign to their char to
enable them to decide how to shape their course
and accommodate their con iuct to the required
order Of the new school An officer who, from his
youth has been so used that il is n second nature
to him, to enforce his orders by threat Of the cat,
being suddenly deprived of this terrible weapon
of inidstion aud cruel upholder of his tyranncal
will, is totally unpreparcd how to act or how to
carry on bis duty. His own force Of character has
never been called unaide into plays his education
has not prepared him to meet cxigcncy like this;
and thus, with his hands empty, no storms and
threatens: and In his case, and under his tuition,
the discipline Of the Am erican navy does, indeed,
suffer icarfuly. This continuing, such officers
serving on shipboard, whose will and word should
be the signal tor prompt and cheerful respect and
obedience, are treated first with Indifference by
their men, then with contempt and disrespect; from
thence it is but stepto dsobedience-insubo dina
tion and mutiny followipg-and you have the pre-
sent condition Of the navy, as IT is managed by
some officers who the advocates Of logging, or,
in the language of old "fogydom," which delights
in referring back to the days Of nineteen dollars
month, with grog and cat ab hbaup, "you have
the service going to h--n Will you, then, agrco
with me, that Congress must enact laws of reform
keeping pace with the adjustment If logging,
which will effect not only the welfare and general
good Of the men, but the officers. Prune out the
navy, give the old officers liberal pay and provi-
sion, lay them on the shelf, with enough to comfort
their old age, and support their families in the sta
ton which they hold-the country can well afford
it-select the young officers from their known cha
Iaters and quail 6cations ON sbipboard-not by the
farcical and corrupt test Of Board Of Examina.
tion'-of which, more snon--but by what they
have proved themselves capable Of every officers
character and talents known thr )ughout the SER
vice; /, will be difficult Ia SIX to find out who are
worthy and who are not. Give officers 50 selected
the command; place them where tbeic ambition
will have fair held for action; let them be men
strongly imbucd with the ideas of the age they live
in, The wants and wishes Of the country; mes who
do not draw themselves within reserve and
clusiveness foreign to ou .iobssnd which, by
the bye, has tended so much 60 render the navy
popular. Ohceis enough could be selected Of this
staur, who would form nucleus round which
navy conld be framed OF gallant and daring
hearts, omplished gentlemen, ssd skilfdl officers
a. the world ever saw; mon ia whose the Tag
would be borne with all the bravery. self sacrifice