The daily union., 1852-09-15

which affects not only medical officers. bul those officers
who may perhaps be termed the staff corps Of the navy
s q ss
they intend by bill which they have under consldeTa
non' and which bey propose @ repoT a. lhe asHi ses
SION OF Congress TO meet all these dncullss sha pass
The rank OF these ofcers on proper basis we Qught
not 10 egslae for corps Of the navy without legs
lang for all al the time Pursers IN lne navy stand
in precisely The position 10 the rest oil me omceis
do surgeons Neither OF them have any rank proper
board any ship; but they take that rank which lhe
commander Of the ship chooses 10 assign them.
Mr. HOUSTON That was the very reason why Inc
proyso introduced that they should have rank nde
pendent oil the vollon OF the commanding ofhcCs-hat
they should not be subject TO his caprices and wnims
but that their rank and position should be defined ak
plicily by law This is the why introduced the
proviso that they should take rank in all matters of cere
mony authority, so that they may know precisely what
their situation is, and that il may not be dependent upon
the will OF the officer who for the Rle being commands
them. These officers have had rank heretofore and
il has given rise 10 heart-burnngs and disconlens The
officers OF the line, in the naval service proper dis
posed not 10 accord to the staff officers any high rank IL
is all regulated BY chance and by iavortism This mat
ter has been settled in the army and 10 well understood
and defined there; and propose for the harmony and
beneh OF the service, that shall be settled IN regard 70
the naval officers the same as in regard to the military OIL
ee,s q the United States !. s an evil 50 easily rene
fairs should take so long about il as my friend IRON
Florida suggests, and therefore hope the Senate will
Mr. MALLORY would very cheerfuly vote for any
measure which would attain this end but II this propo-
stIon is 10 give staG officers of the navy any command,
under any circumstances, where officer OF the line as
low down as q midshpman is on board the vessel to
command il. cannot consent TO IT, Ali that these stan
officers ask is assmated rank in matters OF ceremony,
and perhaps on rs-martia They do not ask any
command All they want is to have proper rank, SO
that they may have proper quarters assigned and ceemo
nes observed in the line OF their duty which can always
be known and understood II we provide assimated
rank for branch OF the staff corps should pro-
vide for them all We should take in engineers. pursers,
chapains and every person on board whose comfort and
hs ,lfadh hu fhn n
quarters and attentions board There some difficulty
in arranging this matter OF assimated rank. am in IA
of providing for i, but wish to include ALL and to
make provision fer all, at the same ttne
Mr. MILLER. ! have been IN favor OF giving sur
geons in the navy proper rank and they ought to have
it but am opposed 70 dongi.n this way BY an amend
ment 10 this bill and think il will turn out that it this
proviso passes il will, instead os assimasng rank and
producing order, create confusion in the navy The
matter ough, to be broash, up properly by The Commit
tee on Naval Affairs after examining the whole subject,
SO that we can understand what we are doing
Mr.. PRATT This is a subject which is not new to
the All are aware a a. S o ssvs years 6as
these officers OF the navy should have the asslm
lated rank the class OF officers have in the army
Last year medical convention, consisting OF represent
atives Of the highest ability OF that class OF our fellow
citizens from every State OF this Union assembled in the
city of Baltimore They sent united memorial TO the
Congress of the United Sates asking that their medical
brethren attached the navy should not be degraded by
having different rank from their brethren in the army
During the present year similar convention assembled
al tHcy nave stHt
moal These gentlemen are collected from every sec
ton OF the United States, and the supposed injustice
which is done 10 the medical officers of the navy is Great
ing great deal OF unpleasant feeling among that whole
class OF people throughout the United States
For one, | cannot see why surgeon in the navy
should not have the same assimated rank IN The navy
which surgeon in the army has in the army. Nor can
see why purser in the navy should not have the same
rank as paymasier in the army has.
III understood the honorable senator from Florida he
states that difficulty may grow oui of thisihat ii
requires time to digest planihat medical officer or
purse should not, under any circumstances have CON-
mand Of vessel. Now, assevente that this amend
ment does not give them. 1t gives the assim-
lated rank which the same class OF officers have in the
army. A second lieutenant 10 the army might have CON
mand OF detachment and if there surgeon along,
with the rank of major he would be subordinate to hs
inferior ohcer OF the reg ular arm OF the service.
The amendment Is only 10 give the same assimilated
same descripon Of officers hold In The army and eoase
duenty the very difficulty which the senacT from Flor
ida supposes to exist is pecuded by the terms OF the
amendment | hope the amendment will he adopted.
The question has been before the Senate very frequently
1t is producing great deal Of excitement, Which we
ought TO get rid OF at is just to these gentlemen
thai they should have this rank and there be no
harm result to the service OF the United States hope.
therefore, that the amendment will be adoTted.
Mr.. MALLORY, | move TO amend The amendment OF
the senator from California. as il now stands by striking
out the proviso, and inserting IN lieu o It the following
Provided That the officers of the medical corps OF the
navy and Pursers Of the navy OF less Than twelve year
standnE shall rank with iienteints; and that medical
officers and pursers of twelve years standing
shall rank with but take no precedence OF
commandersf Awd propded further, That in shall
officers OF cther corps taken any command officers Of
the line OF the navy"
Mr.. MANGUM | am inclined to think that the
amendment proposed by the from Florida Mr.
MALLORY is right | sm for this measure, and shall
vote for at The proper time But desire now 10 max
this remark II is almost two o'clock; we have large
amount OF business to do and il gentlemen will persist
assuming that other gentlemen cannot understand these
subjects without undertaking 10 enghten them with
their counsels shall get through this bill We
ought now 10 be in executive session. There are ques.
lions OF great importance 10 be considered in executive
session. and will require pretty hard work for get
through with them before the hour OF adjournment
know there have been occasions when the Senate have
sal in executive for hours after the time fixed for
the adjournment but understand that the present Pres.
dent OF the Senate considers that be is bound adjourn
the Senate at twelve o'clock tomorrow, matter
whether is in executive or open session therefore, II
do stop these debates and bring this and other bills
10 close we shall be left with half OF business
finished.
Mr.. SHIELDS. notwithstanding the admontion Of
my friend from North Carolina. want 10 say two or
three words This system that has prevailed in the army
has given rise 10 great deal OF confusion and the whole
subject will have TO be regulated again In all
where rank is given power is presumed and they act
upon that and refuse TO obey officers with actual power
and rank. bat whose grade is inferior to their In
some other services they have, matter OF etiquette,
given the sah corps honorary preference and that is
what IS intended service but by giving the rank
have thrown the subject into confusion. think this
proposition ought 10 lie until there time TO egu
late The whole subject.
The question being then taken upon the amendment OF
MIR. MALLORY TO the amendment OF Mr.. GwIs, upon a
division II was agreed 10 as foIows-ayes 10, lS
Mr. In he nmo dnaant still 10, ~.