The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-26

will be likely 10 object TO the other II isSs
answer 10 say that attach the consideration Of y
admiral q the commission OF captain, since the fae,
not 50. II II weIe the question would be alogetherun
worthy OF controversy, Tor IL would be dscussIo.
merely about name ii captain were in reality -
admiral, there would be no sufficient for eas
him captain, since il would be rejecting all the mot
aid that is associated with established language without
object There can be no certain ~
oil the ignorance OF people. or OF their unhness n
self government, than the practice OF confoundng NJ
substance with the reality, and enlightened na,ins
should not hesitate 10 use the name when il possess.
the thing. Other people have right 10 insist on An.
as is the simplest means OF preventing NM.
takes. and is answering the plaines ends OF language
He is friend OF liberty who not the friend OF sincs
ity; and the politician who is afraid oil simplicity AMI
frankness msniiesls bis disiaste Tor truth.
Without gradatlons in military rank there would 4,
no subordinaiion or discipline There can be no equality
in an army or navy One must always command AL
the rest must obey IL is true il might be possible 10 a.
tabsh system by which all the officers Of fleet shout
have the liular rank commanding according 10 \,
niority but 40 good could OF it, In the irs pac
the appellaon would moi al once indicate the relative ~
ton OF the individual as at present, and much woudb
lost in time and simplicity. There would be no genera
rule by which TO regulate pay and emoluments aud he
laws TO this effect would become complicated and difficult
of Interpretation. Foreigners would not know whom
address the superior, and whom TO address lhe n
ferior, would the government of the country ,sIs
able 10 understand It's own arrangements without con-
slant 10 records and registers There is N,
same reason for calling the commander OF ship can
tain there is for calling its dsbusing officer pae
and its medical officer surgeon. These terms explain
their own meaning which is one OF the great ends
language. What is true of captain is equally true Of
admiral The substitution OF the term commodore js
that of admiral is liable TO the objection as ,be
substitution of the term Lieutenant for that Of captain
1t does not mean what is expressed. commodore gil,
brevet rank of the hghes, utility; for it enables hs
government TO avail itself of the peculiar talents Of anv
active partisan captain, by detaching him Tor Temporary
service with a small squadron, usually OF light ship,
MA in pf hose ubn ptrnl
ments TO overlook seniority in the search OF peculiar
merit. He exists beneficial exception and in con-
vertng the rank into the rule, authority that highly
useful TO the department is lessened Admirals are AZ
necessary to fleets captains to ships The thing must
exist under some appeation other; and if the ola
term brings with il additional dignity, respect AUTHORITY
and adds fresh incentives TO exertions, il is mbec
~ to discard it. There is no more fitness in calling The
commander OF fleet captain, or even commodore,
than in styling the first magistrate OF the republic us
tce OF the peace"
There are many other equally just and sensible rs.
marks upon naval matters in the pages referred TO- and
respectfully commend them TO the perusal OF such
your readers not too much blinded BY their pp
dices to admit the light Of reason.
A very just complaint is urged against the inaclivyu
large portion of the established number OF captains and
commanders, as well against the large amount Of pay
drawn by this idle portion Of the service. But the qu
ton arises, how these defects in the present organ
active and economical system TO be substituted. without
doing gross injury TO the officers themselves! This
problem that may be solved by individual but Ii,
application of il rests alone with statesmen and the coun
cillors OF the nation.
With all humility submitted 10 the public, chiefly
with the view TO elicit public sentiment on the subject
what conceived TO be the approximation to just
LIBERAL and comprehensive system. calculated 10 TeHe
the country OF the expensive class OF drones acknow
Il IL -. a..
stimulate exeron and Improvement amongst those wh
may be retained in active employment, to elevate gen.
character OF the navy in well in foreigncu
tres and to insure to the country quality and quantity
of service equivalent TO the compensation at present al
lowed. stated explicitly that the expense of The
Der of officers proposed would be Sal 900 less than
appropriated to officers OF The same corresponding
grades in the service, and that the actual number Of
officers after the plan had gone into full operation
would not equal that now shown by the Navy Regsa
10 be in the navy
To show how this reduction. in the aggregate sppo
priaiion for pay OF officers be made, and yet gi
slight increase of pay TO the two admrals and three vice
admirals proposed-and because il was inmaed in my
last communication that pay bill this principle could
be presenled-I will here suboin what conceive
satisfactory calculation OF that statement with be Bill
itself: Admirals, $1,000; vice admrals $500; at
admiTals, $1,000; commodores, $500; post.capan
50 500; captains, $4,000 commanders, s., 600 FIRST her
tenants 81 500; second Geuenants, 81 0o0 master.
$500 midshpmen, $400 This would be the pay wiki
on seal duty. On leave, it would be as follows, viz
Admras, $4,000 vice admras, $500; rear admin,
50 1000; commodores, $2,50O; post captains, $500
captains, S,700; commanders, 81 500; frst euenans
81 200 second lieutenants, $3.50; masters $500; md
shipmen, 800, The pay for shore duty would h
that for service, with the exception Of i
II r. a. ahSa m
posed If all we're at sea- would be ST. l6 800; and bu
would be paid 10 llSese of the same class il all Wn
at sea, the sum Of Sl,2s7, oso-showing difference
favor Of this pay BILL notwithstanding the increased pay
TO the higher grades, OF Sl25,5so As ii may saeF
estimated that one-third of the officers would always
be on leave, the third OF this difference will be the amou
gained by the establishment OF the pay.bi PROPOSE
which is S41 SOFA that will 90 very lar os,a
paying all those officers who may be placed on hafF
Tor physical or other disabilities.
The creation OF new grades in the navy wOaL
increase the number Of promotions, and conseque'I
ly the changes from one grade TO another Wo'. [
be more rapid; and, as they would be res'nds
10 those who proved themselves worthy oil advana
ment by the faithful performance OF all the dHF
of their profession, OF course those who were ~
thus meritorious would be placed out Of the @
OF promotion on halfpay. 10 remain there. as 'Pta'
hed only for sufficient lengthof time TO enable lAen
seek other employment and then be discharged sloselp
from the service In the Of officers who bad serve
thirty years, or more and then physically dfqur
fed for further service a, sea- Il would seem esrspol
harsh and ungenerous Tor the government then 10 ~
them of without shilling in their pockets o. even
common TO Craze upon-a privilege extended
meanest masters TO their worn-out animals. lbeNl"s
this class OF officers could reasonably and justly ho'
be retained on the halfpsy list during the remanoa
their lives And would not This be A cheap egpedlenlW