The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-22
Where Is the Navy NIL this Time
TO THE EpIroR OF TIE HERALD.

TO THE ED1t0R OF THE HERALD.
was struck with the following query, proposed
at the end of leading article in New Orleans pa
per, recently-"Where is our navy all this time
Where our we'll fed, well padoficers % Now, sir, as
act ofusice, let say that the question, though
tinctured with malice, may with every propriety be
asked rot Of officers themselves, but of our Presi.
dent, Secretary of Navy, and those dragging ma
chimes, the Bureaus" Where are our officers
will tell you-either abroad son duty" afraid to
squint contrary to ''regulation'-aye, even trim
poor harmless whisker, except by the intercepted
of quadrant, much less to do their duty, Off.
GERS of great republic should, fearlessly and
promptly-or else they are vegetatipg ashore, con
leave" living ''six pair up recruiting the de.
feiencies ofpay, caused by desire to act and move
as officers and gentlemen when abroad As for such
a thing as ambition, wonder there is much of it
left in the service is, for the bugbear courtmar
tiar stares poor devil of officer at every turn Of
his elbow. In fact, were l asked the true definition
Of the words court martial" should be very apt
to reply, IAN officers shadow" Witness the ptiful,
6isgraceful court martial, and still meaner repr
mand, Of Lieut.. Hunter, in the Gulf in 1S47. And
why for what! Because he boldly and fearlessly
planted his country's flag where not many would
have done-because he did not wait for the farce
and ceremony of CIRCULATION" etiquette. That
same Hunter, though know him not, subsequently,
in lS49 hauled the poor little cockleshel, (face-
,iously termed "schooner of war, ) the fancy,
broadsise to the town of Messina, in Sicily, down
ports, out guns, (pop guns as they were) and sent
an intimation ashore that if certain right and rea-
sonable demands were not complied with in twenty
four hours he would lombard the town. Shade of
Decatur, can you keep quiet! Soon after, the Cap.
tain Of an English man Of war, then nearing the
place, learning the rights Of the matter, prompt
ly expressed his admiration of Hunters conduct,
and profiered him his aid. The demands were COM
piled with; and even though they had not
been, feel as if that same Hunter would hive
nailed his "gridiron" aloft, and went down al
standing, before he would have fnched. Such bets
make the blood of a man who loves his country
Jingle at his very finger ends, for chance to shake
such man by the hand. True, your ''peace mel"
and men of prudence" your milk and water old
fogies would condemn such things as rash But with
what justice! Let the fact that all our battles,
ashore ahoat, so far have been won by just such
"rashness" testfy-and yet, some of the old stock
are still good. There's Frank Gregory, who would
storm the lower regions ordered to do, and who
Is q friend to we merchantmen, when abr0ad-aye,
whom, by. the by, a joke. Some years ago, when
both Gregory and Peck belonged to the same ves-
sci, then abroad somewhere trial of the crews of
the respective boats they had charge OF took place.
They man9uvred around one another, and finally
Gregory boarded his antagonist Instead of striking
each other, the crews Of EACH commenced by trying
to throw one another out of their boats ALI of
Peck 8 crew were soon in the water, Qor it would
u
and Lieutenant Gregory, giving his coxswain a
wink, they listed Mr.. Peck, and as they were plump
ing him over the side, he roared out to the fellow
who had hold of his leg to 'catch turn with it."
Old Joe, as he is Familiarity called, immortazed
himself when attached to the Brooklyn yard, some
years ago, by his unshakeable belief in '.Hurley
and the bulls" and is noted for his uncompro-
missing opposition to chain bobstays and iron gear
generally on a ship. We want such men as
these now to send to look after 'sinterests in
Cuba, where poor devils of Yankee shpmasters have
been obliged, for years past, TO submit to every in
dignity, and to fairly sneak into port and sneak out
again Bah Send me such men as Gregory or PEREZ
VAL Peck Hunter or Ellison, or others of the same
kidney-Amercans and men in heart and deed,
prompt and decisive, but of your mild, SOFT"
diplomatic quilt driving fellows No that the ques-
tion has been asked, give the navy chance and let
see what it is made of-my word for 1t there is
some grit about it. To correct any impression to
the contrary, / may as well state that have no
connection with, or interest in the navy, further
than that, as merchant seaman, would like to
fair play shown to our navy. That great reform is
needed no one will doubt; but there are NOBLE CHI
valric spirits wearing the uniform, both young and
old men, who on duty and in peril, lash their lives
and characters on their guard srm and think but Of
their country and the honor of its flag. Give the
Juniors chance-we know what the old stock are,
and let US see what young America is built of, and
not be continually throwing the wet swab of a court
martial over their efforts and desires to distinguish
themselves. Let us have a few more Alyarado"
Hunters I. ID.