The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-06

may occur, to the rank OF second lieutenant.
a. The grade OF first lieutenant to be established; and
all euenants OF each grade. TO be required perform
least three years active service at sea to ente them
TO promotisn to the next grade above
g. The next grade above FIRST lleutenans to be com
mssioned commanders, and 10 perform al least two
years service at entie them 10 promotion TO the
rank of captain.
O. The grade of post captain 10 be established, and TO
be required TO perform at least years sea service 10
entille them to promotion TO the grade OF commodore
T. The grade OF commodore to be established
s. The grade OF rear admiral 10 be established,
o. The grade OF vice admiral to be established.
10. The grade OF admiral TO be established.
The present requirements OF the service could be sup
piled by the creation OF only two officers OF the grade OF
admra-one OF whom is 10 be assigned TO the command
of the naval station about 10 be established in California
and the other 10 reside at Washington and have the en-
lire control OF the personnel OF the navy; separate bu
reau to be created for the transaction OF the business OF
his Office and he is have the privilege OF selecting from
amongst the officers OF the navy such assistants he
may require in the discharge OF his duties The first Off
GERS selected for these stations 10 be appointed by the
President by and with the advice and consent OF the
Senate all subsequent incumbents 10 be promoted to it
by seniority on the list of vice admiras.
The original number of vice admiras TO be limited TO
three.
The number of rear admrals TO four.
The number of commodores to thirty.
The number OF post captains to FORTY.
The number OF captains to seventy.
The number of commanders TO eighty.
The number OF first entenants to tioO hundred.
The number of second eutenans TO ttoo hundred.
The number of masters to eighty
The number OF midshpmen to be regulated by the
casualties of the SERVICE and to be appointed
each year than will suffice TO fill the estimated number of
vacancies, which will probably amount in the number of
officers herein proposed TO between forty and fifty Ii
any time vacancy should occur in the higher grades
and there should not be any mdshpman in the service
entitled to examination, il would act powerful incen-
tive to all if there should be provision that the senior
mdshpman might claim examination, and if qualified
be promoted TO the grade OF master Midshipmen are
not required for purposes of duty and the only necessity
for their appointment consists in the wise policy of edu
eating certain number of young men for the duties
which are subsequently 10 devove upon them. But
there can be neither wisdom policy in burdenng the
government with the support and education of larger
number OF them than is absolutely required for the pur-
pose above mentioned.
In defining the duties to be attached TO each of the
grades desired to have established the following schedule
will show how they may appropriately be divided
Squadrons and naval stations to be commanded by vice
and rear admals commodoTes, at the discretion OF
the President and by his appointment To be nominated
| to him by the admiral stationed at Washington.
Shpsof- the line and frgates to be commanded by posi-
captains.
Brgs war and store ships TO be commanded by
manders.
Steamers to be cassed with sailing vessels according
to their tonnage and commanded by the grade which
sailing vessels of equal size have been assigned
The necessity for the establishment of bureau for the
government of the personnel of the navy, both officers
and seamen has long been universally admitted in the
service and has repeatedly been recommended 10 Con
gress the annual reports OF the honorable Secretary
the Navy The other and more responsible duties Of thu
Navy Department render it altogether mpractcable 70
the honorable Secretary to give that attention to the per
sona and official discipline of the service which is
essential to its well being.
This bureau might exert most happy influence upoI
the internal discipline OF men-of- war by establishing
detailed routine of duties to be performed by the officer
and crew, and by appointing a permanent number o
petty officers whose entry into the service should b.
based upon the reports given of their qualifications by
the commanders of vessels in which they had served
written appointment given to every petty officer in III,
navy with slight increase of the pay at present allow
ed to OF this class, and regulation emitting then
to short leave al the expiration OF each cruise, with thu
assurance that they would be received in the capa
city when they desired TO return to service, would
insure TO the navy the best class of American seamen
and establish distinct grade between the officers and thu
inferior portion of the ships company, which wouc
prove OF material benefit in maintaining the discipline
the ship Another most desirable effect to be produce,
by this system would be the example which this class
men would afford to those below them and the control
ling influence they would to sustain the officers il
the execution of their duties thereby obviang, in
great degree the frequent necessity for corporal punish
ment, or, indeed for punishment Of any description.
i There many other great advantages which would
flow a natural consequence from increase in tb,
number OF grades board ship; but there be
doubt that they will present themselves to the minds
OF your intelligent readers, it would be supererogaor
in me to enumerate them here.
| must add few lines, in conclusion, on the sub
ect OF the reduction in the number of officers here
in proposed and TO state that without any material re-
ducton of the pay allowed to the grades now in III,
navy, perfectly satisfactory paybll TO all concerne,
could be presented, giving increase OF pay TO thu
admiras above that which "commodores' now re
ceive, and graduating that of the inferior grades il
such TO satisfy them, while at the sam,
time the Of the pay of all the officers of the lin,
would be annually reduced nearly $4,000 The whole
number of officers contemplated in this plan is 759
there are now in service OF the class 9S2-shownp
reduction of nearly 200 sea officers. J.
/ Meeting Of Canforpisns In Washington.
At an informal meeting of the Cafornisns in the city
of Washington. held at Browns Hotel the 9Th inst
Hon. Delos Strong, of Sacramento, called 10 thu
char, and John g. Brown, of San Francisco, ap
pointed secretary.
| On motion of Judge Crane, the Hon. Mr.. McCorkle
requested TO state to the meeting the position OF the
various bills before Congress for the benefit OF Cal
| fornia