The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-16
From the Boston Post.
Reorganization or the Navy.

The bill proposing reorg aniz 4tlon OF vhe navy which
reported 10 the Senate Monday last by Commo.
dore Stockton, from the Committee on Naval Affairs,
con,empa,es making provision for the following officers
VIZ 20 commodores, 6s captains 81 commanders, so
leu,enan, commandants 325 hrs euenants 2o5 second
eutenans, 90 surgeons, "a passed assistant surgeons
As islan surgeons, Ga puse, 20 assistant pursers
10 chief engineers 10 hf-t assistant engineers 90 second
assistant engineers 81 third assistant engineers "a chap
lans 202 mdshipmen, al boatswalns, 45 gunners, IS
Carpenters, and 80 saimakers The bill provides that
when midshpmen have passed their examination, End
been assigned 10 the naval SERVICE they shall be com
ssionsd as second Iisptenaus and that number 50
assigned shall exceed 90 in any one year The bill
proposes retain the twelve professors OF mathematics
and the nins,esn masleis who now in the service
bat TO prohibit here after any appointment in either
OF these grades.
In The report of the committee lying before us the
commodore after referring To the act passed in lS42 or
ganizng bureaus, says
This likewise failed 10 secure 10 the public ser
vice the advantages OF the best and efficient profes-
sona ability aud for the same, among other reasons
that these chiefs oil bureaus continue TO be mere cerks
without The responsibility necessary 10 ndepend
en action and proper operation. These detects the
committee hope to obviae by the bill which they have
reported, by MAXI these oicera in come xon with the
Secretary OF the Navy, the official and responsible adv
sers Of The Secretary in relation 10 naval matters"
The commodore then speaks this wise:
magnitude
importance OF the duty devolved upon Them have Ia.
bored present to the Senate such thorough organ-
zallon OF the personnd OF the navy wilt eifectuaIly
secure for the country, under all circumstances ha
elite OF its professional ability and experience retired
list is indispensable TO the attainment of ,hls object and
your committee has provided for under such resttio
lions must the officer from public Injustice or
ing rat,ude, while at the same tc the country will Sc
cure the services of iis most accomplished officers The
presen, system OF promoting by seniority OF commission
without previous selection and careful pruning of us
ba In all f,fkr
are equally qualified Tor every possible contingency Of
the service The moral incubus which is crushing it
1t efectuay excludes energy, zeal, ability, and daring
from the nobest enterprises. and constitutes length OF
service without regard 10 old age and mental and phys
cal imbecly The controlling elements in the selection of
a commander.
"a puden, nsrass moi The ordinary affairs Of life
10 agents whose powers the decline and find
abundant evidence even in the records OF brief
naval career 10 copvipce tina, warfare upon the great
deep demands all The energy payer, and VIII that God
coners upon Hull Tough his great action and con-
quered The Guerrero at huyeigbt years ot age; Paul
Jones captured the Scraps in OF the most celebrated
combas on record, at thIr,y,wo; Decatur burnt the
Philadelphia a, twenty seven. and captured the Mace
DOMAIN at tbrtytwpj Perry conquered on Lake Erie at
twenty eight and McDonopgh On Lake Chamnain n,
ihnyone Stewart, in the Constitution, captured the
Cyane and evani aithiry and Banbrdge conquer
ed the lava at thny.one The youngest conqueror was
twenty seven, and The oldas oul hHy nine; and thirty
three years was their average age.
Reg OF that manhood, those stern and striking
characteristics which have ever distinguished tie suc-
cessiul sailor regardless OF those peculiar qualifications
essential 10 the successful issue OF those great trusts 10
which his country calls HIM, present, ~ stem entails
upon the county Inc hazard of con6dng TO The hands
oi Ignorance and imbecil,y tasks to which the energy
of youth the judgment OF age and the greatest profess
slona ability are barely equal.
"The bill makes distraction between the retired and the
uropgh is difference which the various services and
SACRIFICES of officers demand
The grades OF commodore, lieutenant commandment,
and second lieutenant created, and those ui master
and passed mdsbipmen are aboliahed---changes which
cannot tail 10 stimulate ambition aud distinguish merit
Ihe buleaus OF the personnel aud courts martial Tor
winch he bill provides, deemed essential 10 the best
interests oil the navy great diversity OF ecadents and
pTachce IN the invesiisA of before courts
naHal where The proceedings should be uniform and the
principles established has created ds,rust OF the equity
OF hese necssaary tribunals .. a....s
(" Your commee have the necessity OF prescribing
method placing before the country the pro fes-ons