The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-14

no more than justice but ne Justly dreads the secret
calumny and the unknown accuser The committee are
Of opinion that the interests Of the service would be
promoted by the appointment Of permanent officer
to act as Judge advocate OF naval courts martial
The supervision of such an OFFICER would tend 70 Sc
cure uniformity in the forms and proceedings OF
courts-martia and give to the law applicable to such
courts system and consistency throughout the naval
service.
The law martial, with the progress Of society, has
become complicated, and more or less dependent on
precedent At present the government Selects often
unadvisedly, judge advocates OF little experience,
and not always possessed OF that peculiar learning
which should qualify them to conduct the prosecu-
ton OF offenders in the most proper manner. The
consequence is that too often neither the parties or
the country are satisfied with the proceedings OF
courts-martial.
There is great variety of duties pertaining to the
personnd Of the navy distributed through the Navy
Department, which, if transferred to bureau would
add to the efficiency of the navy, and better secure
proper appreciation to the officers and men Of their
services and merits The committee therefore, have
provided in the bill herewith reported for the estab
iishment Of the bureau OF personnel and courts
martial. .
and importance Of the duty devolved upon them,
have abored to present to the Senate such thorough
organization of the personnel Of the navy as will ef
fectually secure for the country, under al crcum-
stances the elite of its professional ability and ex-
perence. A retired list is indispensable to the at
tainment of this object; and your committee
has provided for one, under such restrictions as
must secure the officer from public injustice
or ingratitude, while at the same time the country
will secure the services of its most accomplished off
GERS The present system Of promoting by seniority
Of commission without previous selection and care
full pruning of its material, based as it is upon the
fiction that all officers equally qualified for every
possible contingency OF the service is the moral in
cubus which is crushing it. 1t effectually excludes
energy zeal, ability, and daring, from the noblest
enterrses anG constitutes length ofservice without
regard to old age and mental and physical imbecty,
the controlling elements in the selection OF COM
mander.
prudent man intrusts not the ordinary affairs of
life to agents whose powers are on the decline; and
we find abundant evidence, even in the records ofour
own brief naval career, to convince us that warfare
upon the great deep demands all the energy power,
and will that God confcrs upon man. Hull fought
his great action and conquered the Gueer at thirty
eight years Of age Paul Jones captured the Scraps,
in one of the most celebrated combats record at
thirty.two; Decatur burnt the Philadelphia at TWEEN
tyseven, and captured the Macedonian at thrty-two;
Perry conquered on Lake Erie at twenty-eight, and
McDonough on Lake Champlain at thirty-one; Stew
art in the Constitution, captured the Cyane and Le
want at thirty mine, and cambridge conquered the
Java at thirty-one. The youngest conqueror was
twenty-seven, and the Oldest but thirty-nine; and
thirty-three years was their average age.
Regardless of that manhood those stern and strik-
ing characteristics which have ever distinguished the
successful sailor regardless OF those peculiar qualii-
cations essential to the successful issue of those great
trusts to which his country calls him, our present
system entails upon the country the hazard OF conhd
ing to the hands of ignorance and mbeciity tasks to
which the energy Of youth, the Judgment OF age, and
the greatest professional ability are barely equal
Naval officers are not only in command of our
ships and fleets, and as such called upon to compete
with the highest order OF professional talent and adj
vancement OF Europe but, in the exercise OF their
protection over our commercial marine in all seas
knowledge of the institutions, government, and COM
mercial systems Of the prncia powers OF the earth,
and general acquaintance with the laws OF nations,
are essential. They are called upon to protect not
only our and citizens abroad but our consuls
and public agents. They act sometimes as negotia-
tors OF treaties; not only warriors but as Judges and
pacificators; and upon their prudence and ability
not unfrequently depend the questions Of peace or
war; To fight ship well, is far from being the most
important duty OF an accomplished seaman; and his
country honor and glory depend fully as much upon
his services in peace as IN war.
The bill makes distinction between the retired
and the furough list difference which the various
services and sacrifices of officers demand
The grades of commodore, lieutenant, c0mman-
dant and second lieutenant created and those OF
master and passed midshipmen are abolished
changes which cannot fail to stimulate ambition and
distinguish merit.
The bureaus of the personnel and courtmartial, for
which the bill provides, deemed essential to the
best interests OF the navy; great diversity OF prece
dents and practice in the investigation OF causes be-
fore courtsmartial where the proceedings should be
uniform and the principles established, has created
a dstrust Of the equity of these necessary tribunals
Your committee have seen the necessity OF pre-
scribing some method Of placing before the country
tie professional standing Of officers in the Judgment
Of their peers in order that the chief Of the Navy De-
paltment may, at all times, have the means OF disn
gushing merit by the rewards OF particular posts or
special duty and they have in the seventh section OF
the bill devised plan which they believe to be free
from all reasonable objection.
Great difficulty is experienced in promptly obtaining
seanen for the navy. This difficulty, which has
proved very embarrassing TO the British navy, also,
has leen to some extent the result OF the vast in
crease Of coasting and California trade the
sequent demand for sealnen at largely increased
wages, with the additional stimuli Of short voyages
and the chances OF promotion to the posts OF mates
and masters, while the wages in the navy have not
varied. But an additional reason is found in the alb
sence of that wholesome discipline in the service,
sential for the protection OF the upright seamen
against the practices of the idle and vicious
The pay OF seamen, ordinary seamen, landsmen,
and boys, is at present twelve ten, nine, and six
dollars per month, respectively; and your committee
have deemed it essential to increase the pay oil these
well as OF all the warrant and petty officers and to
approximate it to the wages OF similar classes In the
merchant service.
As a further inducement to engage in the service,
provision is made for three months extra pay, and
medal in certain cases, to such as particularly dis
tinguish themselves for good conduct and ability:
and the naval academy, and the naval commission
ard promotion are opened to the sailor boy whose
character conduct and capacity may entitle him to
the fostering hand Of the Navy Department.
Such are the principal features VI the bill reported
by your committee.
TO ORGANIZE TIE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatves Of the United States of America, in Con-
gless assembled, That the commissioned officers of
tie navy of the United States shall be OF the number
and the grades following, to wit Twenty comino-
dores sxty.eight captains, ninetyseven commanders,
fifty lieutenant commandments three hundred and
twenty-five first lioutcnants, two hundred and five
second leutenants sixty nine surgeons thirty-four
passed assistant surgeons, forty-Gye assistant sur.
geons, sixtylour pursers twenty assistant pursers,
ten chief engineers nineteen first assistant engineers
twentynine second assistant engineers, thirtyseven
third assistant engineers, twenty four chaplans and
the twelve professors Of mathematics in service;
provided that no professors Of mathematics shall
hereafter be appointed in the navy. And that the
warrant officers shall be the nineteen masters now in
service; provided that no masters shall be appointed
warranted III the service; two hundred and two
midshipmen foityone boatswains, iortyiye gunners,
fortyfye carpenters, and thirty-eipht sailmakcrs
When nlilshipmen shall have passed their eXami-