The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-19

The committee OF opinion thai the interests Of the
service wosld be promoted by the appointment OF per
name omcer TO act judge advocate OF naval courts
martial The supervision of such an officer would lend
10 secure uniformity in the forms and proceedings OF
eourls'martal. and give 10 the law applicable 10 such
vice ssa@l n TT
The law martial with the progress of society has be-
come complicated and more or less dependent on pre-
cedent Al present. The government selects, often unad
vsedy judge advocates OF little experience and not al
ways possessed OF that particular learning which should
qualify them 10 conduct the prosecution OF Offenders in
the most proper manner The consequences u.s. thai too
often neither the parties the country are satisfied with
the proceedings OF courts martial
There Is great variety OF duties pertaining 10 the per
sonnet OF The navy distributed through the Navy Depart
men which, II transferred TO bureau, would aid 10 the
efficiency OF the navy, and better proper appre
cation to the officers and OF their services and merits
The committee therefore, have provided in the bill here
win reported Tor the establishment OF the Bureau OF Per-
sonnet and Courts rial
Your committee, fully OF the magnitude and i'm
porance OF the duty devoved upon them have labored
10 present TO the Senate such thorough organization of
the personnel oil the navy will eecluay for The
country under all circumstances the elite of it's profess
sona ability and experience retired list is indspen
sable to the attainment Of this object and your commit
tee have provided Tor under such restrictions as must
secure the efhcer from public injustice ingralitude,
while al the time the country will secure toe ser
vices OF its most accomplished officers The present sys
tenn OF promoting by seniority OF commission without a
previous selection and careful pruning OF It's material,
based il upon the fiction that all officers are equally
qualified Tor every possible contingency OF the service,
the moral incubus which is crushing it, II eHeciualy
excludes energy ZEAL ability and daring from the
blest enterprises, and constitutes length OF service, with
out regard to old age anu mental aud physical mbec-
y, the controlling elements IN the selection OF
mander
prudent ntrusts not the ordinary affairs OF life
to agents whose powers the decline; and we find
abundant evidence. even in the records Of brief
naval career TO convince us that warfare upon the great
deep demands all the energy, power. and will that God
confers upon man. Hull fought his great action and
conquered the Guerrero at thirtyeght years of age
Paul Jones captured the Seraps in one Of The most cee
brated combas record, at thirty. two; Decatur burnt
the Philadelphia twenty seven, and captured the Mace
DOMAIN at thirtytwo, Perry conquered Lake Erie
twenty eight, and McDonough on Lake Champlain al
thirty zone; Stewart in the Constitution, captured the
Cyane and Levant at thirty and cambridge con
twenty seven, and the Oldest but thirty .nne; and
thirty-three years was their average age.
Regardless OF that manhood those stern and striking
characteristics which have ever distinguished the
cessp sailor, regardless OF those peculiar qualifications
essential the successful issue of those great trusts 10
which his country calls him, present system entails
upon the country the hazard OF condng to the hands OF
ignorance and imbeciiy tasks to which the energy OF
you,h the judgment OF age and the greatest professional
ability are barely equal as .aE@
Naval officers not only in command OF our ships
and fleets, and such called upon 10 compete with the
highest order of professional talent and advancement of
Europe but in the exercise of their protection over our
commercial marine in all seas, knowledge OF the nsi
tutlons governments, and commercial systems of the
principal powers of the EARTH aad general acquant-
called upon to protect not only our and cilzens
abroad, but our consuls and public agents. They act
sometimes negotIators OF treaties only
rors, but judges and pacifcaors; and upon their pu
dence and ability not unrequenty depends the question
OF peace or war; To fight ship well is far from being
the most important duty OF an accomplished seaman and
his counrys honor and glory depend fully much upon
his services in peace as IN war
The bill makes distinction between the retired and
the Through sir-a difference which the various SER
vices and sacrifices OF officers demand
commodore m MD nj
and second lieutenant are created. and those Of
and passed mldshpmen are abolshed--changes which
cannot fail 10 stimulate ambition and disllngu merit
The Bureaus Of the Personnel and Courts MARTIAL for
which the bill provides, deemed essential to the best
interests OF the navy great diversity Of precedens and
practice in the investigation OF before courts
tia where the proceedings should be UNIFORM and the
principles established, has created dsrust of The equity
OF these necessary tribunals
Your committee have the necessity of prescribing
method Of placing before the country the profess
sona standing Of officers in the judgment OF their peers
in order that the chief OF The Navy Department may
all times, have the means OF distinguishing 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 OBJ
lection.
Great difficulty is experienced in promptly obtaining
seamen for the navy This difficulty which has proved
very embarrassing TO the BRUSH navy also. has BEEN
extent The result OF the vast increase OF coasng
and California trade the consequen demand for seame
at argelyincreaeed wages, with the additional s,nu Of
short voyages. and the chances OF promotion the posts
Oh the wages IN tne navy nave
not varied. But additional is found in the alb
OF that wholesome discipline in the service essen
tia 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, nne and six dollars per
month, respectively; and your committee have deemed Il
essential to increase the pay of these well as of all
The warrant and petty officers and to approximate il 10
the wages OF similar classes in the merchant service
As further inducement TO engage in the service, a
provision is made for three months extra ray, and
medal, in certain GASES 10 such spareuarly distinguish
themselves for good conduct and ability; and the Naval
Academy and The naval commission and promotion are
opened 10 the sailor boy whose character conduct and
capacity may eniile him to the fostering hand OF The
Navy Department
Such the principal features OF the bill reported by
your committee,
rom London Times December %