The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-03

and pbysic capacity unfit for this go-ahead
progressive age. We are not insensible to the
merits of these old gentlemen, and we would
have them provided for with honorable PEN
sions. But we certainly would not entrust to
them the arduous command of our battle ships.
BY reference to the Navy Register it will be
found that with few exceptions our commanders
are fifty years of age and upwards, while the
youngest upon the list of captains are. hard
upon sixty. The evil lies in the system of pro-
motion by seniority without regard to merit
and qualifications, and the imperfect organiza-
ton arising therefrom. The old captains are
so VIGOROUSLY inefficient, that they are deemed
unfit to command frigate, and frigates are
accordingly placed under the command of COM
modores, who are generally much younger men
The proper duty of commodore is not to COM
mand a ship, but to direct and govern feet
and to discharge such diplomatic duties as may
be intrusted to him. Yet, from this high posi-
ton he is compelled to descend to the admins
trative duties Of single ship owing to the fact
that the captains are found incompetent, from
old age and iniirmity, while the younger aud
| more vigorous officers are debarred pro-
motion till it comes to their turn, and
then they, too, if they are not Dead are
superannuated and unfit for the command. In
| the English navy, the most efficient in the
world, men who have risen to the high posi-
| ton of admirals have been placed as captains
in command of frigates at thirty or thirty-fve
years Of age, which is certainly not too young.
In our system, it is just when man is in his
dotsge, and tottering on the brink of the grave,
! that he becomes a captain-not only in the
sixth age" which shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon y
but even in the seventh, the last scene of
| alp
| His second childisbness, and mere oblivion
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything"
1t is true that some men possess more
vigor, both of body and mind at seventy than
others do at thirty but these are exceptions to
the general law of humanity, and do not in the
slightest degree affect the question. There are
some Of these captains moreover, who have
never seen more than three years sea service
during lifetime spent in the navy. These old
captains constitute an oligarchy who are seldom
or never known to condemn any Of their own rank
when tried by court martial but woe to the
junior that is brought before them. Of the list
/ of sixty-eight captains the youngest, whose
commission only dates in 1852, is fifty-sx years
of age; the commission of the senior dates from
1906, and his age Is seventy-seven years so
that fifty-six is the age Of the most youthful
and dashing captain OF that navy, in the days Of
whose glory Decatur died at forty-two, Law
renee at thirty-two, whilst McDonough won his
battles at thirty -four, and Perry at twenty-six.
In conclusion. we maintain that the seamen
are not, and cannot be- Of the best class for the
very conclusive reason that their pay is not
nearly equal to what good men can get in mer-
chant vessels In these. in New York, seamen
obtain eighteen dollars per month. Their pay
in the navy remains twelve dollars, or just
what it was in 1900, since which time money
has diminished one-half in value. What wonder
was it. therefore, that when the Mississippi was
here last she could not put to sea from the
difficulty Of getting men Hence there has been
an inferior class Of seamen, and SO much insub-
ordination in the navy, which the old fogies
thought nothing could repress but barbarous
fogging.
What, therefore, is wanted to make our navy
equal, if not superior in quality, to any other
that floats is an Improvement in the models of
the bulls for the purposes Of fast sailing; guns
of larger calibre and heavier metal one Of
these being worth ten, in consequence Of the
application Of steam, enabling steamer to
keep out of range and sink or damage the
enemy's ships while they cannot touch her
better class of captains, by means of retired
list for the old fogies, and promotion by merit
instead of seniority; and superior class Of
seamen, by the simple process of giving better
wages. These reforms are deman led by the
spirit Of the age, and it is to be hoped that Con-
gress will give them an early consideration,
and frame judicious code of laws for the
strength and regulation of this great arm of the
public service.