Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-22

without the hazard Of exposure and ebuke The merto
rious officer desires no more than ustice But he justly
breads the secret caumny and the unknown The
committee of opinion that the interests Of the
would be promoted by the appointment of permanent
officer to act as Judge advocate Of naval courts martial
The supervision Of such officer would tend to secure
uniformity in the forms and proceedings Of
and geAto the law applicable to such courts system and
consistency throughout the naval service
The law martial with the progress of society, has be-
come complicated, and less dependant prece
dent AT present the Government selects, often mad
ysedly judge advocates Of little experience and not al
ways possessed of that peculiar learning which should
qualify them TO conduct the prosecution Of offenders in
the most proper The consequence is that too
often neither the parties the country satisfied with
the proceedings of courts-martal .,
There is great variety Of duties pertaining to the
personnel of the navy distributed through the Navy De
partment, which, if transferred bureau would addo
the efficiency Of the navy, and better proper R
probation to the officers and Of their services and
merits The committee, therefore, have provided the
bill herewith reported for the establishment Of the bureau
of Personnel and Courts martial.
Your committee fully aware of the magnitude and i'm
p0rance of the duty dev0ved upon them have abored
present to the Senate such thorough organization Of the
personnel Of the navy will efeetually fer the
country under all circumstances the elite Of its profess
sional ability and experience retired list is ndis-
pensable to the attainment Of this object and your
mittee have provided for under such restrictions
must the officer frem public injustice ngrati
tude while at the time the country will secure the
services Of it's most accomplished officers The present
syem Of promoting by seniority Of commission without
previous selection and careful pruning Of its material,
based as it is upon the fiction that all officers equally
qualified for every possible contingency 6f the service is
the moral incubus which is crushing it. 1t eectuay
excludes energy ZEAL ability and daring from the noblest
enerprs and constitutes length Of SERVICE without
gard to old age and mental and physical imbeciity the
controlling elements in the selection Of commander.
prudent entrusts the ordinary affairs offe to
agents whose powers on the declines and find album
dant evidence even in the records Of brief naval
career to convince 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 thrtyeight years Of age Paul Jones
captured the Serapis one Of the celebrated
bats on record at thirtytwo Decatur burnt the Pha
depha at and captured the Macedonian at
thirty-two Perry conquered Lake Erie at twenty
eight and McDonough on Lake Champlain at thirtyone
Stewart in the Constitution, captured the Cyane and
Levan at thirty -nine and cambridge conquered the
Java at thrtyone The youngest conqueror twenty
seven and the Oldest but thirtynne and thirtythree
years was their average age E44
Regardless of that manhood those stern and striking
characteristics which have distinguished the
full sailor regardless of those peculiar qualifications
senta to the successful issue of those great trusts to
which his country calls him. present system entails
upon the country the hazard of condng to the hands Of
ignorance and mbeciiy tasks to which the energy of
YOUTH the Judgment of age and the greatest professional
ability are barely equal III
Naval officers are not only in command of ships
and fleets and such called upon to compete with the
highest order of professional talent and advancement Of
exercise prOteCuOu
commercial marine in all seas, knowledge of the insti
uons government and commercial systems Of the prin-
cipal Powers of the earth, and general acquaintance
with the laws of nations, essential They are called
upon protect not only and citizens abroad,
but consuls and public agents They sometimes
negotaors of treaties not only warriors, but as
judges and pachcators; and upon their prudence and
ability not unfrequeny depends the question OF peace or
To fight ship well is far from being the most i'm
portant duty of accomplished seaman and his
trys 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, commandment and
second lieutenant created and those of master and
passed midshpmen are abolished changes which cannot
fail to stimulate ambition and distinguish 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 ana
practice in the investigation of before courts
tal where the proceedings should be uniform and the
principles established has created dstrust Of the equity
of these necessary tribunals
Your committee have the necessity OF prescribing
method of placing before the country the profess
siona standing of officers in the judgment Of their peers
in order that the chief of the Navy Department may at
all times have the of distinguishing merit by the
rewards of particular posts special Duty and they
have in the seventh section Of the bill devised plan
which they believe to be free from all reasonable OBJ
jestion.
Great difficulty is experienced in promptly obtaining
for the navy. This difficulty, which has proved
very embarrassing the British navy Also has BEEN to
extent the result increase of coastng
and California trade the consequent demand for
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 additional is found in the abb
Of that wholesome discipline in the service,
tal for the protection of the upright against the
practices Of the idle and vicious.
The pay Of seamen, ordinary seamen, landsmen, and
boys at present twelve, ten, nine, and six dollars per
month, respectively and your committee have deemed It
essential to increase the pay of 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 further inducement to engage in the service,
provision is made for three months extra pay, and
medal in certain cases. such particularly distinguish
themselves for good conduct and ability; and the Naval
Academy and the naval commission and promotion
opened the sailor boy whose character, conduct and
capacity may ente him to the fostering hand Of the
Navy Department
Such the principal features Of the bill reported by
your committee
nfpoRrANT DEcIsIos.-The case Of Woodward, admin
strator Of Harper Phoenix Life Insurance Company