Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-28
DEMA GOGLSH IN THE NAVY.

Few of our readers are probably aware that, after
all that was attempted at the late Session of Con-
gress in the way of what is called "Reform" in the
Navy, another step was actually taken to reduce
the efficiency of the Navy, as if enough had not
lately been done in that direction by the almost
total abolition of discipline board of the National
Marine. We were not indeed ourselves aware of
it, and should not yet have known of it, but for
our attention having been called by a respectable
Democratic gentleman Ca ciyilian) to the contents
OF the following article, which now republsh at
his instance, from neighboring journal friendly to
the ruling party in the Government
FROM THE "ALExANDRIA AGE"
CHANGE is NOT IMPRovEMENT-In this age of
progress every pursuit in life, whether political,
scientific, moral or religious, is so completely sub
jected to the spirit Of change and innovation that
for any system of rules designed for the heathful
regulation OF the business economy of life to be
condemned it is sufficient nowadays that it is
branded with soubrquet Of antiquity Let any system
be called DID, and it matters not how deeply its founda
tons may be laid in the wisdom and experience Of man
kind how runous its overthrow may be to the best
interests Of society and the happiness of the human race
it instantly seized upon by the reckless and rapacious
hands of the innovator and its demolition eagerly pur
sued if the largest good to the world was to result
from the qualification of his diseased but unappeasable
appetite AT the risk Of being classed in the category of
old oges and of mourning all the which has been
heaped upon the heads of that respectable but abused
class Of American statesmen, would raise warning
voice against the dsorganzng and destructive spirit of
the times and urge upon those who stand the helm Of
affairs to resist with manly and patriotic purpose such
attempts to overtdrn the foundations Of political safe
passed IN The last night Of the last session Of the National Le-
gsdu the object of whchs reorganze the various
Bureaus of the Navy Department that hereafter the
troll and direction Of these important branches of the
public service shall be taken from the hands of captains
and commodores of the navy, where it most fifty to
belong and transferred to those of naval contractors and
engineers Now, although not familiar with the
history of American legislation upon this subject yet
believe that the very principle embodied in the law upon
which commenting discarded than ten
years ago. being obnoxious to the sefsame objections
which urged against the bureau system. The
Board Navy Commissioners which had existed prior
1872 if we remember Alright, arraigned tried and
condemned under bill of Indictment alleging that it
both inefficient and extraUagant concern and yet with
all the evils Of that system fresh in the recollection of the
people, and in the face of the acknowledged fact that the
system which suppanted it and exists has given
birth to a marine steam machinery which serves as q
model for imitation by all the great nations of the EARTH
it is gravely proposed that shall undo all the good
that has been accomplished thereby and for the sake of
depriving commodores of snug berths in the gay
metropolis put another batch of commissioners in their
places
This is indeed, strange proposition, not only from
the history of this movement, but judge from the
and character of the articles have lately read up
the subject that desire promote private ends has
the accomplishment of the public good In the first place.
the bill itself hurried through Congress with haste
and precptancy calculated suspicion that its
projectors were not anxious a calm debe
rate thorough and weconsidered investigation of its
merits by the National Legislature. 1t passed the last
night of the session. and many doubt voted for it with
out thoroughly understanding the sought to be at
tanned IT, We have heard that several of the Senators
have since expressed their dsapprobaon of the change
contemplated by the newlaw and hesitate say that
if they had understood it they would supported
it. But this point hereafter In regard to the
character of the which have been employed to JUS
y the innovation have but to point to the following
article in the National Integencer Of the Sd instant:
We have just noticed that in the letter Of the Wash
ngton correspondent of the New York Courier and En-
qurer of the Oath ultimo it is stated that
Intelligence has been received of accident to the
Susquehanna, the fastest in the navy which will
of the squadron She broke her shaft in February last aud
it doubtful whether she would be able home for
repair would not draw general conclusion unavorably
branch Of the naval service from isolated
disaster but 1t undenable truth that vessel
that has from the han of the builders
machnists has been followed by train of misfortune
Unfortunately for the interests of the people of these
United States in general well for the accuracy of
this statement portion of the machinery Of the Sus
quehanna constructed by Government builders and
naachns and we further confidently state contrary as
know it to be to the popular belief founded upon daily
Misrepresentation that marine steam which
has come from the hands Of Government builders and
machnsts' has been followed by train Of misfor-
tune
I" The machinery of the Susquehanna, whatever its .
quality, Is the fruit Of system which would not for
system which benefits class any individual But the
but which constantly hazards the safety of our
ships pers the lives Of their crews and jeopards the
honor Of flag In England when steam was frst in
troduced into the feet steam engine building was al
ready long established by private enterprise and the Ad
mray, Of necessity, at first had these esa-
bishments; but long SINCE for obvious reasons all
pairs have ceased to be made except at the national
and there is being completed at Daven-
port large establishment for the construction engines
France in like manner, does nearly all her work;
and we believe there is too much to apprehend
that until profit by their example, shall still
our steam frgates folioced By train Of miortune'"
Now, here it will be observed that, although the Wash
ington correspondent of the New York Courier is evil
IDENTIFY very hard pressed for isolated Of
disaster, he nevertheless Enthusiastically betrays the
tive which lies the bottom Of this attempt to opu
ldrzs the law The heads of the bureaus the OBJ
jects aimed at and decided public disapprobaon Of