Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-05-21

khngulshed gentleman selected by President Pierce
topreslde over the Navy Department, untilw were
assured by some official demonstrations that the
multifarious duties pertaining to that perplexing
/ department. of the Government had not been con-
fnded as they have been for several years past to
unjudicious hands. We can no longer remain 81
lent without doing positive injustice to one whom
we feared might not, in position so different from
his former pursuits, accomplish much as would
be expected from member of Gen. Pierces Cab
met. But Notwithstanding the short time which
has elapsed since Mr.. Dobbin assumed the control
of this portion of the public SERVICE he has fur
nished indubitable evidence that Gen. Pierce has
not mistaken the qualifications necessary 20 prop
err and heathful administrati, n of our naval af-
fairs.
| Unfortunately for the Navy and the country,
men have been usually selected for the Navy De-
partment lily qualified to give tone and vigor to
the service, which could alone be accomplished by
straight forward, manly and independent admin
istraton of its details. Unwise counsels have pre-
vailed to an alarming extent, rendering our naval
establishment of late years, little better than a
mere appendage of imbecility and corruption. The
people became tired and disguised with it, while
their representatives iii Congress steadily refused
appropriations for any thing more than to keep it
in existence Not that the Navy had not won inn
perislabe honors for the country, and would not
again and at all times distinguish itself when called
upon, but the expenditures have been SO vastly
dsproportionate to the extent and efficiency of
the ndterieL of the service that the country with
| an united voice cried Hold!
How to remedy the evil appears to have been
difficult of solution. The Board of Navy Com
missioners which had expirted prior to 1912. was
solved III consequence of It's inehcency and eXtraV-
agance; whereupon the Bureau" system was es-
tablished in the hope that the individual response
bility of its chief would impart healthier tone
nd tbo but alIyf for
its success, sprigs were engrafted upon the most
important branches of the tree which caused more
nourishment for its support than Congress had been
willing to yield, and it has consequently proved a
failure, for the very class of men who materi-
ally assisted to bring odum upon the former org
anization, have shamelessy crept inSo the Bureau
and perpetrated the same enorlnities. So fragrant
have been abuses that Congress passed law at
the last session, forbid6ing payment to any Naval
Captain as chief of the Bureau of I" Construction,
Equipment and Repair" and requiring naval
constructor to be placed at the head of that divs
ion. But there is another defect in the law of 49,
AZ, which also ought to be remedied. For instance
what can afford more Assured contrast than Or
dimance and Hydrography?-th construction Of
guns weapons of war; and the measuring OF wa
ter!
The two Bureaux-" Construction, Equipment,
and Repair, =" and Ordnance and photography"
were, at the last moment of the last session in
1912, constituted thus at the special solicitation OF
certain naval Captaius, or we should say Conenao-
dores, for the purpose of securing themselves snug
berths, on full pay, at the gay metropolis. And
what is the result Congress finding itself de-
ceived in the proper execution of the law refuses to
assent to any more squanderng OF the public mo-
ney through the ignorance or recklessness of mis-
placed officers, and especially confines payment to
a naval constructor for whom the Bureau
pressly intended. 1t has long been averred that
the most important improvements in naval science,
advocated by our admirably qualified naval con-
structors and accomplished eng ineers of the navy,
have been disregarded, or opposed by the ignor-
ance of the heads of Bureaux-because they were
not previously consulted to know whether such re-
commentators would be agreeable to them This
may seem exaggeration, but we are assured 1t is
true Vessels costing but thirty $500 dollars per
ton to build anew, have through sheer reckless
ness and ignorance, cost sixty (S6O) dollars to re-
pair Contracts have been made and signed while
the very sgner himself did understand the
speciaties. Can the country longer tolerate such
profe acy /? We emphaticaly say no!
We therefore congratulate the country that 1t
has such an admirably qualified administrator of
naval affairs as Mr.. Dobbin, he having already in
dictated a determination to lop off the withered
branches that have so sadly afflicted his de- |
partment, and to introduce a healthy and genial
action which shall command at once the confidence
of Congress, and the applause of the country and
we may be pardoned for adding, that earnestly |
expect the satisfaction of early announcing that these
venerable relics of the Navy respectively plac-
ed in comfortable quarters along-shore or are per-
mitted to retire and await orders
Pennsylvania.