The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-05


his respective grade"
will observe in regard TO this proyso, that upon re-
hecton il not deemed very prudent 10 lntiust 50
great responsibility entirely with SIX men ishouid IKE
II my honorable friend from North Carolina were IN ms
now, because al early period OF my senatorial ca
reer, he asked one occasion whether should lke
TO have trial by jury in the navy, told nun would
but little expected the time would so soon come In
stead of allowing six 10 determine upon the qualih
cations of officers. thought it best 10 substitute Jury
OF their peers who should sit in judgment on Their
merits and dees and that they should decide who were
fit TN promotion, and who unit for the performance
OF their duty Sir the great principles OF this b are tna
while endeavor to increase the efficiency OF the navy
the time desire to do JUSTICE peri ect and en-
tire justice. the officers. Therefore propose as an
amendment, to strike out all OF the section after "navy,"
and insert:
sProvded That before any officer officers shall be re-
ooughed under the provisions OF this act il shall
gser 10 each captain and ander and
sixty lieutenans oldest In commission, whose duty shall
on with, without the knowledge Of other
designate with the letter r. on said register all officers
ought ON aecoan. Of nrmy 81 health or any other dis
qualification affecting their moral characters 70 be re-
said register all such officers who for the good oil the
service and by OF ncapacy or any o'heI
should be fuou8hed and thereupon transmit under seal
the Navy Department said registers And shall De the
o s m q 10 s T q Of oes
provided Ior who shall open and examine the same and
mako record of The designations therein contained and in
selecting the officers be retired iuoughed said board
shall commence with those officers having the greatest
names ON said register"
Mr.. CASS. | will suggest to the senator whether it
would not be we'll TO have the amendments read in con-
nexion with the original clause OF the bill think il
will save trouble if they should be read in that
Mr.. STOCKTON. should be glad to save the time
of the Senate. My trouble is OF no consequence
II we get along faster in that way, will ask the
Clerk read the amendments and the bill as suggested
ments, should be glad have information from
the from New Jersey in regard TO this matter
ppon some two three points tor shall have TO de-
pend upon the Committee on Naval Affairs and upon the
senator from New Jersey very much in regard to this
matter One question is, whether the bill increases the
Mr. STOCKTON. 1t does not. Itdscreases the mum
IN Mr. HUNTER. How much does it increase their
Mr. STOCKTON The difference between the pay Of
ten commanders and ten captains which is made for
the purpose of making the proportion little better
Mr. HUNTER Does it increase the annual compen-
sation of the officers
Mr. STOCKTON. None of them. There is in
creased pay except that of the sailors
Nj. HUNTER; And it provides for retired list.
Mr.. STOCKTON. Yes, sir; for a retired list and
furlough list.
The first amendment read by the Clerk as fol-
lows
" To insert in the first section before commissioned the
word active, that the section will read The number
OF the active commissioned officers OF the navy OF the uni
ted States shall be OF the number grades ioowing 10
w.t. &c"
Mr.. HALE ask vote upon the amendment sepa-
moment and wish could have the ear the Of Senate also
do not intend to oppose this bill at all understood the
senator from New Jersey to say that the bill would not
amendment-if understand this little, SIMPLE word. this
mere verbal amendment-it may increase the num-
Der of officers, and probably will increase the number Of
officers half will tell you how it will be done. II
the bill is amended proposed, by inserting the word
" active" before commissioned, it will keep up the full
number oil active commodores, captains, commanders,
MIR. STOCKTON. viii the gentleman allow me TO
interrupt him. Will he make amendment to meet his
views' shall be perfectly satisfied for the object was
to limit the number.
Mr. HALE My amendment would be to let the bill
stand is, without adopting this amendment at all.
opposed TO the amendment.
Mr. CASS would suggest to the senator from New
Jersey that, the bill would stand amended, the num-
Der OF officers enumerated would be entirely exclusive OF
those who may be put upon the retired list or the fur
Tough list That is the way it would certainly be con-
strued
Mr.. HALE; That is exactly as | understand il
When this bill passes, you will have 30 comnodores, SO
captains 81 commanders and Infinite number OF lieu
tenants and mdsbipmen. just as they now stand You
then have a retired and farough list and udgeng from
what said by the from New Jersey the other
day, that ought TO include nearly the whole OF the pres
ent list Of officers. for they nearly all good for moth
keep up the number Of active" officers, exclusive of
those upon the retired and the furlough list
Mr. Stockton, Gnierposing) did no. understand
the senator at first asking that we should give up the
amendment II the suggestion had not been made by such
respectable gentleman, should have used very strong
word TO characterize the propositions but will not The
object the efficiency OF the navy; and ii
you dismiss half the othces--
Mr. HALE have not yielded the floor. was say
ing that that would be the effect OF IT, think The hon
orable senator from New Jersey understands think
the Senate Understands il know that the senator from
Michigan does You have sxty-eght captains now,
and thirty out OF the sixty eight waiting orders
they have nothing to do. suppose they will be put
upon the fnrlough or the retired list Thrtyeight being
put upon the urough and the retired lists their places will
be filled with thirty yeghl captains. You have
ninety 1--WE commanders, and orty-fve ffty OF them
have not counted them, but have merely looked
the list-are waiting orders They will 60 upon the
tired and the fuough lists and there will be fory-6ve
or fifty commanders added So that this little
bal amendment, which is OF no so OF consequence at ALL
if it adopted, will have the effect to increase your
probably one-half. When you get to the leuenants,
there many OF them that Secretary OF the Navy
within four years has to you TO build more
ships in order TO find something for them to do Just in
,roduce this little word activeit is small word,
adjective, and means but lte-and it will probably in
crease the number of officers withn twelve months so
per cent For that reason am opposed to The amend
ment fH tfnst
Mr.. STOCKTON. The word is just exactly in the
proper place, and intended 10 Just what the
senator supposes means When the senator from New
Hampshire first stated his objection did nos suppose
that he intended what psrcsive 10 hss object.
did not suppose that eay snch suEgngtion w0ud have
emanated from his mind. The idss OF the committee
was TO render the navy more sncient II two thFds of
it's officers unfit for service, and Tsred and you
only leave third. halt, you 10 not. surely.