The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-22

THE EXPERIENCE OF A RETURNED NAVY OFFICER.
p EDron In the present situation Of the United States
navy ii is TO marvellous circumstance that there
should be many -aysed fools in the world there
appears be- willing and anxious enter the navy and
90 through the drudgery and Notifications which for
twelve years must be endured by mdshpman before he
expect his first promotion After he has obtained this
advancement he has 10 work thirty years before he at
tain his second degree and with the certainty he can
have chance Of commanding higate before he has
reached sixty years Of age
The first twelve years his pay win barely yield him an
existence and if he should marry he must be prepared to
endure all the priyations incident TO pinehng rigid
economy-hardly yielding the necessaries OF life Sup
posing midshpman ains his lieutenancy at the age OF
twenty weight years, and marries He must expect TO be
absent from his wife and children the most Of his time and
for three years together The best he do is 10 leave
half his pay $780, maintain his aifJ and children
tanning equal sum for his subsistence In doing
So he is compelled to be and penurious or get in
debt half the time he has not the to go ashore in
foreign port lie remains for months confined to rigate
His life is like that of man in prison, and many an Of
eer f he would own the truth has enyied the ghest
common sailor who occasionally 80 ashore and enjoy
himself
repeat young man, with any prospect in life, with
good ordinary education, viii have anything but heart
burning and disappointment by entering the Navy in ITS
present neglected condition
In few years the navy officer finds out the truth but
often too late to better his fororn condition That have
described the and fate of brave and noble
hearted youth in the navy, know from long experience
In my early life Mr. Editor received education that
would have fitted me for any profession occupation
had experience was tempted TO enter the navyj mis-
led believed that easy jolly sort of life The
first five years with the aid of my parents managed to
live my pay The next seven years had to rely on my
pay alone pracsed great economy, and at the end Of
twelve years, when was promoted lieutenant was in
debt $1,000, which was compelled to repay out of my
ieutenans allowances 50 was the next year little better
off than had been mdshipman, and with increased
penses To this nearly the whole of my five years at
sea- debarred of seeing all relations friends and of
course however willing unable to marry because had
means to maintain family
Year after year continued to in the navy hoping
change of the bad system that prevailed had expected
la retired list that the old officers would have got half
pay pensions and made promotion. But it was
hope deferred learned the truth ut last Congress
and the cared little for the navy The old Off
in good pay and berths cared nothing for the dis
heartened juniors.
felt convinced should have got better in life had
been apprentced to tailor carpenter mason, or any
other good honest occupation.
reached my thrtycighth year. and still n lieutenant
was growing gray in the service. had now got wife
and three children; found my wants increase and no
prospect of promotion till reached fyve or sixty years
of age reflected seriously my forlorn situations and
what added to my affection found most OF my school
fellows and early companions had become rich occupied
prominent and lucrative positions at once determined
to leave the nayto do many of the abest officers in
the navy compelled to do resgned-the wisest act
of my life soon got employ, good pay, and advance
ment; and am living comfortably, for the first time
in my life My history with very little variations IS the
history of many an officer of the navy.
publish my experience, as it may be of service to some
of the many silly youths daed with the seeming
easy life of the Jolly Mdshipman and induce them to
seek home occupation that will have less dsappon
ments and better remuneration than the neglected United
States navy afford.
The miserable organization of the present navy its ride
nlous disconraging system OF neutrality-suspicious. dis
content and ukewarm feeling for the servicehas driven
out and will continue to drive off all the best officers and
the government in FIVE years will find how admirably they
have managed to retain all the incompetent all the
drunkards and the agedo fight their battles in the event
of another
When that comes, the people Congress and ALL viii
wake up and in hurry endeavor to repair the effects OF 20
years neglect of the navy and her officers. This repair
suddenly made viii cost than II would if the
navy had been rghtfy sustained and preserved by an
nual appropriations and with this advantagethe officers
in good heart would go into the with those feelings
which inspired Perry McDonough and Porter in the
Of 1872 and with every prospect Of the
that crowned their gallant efforts. DECATUR