The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-02


Reserved admirsls Az
Retired adInirals lIo
Retired captains 39e
Retired commanders 597
Retired lieutenants 1877
Total l,727
struced as they of variant materials of unequal strength
apd durability require frequent examination and repair
preserve them IN the highest condition Of efficiency and
thus the eTson OF the navy, composed it is of every
variety OF mind character and qualification modified by
age experience length of service and physical ability
gures thorough scrutiny to discriminate between the
iu and the worthless and this scrutiny must be instituted
periodically, or as circumstances may dictate.
am aware sir that there those who oppose the
every form those who would the brains the sim
ews OF their fellows for bare subsistence Just long
the limited powers Of nature would enable them to be
worked and, when out and longer able labor
for s country or to sustain themselves turn them adrft
TO beg or starve envy not the humanity, the justice
any gentleman entertaining such views pracsed upon
II easy to foresee the effects upon the navy and
derstand the class who would seek wear its live
ry The faithful devotion of youth manhood and all the
useu years OF life to his countrys service for sup
port deprived OF the opportunity of providing for his de-
Ginning years imposes upon the country the duty of
tanning the old age of the naval servant. Y
But sir my friend from Virginia Mr. HuSTBR] desires
me to explain why the bill provides for the permanent
flrlough well for the retirement of officers he
fears that men placed upon the former may be regarded
having slight cast upon them The motive of the COM
mittee IN framing this provision, to draw u distinct
line OF demarkaon between the gallant old whose
soul is still in his profession whose heart beats but for his
country but who by long, faithful and honorable service
or by wounds disease contracted in the active discharge
OF his duty disqualified for further service and the
who has uniformly and ngenousy contrived eyade his
sea duties and dcyoved them upon others who has succeed
ed by political influence other which his noble
profession should be stranger in passing the best of his
days upon shore the man. in short who has become un
serceabie from his own unworthy conduct who
had any merit.
concede to the senator from Virginia that placing an
officer upon permanent furough would be slight and
maintain that the country should moi place the classes
OF men to which have thus advered upon the level
III her public estimation and trust that my friend will
recognise the distinction and the necessity Of preserving
The necessity for retiring officers will appear with mnch
force from an examination OF Naval Register where
many OF the older officers shown to be unemployed
shore receiving large pay while their juniors perform
ing their appropriate duties aoa upon less pay prin-
cipe which should be lost sight s that as the
portance the hazard and responsibilities of naval
rses increase the chances Of obtaining the
emf energy, character, and ability should also increase
but our system produces results the opposite and the
longer man has been in the service, the do his
chances Tor such commands increase do not wish to be
understood as indicating that inability to command is the
necessary consequence OF age; for conscentously be-
eve That we have old post captains who would adorn any
service and who equal to any naval emergency and
that we have eucnants who could hardly put ship in
stays or conduct her routine of duty twentyour hours
regard seniority OF rank the only and the rghtful
element in naval promotion and Heaven forbid taat u-
der our institutions should ;s principle sur
rendered but in saying this, say at the same time that
md
that retirement and tie Executives nnwcr 10 A,r,omoh ND
dis,niss must be prounntly nsed 10 iSs sad M, ] 80
paissioped officer shoU be'6,II, sase,sa, e., IN y 49,
assN which he cotsfy7 man JS,ore ,,,o H., y
The services of Eirope promote moi alone nv se,or
but family rank connection wealth or fxorv az ~
mitted to have their due inhuence and youth of small
experience not unfrequcnty commands the veteran officer
whose life has been passed upon the sea IN All its ncris
vicssitudes Suppose attempt to introduce "a,er;t as
au element of promotion who is to Judge of merit II
must be dependent upon the ugmeg 3 those having the
power to promote and THU Judgment in n government
like will be too 0sea guided by the character of The
political microscope through which merit NAV be scanned
Why sir do profess to fill our multitndinons of
fees by the claims OF merit? And do we not too often
see duness and stupidity vice and imbecty occupyinp
public places We are all rncritorious men sir. eite
enough for promotion. am not aware tina. seniority
OF rank as the sole element of promoto has been
departed FROM except in the two instances of Decatur and
Morris and these though IN reward of the conspicuous
galantry OF the men, have been considered of doubt
fui Proprsey.
Instances of personal gaantry or conduct speciav con-
spcuous in the face of enemy or otherwise where every
member of the corps is equally ready and anxious 10 pain
laurel frequently rather the result of accident than
of merit would REGARD an officer who thus renders him
self conspicuous and such has been the policy of the poy
ernment but would not promote HIM over the heads of
his less fortunate peers whom the chances of war have
denied golden opportunity.
At this time we have sixy-eght captains the Youngest
of whom is fy-six years of age; ninety-seven command
ers, seyentyfour of whom between fifty and y-fvc
and the youngest of whom is fortsx three hundred and
twenty yscven eutenans from thirty to fty one hundred
and ninetyeight passed mdshipmen from wenty-one to
the rates of promotion the several grades aud the aver
age age Of officers find that under tho present system
lieutenans when promoted commanders will be ffty-
three and commanders when promoted to captains serenity
four years Of aga
a.,