The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-04

much, hovsv.r. TO pay for the security afforded our
ecmnsrss a.d The rsspsst dss. not every
whore oonosded TO national and individual nshts
II BY no means any purpose OF milne TO sondsmn the
appropriations Of money for the support Of the navy
national dsnos There has been waste arising from nm
wise application Of means and the amounts Of
money sppied in different direction might have
plshed much more. Ny idea u to utilise - much -
possible the immense expenditures necessary for the
pert the navyto turn this vast force to the
time that Il contributes 70 the n.ions security 1--we
must sbforb hundred millions Of dollars 10 the next ten
years. iu der to keep certain lumber OF vessels ahost
and to exhibit certain number ef In various parts
Of the world osnnot stem DO adopted to accomplish
something more than the mere Cot Of Displaying our
We have now about atty vessels 10 commission without
any probability OF thing like gar unses DO In that
valuable expedition 10 JAp.n, under the oommsud Of
Commodore Perry We. have recently vita esssd the
fact that ct the critical moment government had
suitable vessel ., command to convey our Minis
ter to China and agSip that when the san Francisco
trsis btsd with valuable lives Of men In tho pubs ssrvc
known TO be In imminent danger. the Navy Depart
ment could furnish no chip 10 go in search OF and give
assistance to the sufferer We should avoid tho great
evil OF long cruises the coast Of Africa In the Pacdc
in the Mediterranean, where ships often lie lsziy
have better health and moro eDoyment and they would
readily enlist the officers would have more active
duty and more equal for oetauns service
and with even . smaller number Of we'll appointed
ships, with auxiliary steam power, No COULD
In any given time, exhibit . greater number OF
more speedy and ssotu Of larger force
In any quarter Of the world, This scheme would require
our whole navy to be divided into two great ass-one 70
operate In al parts Of the Atlsncths other having It's
headquarters st San Francisco sweep the PAoinc and
the Indian II In time Of peace navy can Be made
TO DO useful service than the exhibition OF her
guns the idea here presented would sesm to afford good
bsss for the change. Tho system would be plastic and
easily adapted to every siy which might OCCUR.
Ss
the Prsien by and with the advce and consent Of
the Senate and It undena bio that this duty 10 subset
l,.k- ta md AAnafA
for themselves But 1t hiss become hxed custom In
navy promote BY seniority Of comm sson alone; and
cases Of notorious unatpess tho whole column Of OH
is pushed along up, from foot to head vacAucas
may happen from death, resignation. or removal Tnat
promotions ought to BE- made according 10 merit will
oeve almost universal arsent, and yet principle Ia
cat ut Of application. Length OF service sonst
tutes species Of quite important that which
bssed upon natural acquired ability Date OF CON
mission, however, Ia not test Of actual service And
sgaD the smount Of zee service Goes not altogether de-
pend upon the will wishes Of the officer, though 1t Is
probably the fareet test OF activity and efficiency II
these pcated elements OF merit could be always n
telIgently and impartial determined they would con.
stitute perfect rule OF promotion.
II must be forgotten that navy military
tAblsbment and cannot be organized upon democratic
republican principles Indeed, 1t must even be con-
fessed that the influence Of armies and navies In them
selves aocord to their nature and orssnizatlon
directly hostile to liberty Perfect subordn alton and i'm
plic obedenoa to snds without voice or inf usnce
to control modify them, indispensable 10 tbs
tons Of but these the characteristics Of desao
ion that the principle OF election be adopted
any extent whatever either In the promotion Of officers
who'll, neon But there Is uothiusto tss
operations OF those broad pria plss OF huuauity which
have latsry much ameliorasd the condition ofths Ia
boring classes shore enter in detail he
Of promoting the benign obi cot obvious enough and
require mention. only plead, and plead earnestly
Elton 81 the sailor enterfsinrg ,hs conviction
that the higher you place him In the scale OF humanity
The better viii he serve his country in the hour of trial
Popular sympathy has been recently directed towards
hem with great interest," and has forced tbs abolition Of
would be fruitess Inquire whether this right
wrong In my opinion 1t cannot be uudons. 1t ought
'ot to be undops lst until every effort has been made
nactipg this cruel and degrading punish nent Lst
say this cannot 10 attained Whstsver may be the
Of the OLD sailor whose habits A.: n.'d beyond
lily co.rs Onward whose minds aud hearts plastic
under the influence OF good and benign laws II the ap
b. the character Of the sailor will In few years b
sholly charged He viii bs ntted BY proper sducaton
md q s ts S tn: sos.ss
essential 10 the success Of this system Of sms
1t would b interesting and profitable TO look into the
laws and regulations whicn govern ths and the
MODS Of procedure BY which those Ia 70 are administsred
The altogether worthy Of the other. Any who
has Witnessed the proceedings Of court martial In
usvy have observed that almost principle
OF mmon sense every mOu0 OF securing
Justice ut erly excluded The whole system relic
Of bsrba times and requires complete revision and
alteration ia order to place basis comic rmabe
to the liberal and ideas OF the present
day.
II IT be considered prssumptuous In who ID not OF
the navy speak thus fro OF it, deficiencies and
only reply that disinterssted spectator may
hsps be able to give impartial judgment on ell the
questions involved Besides, might quoS the language
eminent author Who writing the bjsot OF civil
ibsry, Justly remsrks "thAt nearly all great reforms
ed their way from without and from the
Professional TO Ne from below upward"
he truth not applicable to the navy than 10 any
,her establishment institution constituting part Of
,ur civilization.
The speaker concluded amid great applause.