The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-23
ocropEa 20, 1855.
FTon The &
NAVAL REFORM.

An effort has been made and doubt TO extent sue
cessfuy prejudice the public mind against the board of
naya officers convened in June last TO form PRESERVED
list OF those officers who unfit for active service sea-
and classify them according the of the board
10 their past service and merit cave of absence
urlough pay and drop from the service those who
had from faults of their rendered themselves neom-
petent to perform duty.
1t has been insinuated by your correspondent "Inqus
tor that the board consisted Of officers who yet have TO
be proved better than those they retired and dropped The
history Of the of 1912 ard of the Mexican hold
the testimony required; and the confidence of the
service In the honor and ability Of those gentlemen
deem sufficient guarantee of the justice of their action
The president md senior officer of the board, Commo-
dore Shubrck Is a South Caronian Our State, a
ken Of its appreciation Of his valor in the last with
England presented him. by joint resolution of both
houses Of the legislature with sword which he
his most valuable possession He commanded the Pa
cic squadron during the best part Of the Mexican
Commodore Perry next in rank, is well known that
would be supererogatory 10 than aude to
his services in wars and commandern-chie of The
Japan squadron 1t significant fact that the of
his may be found on the furough list
We need give the history of each Of the board for
it is enough say that il composed of such men
Buchanan Dupont Pendergrast Barron Mssroon and Bid
die officers well known in and out OF the service Of
honor patriotism, and valor
The board consisted of fifteen officers, five from each
grade, three of whom from this Sate-Commodore
Shubrick, Captain Stribling, and Lieutenant hissroon
which alone would be conclusive that particular effort
has been made morty the pride inct injury par
tcuary upon citizens. We deem it rather for
tunate and haering circumstance that Carolina should
have had representation of one-ffth in the board Half
of the officers, at least, from the South.
Our own delegation in both houses voted, believe, to
man for the bill authorizing the organization of the board
and feel proud to be able to say that this State has
never withheld her from any effort TO improve the
condition naval service That -mndedness
and parsmony which have characterized other portions of
the Union in this respect cannot be laid at door,
Ii has been also arguedand he who pleads bad cause
always mpues sordid motives to actions Of good men
that it the advantage OF the board retire all above
them, and that they governed by this selfish end.
Now if out of the whole service, fifteen honest could
be found the navy had better be disbanded at
would be folly to intrust the honor Of country in
the hands of such corrupt body The past and present
history of the navy will tell you how much of the conf
dence the people it is entitled and the conquest
California what it had contributed to the national wealth
Go to Washington, where, reports be true dishonesty
aud corruption cultivated in ho,-house and ask if
The chief OF naval bureau has had the shadow of
suspicion cast upon his official rectitude.
The report of the reform board and the manner in
which the selection for retirement made evidence
enough that these gentlemen neither did could have
taken advantage any opportunity of selfadvancement
The law which governed them in forming estimate Of
each officers qualifications simply this Each grade
alone voted in iis grade and the grades lower Thus
in oanvassng the merits of the passed midshpmen mas
ters and euenanis, the whole board voted each
his taken up The five lieutenans then with
drew The captains and commanders voted the list of
commanders and the five commanders retired leaving the
captains to vote on the captains the highest grade to
vote on the highest grade BY examining the official list
published your paper it will be found that lieu
tenants have been retired and dropped than in any two
grades put together yet this the lowest grade repre-
sented.
II must be ever borne in mind that the
list is honorable one and that the urough list is but
second TO it. In the list of captains retired leave OF
senee will be found the Commodore Charles Stew
art the captor Of the Cyane and Levant and in the
list of ieutenan that of Lieut. NJ r. Many the Superin
tendent of the National Observatory and author of
celebrated wind and current charts. Old age and long
service have untitled The Commodore for future labor and
grateful country permits him to rest upon his oars with
income from government Of twenty-five hundred year
Lieutenant Maury enjoys salary Of three thousand year
by special Of Congress- Superintendent of the Observ
aory accident from the overturnng Of stagecoach
has believe precuded the possibility Of his going sea-
while his evidently for the scientific
branches of bis profession Mr. Maury also had connex-
ion on the board-Iieutenant William L. Maury Need
any man. if his conscience right blush be in the same
The fifteen officers who have been appointed perform
this delicate task have done their duty and should the
unfortunate be rash demand by Of Congr
the evidence against them it be easily produced by
reference the records of the Navy Department We
under the impression that tho captain every ship in
vice makes at stated times report of the qualifications
and conduct Of every officer under his command which
port is forwarded the Secretary Of the Navy and filed
in the department. A mans professional biography is
there written.
Finally after perung the reserved list as stands and,
the board, the Navy Register meanwhile before us,
find but against which TO raise obectonhat
of Lieut. Alex c. Rhind The circumstances Of his late
court-maral in the Pacific not acquainted with
but we feel sure that If be did has erred il has
been from too keen of honor If morally
be in that condition His talents Of the highest order,
and though bis career has perhaps been stormy one
they have borne him through every trial. His ability to
command we have never seen equacdi and his courage
has been tested often and proved its existence as in
keeping with his whole character His chiyalrous mind
never has and never will stoop to the approximation of
the decimal Of low thought; and in losing him the
vice Is bereft of heightened gentleman and gifted officer
10 this case the board Deem mistaken but to the
best orr Judgment il is the only one and he was junior
to any officer on the board.
Personalities have been avoided in this article. We
have simply stated facts they in the rough perhaps
coming they do from BLUE JACKET,
Sr. LUKEs, October 8, 1855.