Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-23
O. o m m unitateb.
FVN THE oLN IN Ut
THE NAVY BOARD.

supposed that they were invested with de
spohc power over the fortune and fame Of all
the Navy. There was prevailing opinion
that there were many drones in the service and
it was reasonable that such persons should be
at least removed ont Of the way Of meritorious
officers entitled to promotion. But it was with
establishment that we saw the name of one of
the brightest, if not the very brightest, orna-
ment of the Navy at the head of the list of those
who are represented to the public as proper
subjects of retrenchment, more especially as
Commodore Stewart was at the time actually
employed in post of great dignity and honor
betting his age and services As it is said,
however, with what truth we know not, that
Commodore Stewart requested that he might
be reduced, by way of example, and. in an
other quarter, that he is to be retained not
withstanding the sentence Of removal sane
toned by the President, it is best to wait for
further developments on this point. Perhaps
similar arrangements have been made under
hand in the case Of other gallant officers who
were in actual service at the time of undergo.
ing the process of relorm-and we should be
glad to hear that Skinner, Smith, and Boar
man, were to retain their places, and that
something was to be done to repair the
wrong that has been inflicted on Lieutenant
Maury, by cutting him off from the honors
of that rank to which he had so much right
to aspire; and on which his well known name
would have conferred new lustre. But for an
officer to be invaded does not necessarily i'm
ply censurc, and the authority exercised in
these cases does not amount to usurpation,
ybap inf hot in itata 20 !,
mere pretext, and used to get rid Of rival or
an enemy in the full enjoyment of his faculties.
At best, it shows disposition to grasp at
power, that the Board is willing to anticipate
time, and superannuate officers that have earn
ed the thanks of their country before age or in
trinity has warned them to retire.
But the latitude with which they have con
strued their power knows no bounds. They
were authorized to dismiss from service such
incompetent officers as by their own fault had
rendered themselves incapable of discharging
their duties efficiently, both ashore and aAoat.
This is not general authority to dismiss
whom they please. The act gives them no
right to cashier any officer who is capable
of performing promptly and efficiently all
hisdutes ashore or afloat. Yet this is what
they have assumed to do. They have AFRO.
gated a power to supersede all the rules
navy, and to dismiss any officer from the
service without trial, by adjudging every
person inefficient and incapable of performing
his duty who, in their opinion, is for any rea-
son disagreeable. According to this notion,
the word efficiency is not to be taken in its
natural sense, and, from the Secretary's letter
to the President, it appears that he bad been
converted to their opinion that they are con-
stituted the sole judges what real efficiency u.s.
Therefore man neither disabled by age nor in
trinity, nor chargeable with ignorance or want
of spirit, nor unwilling to serve, nor negligent
of his duty nor unskilful in the discharge Of
it, may still be inefficient in the sense of the
board. There is no test but their discretion
no efficiency but their favor. If he has any
enemy in the board, he cannot be efficient,
cannot be capable of discharging oil his duties
ashore and afoat because his enemy would
not be willing to act with him, and so be could
not discharge those duties that required his
cooperation. And on this constructive ineiii-
cheney, an officer may not only be retired from
the walks of competition, but degraded, cashier
ed, and turned out of the service with igno-
miny.
OF the injustice of this perversion of the
act of Congress, the case of Thomas Petigru.
late commander in the navy, is glazing in
stance. 1t is but the other day he returned
from the Fejee Islands, having discharged all
the objects of the voyage to the perfect salts.
faction of his superior, bringing home his ship
in perfect order with a crew obedient and con
tented, without losing 50 much as SPAR in
cruises extending over more than two years.
For near twelve month past he was in ser.
vice at the navy yard, under the commandant
of this station, and never gave occasion for
the smallest complaint. What more evidence
10 perform efficiently all his duties ashore and
dtoat could be expected 1t is ridiculous to
pretend that he is dismissed for inelliciency,
AS that word is understood in its proper sense
Then, II for any other cause, how does the case
stand? He has been in the navy upwards of
forty years seen bis full share of actual ser.
vice in the war of 1912 and since; never de
clned any duty nor scarcely ever asked any
favor but employment; lived among gentlemen
without blot on his name; was never cen
sured, nor ever tried but once, and then was
honord6ty acquitted. Can it be possible that
man who belongs to profession that is
taught to cherish the sentiment Of honor and
is an American citizen, can be reached by
secret inquistion tried behind his back, con
victed on the authority Of a refuted SANDER,
and without warning, made the object of 4
sentence more dreadful to sensitive mind
than death2
H. under the enlarged construction of their
power the board can make any act they please
an offence, and convict without allowing the
accused any Of the benefits Of a trial, con.
science and duty require that the proof to war.
rant conviction should amount to certainty.
For the more the rights Of defence are restrict
ed, so much the more is the accuser bound 70
make his case clear and free from doubt But
the reverse Of all this is the order Of the day.
While Commander Petigru enjoyed the esteem
of society, and his friends and himself were
perfectly unconscious Of the idea that dishonor
was attached to his name, and he was in the
prompt, punctual, and efficient discharge Of his
duty ashore, the first hint Of bis danger is an
intimation that all is over with him, followed
by an official note brief and blunt, addressed to
Mr.. Thomas Petigru, TO say that his name is
struck from the rolls Of the navy
It's vain TO talk Of the high character Of the
board. Other people have character, too; and
pride, presumption, and prejudice must not
shroud themselves under the cover Of name