The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-10-05
From the Richmond Enquirer.
n Ff"'tI Ute HFeHf17F' f1fFutTtt.
NAVAL REFORM-IIEI,T. MAuRy.

From the Rebmond Enquirer.
NAVAL REFoRM-IIEUT. MAURY.
We again 10 this subject because requested
bya correspondent signing himself Friend Of the Navy
10 furnish definite information in relation to The
proceedings Of the board Of inquiry and TO whether
the accused confronted with their and al
lowed 10 call witnesses in their behalfn ave yrgnians
says !" a Friend OF the Navy have long looked
these privileges among the cherished birhrghts Of
feemen, that easily realize the idea of any
being tried condemned and degraded without fair trial
Of which such privileges form most essential elements
We regret That cannot comply with the request of our
correspondent but have other information than the
statements Of the press With AL respect TO him. however
say that ii the accused, he calls them, had
been confronted with their accnsers and allowed to call
witnesses il would not only have been wholly nnprece
deuted but world have completely defeated all attempts
reform and, therefore, take for granted that nothing Of
the kind permitted. We should like 10 be informed
when civilians removed from Office for incompeeney
confronted with and allowed TO call witnesses and
when " the cherished brthrghts, much esteemed in
Virginia Of being tried condemned, and degraded only
after " fair trial, were practically exercised.
i We have known numbers of officers removed from civil
posts in Virginia. and yet heard of any such trial
Auditors clerks, inspectors, and Others without number
have crowded the road to duky death without bearing
OF accuser witnesses charges and if this be the rule
with regard civilians, why should military have
greater privileges?
Ii 10 llHt we cannot MS
demeanor without being confronted with accuser,
being permitted witnesses but claim these
privileges question of removal from Office, far
ilom being in conformity with "a cherished brth ght
is innovation wholly unknown institutions and
totally destructive OF their efficiency If of the
several hundred thousand oico-holders III the United
States could be removed without conviction ndict-
men the executive government OF the country State and
federal would speedily fail into state Of fatal iueicency
ncompeency would riot and laugh at all attempts
control it. We do know better recognised principle
Of government than that which vests power Of removal
either Ia the legislative or in the executive Our
federal government from iis earliest period, recognised
unlimited power orenoya in the President ard this power
has frequently exercised with reference naval OIL
GERS The President had the constitutional right strike
every retired officer from roll, and might have done
SO without violating the brhghtn Of any one Of them
For him to have done it without proper inquiry would
have been gross abuse of power but inacon law
The act Of Congress constituting the board does not hint
at trial in which and accused should confront
each other and Witnesses be examined There would have
been insurmoniablc difficulties in attempting such pro-
cedure II must have been required in all none
If required in ALL many incompetent might have es
capped because would take the unpleasant labor
ions and responsible post Of prosecutor We know the
difficulty Of finding voluntary prosecutors in criminal
Jurisprudence the benons offences and could we
expect military officers, the most clannish in the
world, TO prosecute comrades with whom they had shared
thousand dangers and who nine times in ten would re-
turn the favor by an invitation to the Geld Of honor
Could the members Of the board have publicly prosecuted
without combining in their persons The Offices Of
euser and Judge, in odions form than that
complained Of they superior to the feelings Of
/ which we have just spoken?
The charge against the accused would have been, in
The language of the Of Congress, ainconpetency
perform their duties efficiently ashore aoa" 1--WE quote
from memory) charge from It's necessary generality ems
Ia I'M
ing numberess considerations of habit education physical
mental and moral fitness capable OF being deter
mined with judicial certainty than is proposition in met
aphysics capable Of solution by mathematical problem.
The attempt would have been idle and without other
suit than useless consumption Of time OF in
qniry court atrial acts specific charges
bling Indictment and therefore, experiences ofthe
difficulties which would have bess the naval board if they
\ had attempted similar mode Of procedure.
The witnesses to be called would have been naval oHi-
Gers scattered though every sen and generally out of reach
In such cases would connnanees have been granted until
the cruise had ended and the absent witness returned2
n We say nothing Of The time necessary try hun
bred officers yet il is manifest that years would be
quisitc and in the meau while the neiciency of the navy
remain undiminished We fully convinced that the
attempt Try inei6ciency in the usual way would have
defeated all efforts naval reform, and sacrificed the navy
and possibly the country BY lie adoption Of strange and
useless forms
one of the brightest Of the navy if he has
been allowed this mpraccablc and unusual kind of
trial has becolue the victim of chambers and merc
less nqustonsn and that he has suffered indignty
from the naval board Passing the unanswcrable
cpithcts OF star chamber and nquision ask can
it be seriously said that il is indign,y to place Lieut.
Maury Che reserved lst2 Ii certainly ar that he is
competent perlormali bis duties ashore and afoat
enicicnilyan affirmation which, have doubt Lieut.
Marry with his characteristic modesy, will heartily
second for knows better than be that seamanshp
the most important part Of AN officers duty aoa only
be acquired by long and unrempg service at and
that place scientific man, an experienced sailor in
charge of ship ia little better Cham murder No matter
how high the world may estimate him. IL the board thought
his qualifications insufficient they were
obliged 10 retire him. and il is rank injustice
them for it, Lieut. Maury's service was no doubt
considered TOO limited to qualify him for the command
ship and in obedience 10 law il necessary retire
! him.
So far from being stigma, il Is honorable nasmuch
1t arms that his wcknown duties at the Observatory
have been SO arduous and engrossing to hin
from The interior walks Of his profession
But shall be suffer for his2 BY means hope and
believe For our own part think he deserves far
than place Ia the line Of promotion He s IN our judg-
ment one Of TIC greatest beueaeiors OF the human
now living aud absurd TO think of rewardng such
man ~ making him commander in the maya post t'
duties Of which il performed, would seriously inerfcr,
with The Cat higher duties now DISCHARGED by him. and