Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-09-28

nt their rights AM contrary 10 fhf iui"H aii TX
ulatons If the service for a mere Lieutenant h
be man If mark and likelihood Another con-
sidcraiioa has it. influence. They have attain.
ed their present rank in the service and FOR years
enjoyed consideration and good poy aud gfeat
leisure, without the slightest tncinrc ct science
or literature. They, quarter II century pgo,
] knew possibly bow to handle ship. and -
through the routine duty If the quarter drcS.
and had occasion served would hive acquitted
themselves handsomely in battle. Bat their IL
norance beyond the limits Of their professional dn-
! lies, il, generally. astonishing. We need not
/ say, therefore, that they de-pse aud undrrsalne
mental cultivation in young officers seeing ihet,
! in their own case. its absence no bar 10 the
attainment, in the oi years, Of the highest
rank aud emonments of the service They not
only despise and undervaue science md litera
ture-but hate and cypress the junior officer WHO
is unfortunate enough 10 possess them. The
number Is not small in tho Navy, Of youag men,
who are inspired with Iaudable ambition 10 be
something mare than merely good watch officers.
The Nayai Acadrmy, though in its nfaney. is
adding yearly Ia This number, nn1 bids fair 10
do for the navy. what the West Point Academy
has done for the Army TINT i-.to give it u corps
Of officers such other service in the world
can boast of. Now ii must be apparent that in
afixing stigma on 1t. Manrv. These old gen
tlemen are in great measure blasting the hopes
and aspirations Of these Young middes. The
graduate Of tho Naval Acudemy-Hs well as ey.
cry man in the Navy, whose tastrs incline him
to cultivate science or litcrasure IS plainly told.
TINT such tastes are not acceptable to thase in
authority. Wien nnme - illuatriuus in science
rs that Of Lit Maury,is branded with dishonor. can
il he expected the young md,hipman should
devote himself to the cultivation Of his mind
We know tint malice is cunning. or we ,hould
wonder bow minds So obtuse should have hit up.
on policy so well calculated 10 sihe improve
nent in the peraonel Of the Navy.
The world will be curious 10 know what was
the Boards standard of mental and bodily quali-
feation. Tie act was pissed 10 promote the
" efficiency OF the Navy. Did they require as
pre- requisite of efficiency soandncss of limb
We're they as cute n. horse jockeys in detecting
ply sicaI blemishes Did they require Il man
should not only have the usual complement Of
limbs, but that each should be free from injury
Hardly, since one at least Of the nqusi,inn spoets
leg which hnson two occasions, been lractu ed
'Grra, Ammon'- son one shoulder had too high"
Nelson wasa cripple, sans eye, sans arm, whom
he made his name immortal. Winfield Se7tt's
symmetry of furn was not perfect when he led his
army victoriousy from era Cruz TO Mexieo-
mu,kcl ball at lunjy'7 Lame having crushed
his left shoulder. Vet Alexander the gre at,
Nelson and Scott would, we suppose, have been
Il
Common folks are accustomed to regard some
thing elise as necessary IN commander ihan
physical qualities. They believe that mental NC
tivity energy and scientific requirements nre not
to be dcspi,ed, and that an officer mny do good
service, though he be not able to march on foot t
whole day or climb rope.
We respect too much tho members of the
Board to do them the injustice of bringing any
services which they have already rendered. or
have It'll their power to render in contrast with
those by which It. Maury has illustrated his
own name and reflected glory upon the Navy und
the nation. 1t would he cruelty To do this.--yet
somr will make the contrast aud incline TO the
belief that the Navy would suffer less by the re.
moval Of the nntnes of the Whole fifteen from the
list, whether Of the active, or reserved, than by
the loss of the nun whom they have sacrificed.
There are several other points upon which we
wish to dlate, but our article is already too long
and we must postpone the further consideration
of the subject. 1t. Maury is personally II stran-
ger to the editors, & what we hive said has hnen
written FROM sense of duty 10 the public. We re.
peat that the American people will learn with sur.
prise & Indignation of his osracsn. They had
hoped to see him promoted. lie has won the high.
est honors of his profession X should wear them
tits an insult and wrong to the nation to have
his eminent achievements thus ignored. The
great benefits he has conferred upon our naval
and merchant marine, upon commerce and nayi-
CATION, AMI science generally ,are too well known
and appreciated at home and abroad, far the
American people TO tolerate the deep damna-
ton of his taking of"