Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-13
From The New York Herald.

thought such deserving institutions 10 be
worthy Of Imitation.
From The New York Herald
The Naval Board-Protest OF cold Iron
sides"
Solemn Declaration and Protest Of Commodore Sieic-
arf, against he proceedings 81 Board 81 .NaUai
officers assembled Al Washington, on July u,
1916
The Hon Secretary Of the Navy, in a co,nmu-
nication 10 me dated July Ii, 1916, directed me
to repair to Washington, . TO enable the depart
mcHt 10 avail itself u the advice OF officers OF
experience.
On tie assembling Of the convention Of officers
on the 2lsI instant, lie addressed a communion
ton to US individually and collectively, requiring
us 10 express your (our) opinion, whether il
your tourl judgment, promotions in the navy
should he made with exclusive reference 10 Sc
niority," sc.
On considering the form and language OF these
communications it was evident to me that the
Secretary Of the Navy required our individual
opinions in regard 10 matters submitted TO Us in
his communication Of the 2lst instant. Fully
impressed with this conviction, | suggested 70
this convention, that each officer present should
be required 10 give his individual opinion on all
matters then before II: which proposition this
convention did not accede 10, but proceeded 10
constitute itself board or sribunal, wherein the
voices OF the minority should be stiied, and the
should decide all questions that were 10 be acted
upon by IL.
If anything were wanting to render this pro-
ceeding on the part Of the Board more objection
able, il may be found in the fact that the efforts
that were made 10 defeat i were not in some
cases considered, and in case were they placed
on the record; and nowhere is there 70 be found
an indication Of the opinion vote Of a single
member on the subject.
That this course was not in conformity with
the views or wishes Of the Hon. Secretary Of the
Navy i made manifest by reference to his sub
sequent communication other matters sub
mtted for our opinions, wherein | am addressed
sngy as the presiding officer Of the Board, and
in language which required me TO express our
Joint opinion expressly a Board.
Had the Hon Secretary 50 required our Joint
opinions on the matter first submitted 10 US, he
would have expressed himself equally explicit
His requirements, then, communicated 10 ~
in his letter Of the Dist instant, not having been
complied with. ] feel il my duty 10 meet them, 20
far ~ il shall lie IN my power and after the
manner which 70 me shall seem most proper.
No board Of officers, however pure. i compe-
tent 10 pass upon the professional and moral
qualifications Of any officer, whether for promo
ton or for any other purpose, unless under all
the solemn obligations Of oath 70 do Justice
close and steady investigation INTO whatever de-
merits NAV be alleged, aided by all tie lights Of
testimony in his-hchal? as well "a against him.
TO advance 10 exiennation defence
Or naval organization j. such that II * hardly
possible that the officers composing boa M could
have much personal knowledge u thoqualitica-
tons or dsqGalhcations If those whose claims
for promotion re 10 be considered To illustrate
this remark ] will state that, Of the fifteen otii.
GERS whose names have been passed upon bv this
Board, have personal knowledge Of the
qualifications Of more than two of them, although
] have numbered more than iory.cght years Of
service, twenty-thrce Of which have been passed
al sea Most of them were unknown 10 me even
BY name; and the remainder Of the officers
composing this BOARD average d sea service Of but
eighteen and a half years, il IL highly proba bic
that majority Of the Board never had An oppor-
tunity Of for ming opinion Of them from per-
sonal knowledge in any ono case. Yet notwith-
standing this, this Board, by a Joint and secret
ballot, las recommended the promotion Of certain
officers to the injury Of others, and that certain
other officers should be considered unworthy Of
promotion altogether.
The adoption Of this joint and secret ballot
has gone far 70 render the proceedings Of this
Board Justly obnoxions. IL has assumed for itself
the detestble attributes Of the Star Chamber
Not recognized by any law, nor under the pro-
lection Of any law--wthOut even the obligations
Of an oath to do justice 10 tie officer on whose
claims il has passed, or 70 the service-without
any evidence Of their merits or disqua li6caiionS
or without assigning any reasons fpr lis opinions
either individually collectively-it las given
condemnatory judgment the regulations or
men long in the service Of their country. lone az
whom is now abroad serving with distinction
emphatcally intmating that they shall not he
promoted, and thus virtually disgracinp them
forever in public estimation.
There is nothing SO precious 10 an officer MS bis
reputation. When arragned for alleged offences
before a court-martial, DC earnestly. and al a
great cost, seeks his vindication he confronts
his accuscrs, be objects @ bis Judges, be offers his
witnesses, his explanations Of defense, and the
truth i sIitcd The Judges are under oath to de-
eide according 70 law, the evidence and their
consciences; and after a fair and impartial trial.
the punishment, If any falls upon hin, sanctioned
by law. And yet such punishment by court mar
tial can rarely surpass IN severity and in its ec
fects, the judgment pronounced liz this Board
Board sitting in secret conclave--thcir victim
abroad, and unheard in his defence; without
charges against him, without evidence of any
kind acting on suspicion or hearsay: without per.
sonal knowledge Of his qualifications and many
of it's members perhaps influenced by personal