The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-29

vas isy debated thoroughly considered, AMI scanned
INT the people are both prastical and seral
and therefore while providing ior removing "ary ROTH
~ the relics and memorials of former goy Ca and long
services rendered the Republic. They Justly discrimi
nate Il is only those whose ineompstsp il the result
not Of time, natural decay nor service but Of
their fault excsss who are to be stricken alto
eether from the Tos-a provision in the Law inserted
tyss But ss 10 those WHO ar ineassnt SV reason Of
age SICKNESS, or casualties Of service or even by
reason Of orgnsl and inherent incompeency to meet
the higher and srduous dutes Of the profession mental
and ply the law provides for them by relieving
them from active duty, by giving Them full leave Of alb
the end Of an a sns snS uss
hfe the irailty Of frame originally feece or weak
ened by disease. 1t DO no dshoIor to grow old it is
humiliation to have the fact ascertaned II 1t be no
injustice TO officer who cannot discharge his
duties, In surely not iberal 10 give him the full
leave pay Of his rank when doing nothing; and II his
sensitive honor shrink receiving pay without
derpg vice, the law satisfies even this scruple OF
sh BY 'Is % sosy , sSs
warfare may well occasion many demand for expert
spce and ik in dock and shore batteries fitting
out HotiIlas and organizing for victory which will
satisfy the longing Tor active service which tho note OF
war viii awaken in tie Oldest naval heart.
The investigation should necessarily be secret. II
must be in order that 1T be- efficient and free II
be open without exposing to injury characters
whose fitness vas questioned but approved poa otlai
not be fit to act but which would cast shadow
the public mind, will be elected. Even those ported
against may well Re content ascrbe their to
the vogue ground Of disability rather than have their
6ect melee specified and paladed before the public 1t
il IN the nature OF executive proceeding The Pres
dent scrutnizes in secret the officer he appoints or
fusef and the Senate closes its doors whtn considering
the fitness OF Executive nominations and fcrnunlzng
individual character. The characters and Responsible.
ties of the officers guarantee OF the faithful per-
Of their duty, and publicity would only
other by destroying the woIk Of the Board
One observation remains Congress has allowed cap
tans alone 10 pass captains The other members Of
the Board will be present and witness their proceedngs
but without to affect the result The indifference
generally ~ this grade Of officers tha great measure
of reform has it cannot be Denied created some mssv
ngs and out Of the to the course whist might
be pursued by the OF this grade the
Board but tt msg wings have doubtless
from the peculiar organization of the Board, tbs Law
pg such paramount power in five Of the fifteen
composing it, than from any doubt in tue high
integrity and sense Of duty of The captains likely to be
that they will execute the stern but imperative duty
required by Congress in manner altogether consistent
with the highest honor known to the naval profession
Should 1t be otherwise the whole proceeding will be
failure; but fortunately the of the failure win be
apparent the fact and Congress will know how to
apply the edy and s. ould 1t find that any grade has
no stomach for exercising discipline It's fellows
Congress might think worth while to try the sharper
appetite of their juniors, whose interests will coincide
with their duty.
Congress has however, condded to the high Of
duty Of the officers OF tue navy the interests Of the
country. Congress has provided active service and
higher rank for the young and aspiring ease honorable
retirement and unoninshsd pay for the faithful and
worthy who have become out in the public
vice. And in order that this may be done Without any
additional call upon the public treasury the younger
officers Of the navy ready to perform the more
sponsioe duties OF higher rank without demanding the
u pay Of the rank and tho country looks to the navy
to reform itself; hut reformed it must be-.
TIE United States win counter such disaster from
neglect bias destroyed the English army before Sebas
topol They will not stake the national safety honor
the issue Of combat between youth and age energy
and deere ptude science ana r,utine They viii place
the water he best amaDents in the world man them
with the best hearts her citizens produce and then
confidently abide the issue
The Naval Board is charged 70 scrutin'zs the OF
the navy to name those unit Tor every exgepcy Of
tive service The President directed to sIch
designated from the active service list. If the
Board fail in ITS duty, Congress will find remedy and
mode of executing it. More than one radicsl measure
of reform has been proposedour year apo ntments,
vacatipg al commssions and the like. The moderation
of the people of the msorites Congress- and faith in
the high nded hon Of naval officers have vented
such rash But, il Congress- see that they not
only nave among them men who inefficient, but also
thar the whole BODY infected to be incapable Of
applying dy, they will find short cut 10 the
clusion that there little of the oil aeral worth pre-
serving They may relieve themselves of the trouble Of
picking the sound out Of the rotten by cutting of all to
ge,her.