The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-10-10
The Naval Board-Protest OF "old Irons,des."

The Naval Board--Protest OF sOld Ironsidcs."
SOLEMN DECLARATION AND PROTEST. OF COMO
DoEE STEWART, AGAINST THE PRoCEEDiNaS OF
BOARD OF NAVAL OFFICERS ASSEMBLED AT
WASHINGTON, on JULY FL, 1885,
The Hon. Secretary of the Navy in communication
to me- dated July H. 1885, directed to repair to Wash
ingou, 'to enable the department to avail itself Of the
advice OF officers Of experience"
On the assembling of the convention Of officers on
the 21st ins he addressed communication to US ind-
yiduay and collectively requiring to sexpress your
(our) opinion whether In your (our) Judgment promo
items in the navy should be made with exclusive refer
ence to senority," &c.
On considering the form and language Of these conmu
picaons it evident to that the Secretary the
Navy required individual opinions in regard to the
matters submitted to us in his communication Of the
21st inst Fully impressed with this conviction sug
gested to this convention, that each officer present
Should be required to give his individual opinion on ali
matters then before ii which proposition this convention
did not accede to- but proceeded to constitute itsef
board tribunal wherein the voices Of the minority
should be stided and the vote of the majority Of the Off
assembled should decide all questions that to
be acted upon by 1t.
If anything wanting to render this proceeding
the part Of the Board more Objectionable it may be
feat 1t not in considered and in
they placed the record and where ~ there to
be found an indication of the opinion or vote Of single
member on the subject
That this course not in conformity with the views
wishes Of the Hon Secretary Of the Navy mace mani
fest by reference to his subsequent communication
other matters submitted for opinions, wherein
addressed singy as the presiding officer OF the Board
and in language which required me TO express our Joint
opinion expressly as Board
Had the Hon. Secretary so required our joint opinions
pressed himself equally explicit His requirements then
communicated to us in his letter OF the 21st inst not
having been complied with ] feel il my duty to meet
them far as 1t shall lie in my power and after the
manner which to shall most proper
No board of officers, however pure i competent to pass
upon the and moral qualifications OF any OH
GER whether for promotion for any other purpose
less under all the solemn obligations of oath to do justice
may be alleged aided by all the lights Of testimony in his
behalf well against him. and patient hearing OF
whatever he may have to advance in extenuation or de-
fence.
Our naval organization is such that it is hardly posi-
bic that the officers composing board could have much
personal knowledge of the qualifications or disqualified
lions Of those whose claims for promotion are %
be considered To illustrate this remark will
state that OF the fifteen officers whose been
passed upon this Board have knowledge
Of the qualifications Of more than twoof them, although
have numbered than foryeght years Of service
them were unknown to even by rame and as the re-
mnndcr Of the officers composing this Board average
service Of but eighteen and half years. it highly
probable that majority Of the Board had OPP
portunty Of forming opinion of henafrom personal
this Board by Joint and secret ballot has recommend
ed the promotion Of certain officers to the injury OF
others and hnt certain other officers should be consd
cred unworthy of promotion altogether.
The adoption of this joint and secret ballot has gone far
proceedings
II has assumed for itself the detesabe attributes OF the
Star Chamber. Not recognized by any law nor under
the protection fanny nw-without even the OF
oath do Justice to the officer whose claims it has
passed. to the servcewithout any evidence OF their
merits disqualidcations, without assigning any
sons for its opinions, either individually or collectively
has given condemnatory Judgment the regulations
of long in the service OF their country Zone whom
now abroad serving with disnction) emphacaly in
timatng that they shall not be promoted and thus vr
tualiy dsgracing them forever in public estimation
There is nothing precious to an officer as his repu
Offences q
court martial he earnestly and at great cost seeks
his vindcaton He confronts his acc1sers he objects
to his judges he offers his witnesses, his explanations
Of defence and the truth is sifted The judges are
der oath to decide according to law the evidence and
the punishment II any, falls upon him sanctioned by
law And yet such punishment by court martial can
ment pronounced by this Board-a board sitting in secret
conclave-their victim abroad and unheard in his de-
any kind acting on SUSPICION or hearsay: without Der
sonal knowledge OF his qualifications and many OF Its
BY personal e. and
clique, or even q single member Of q board, might
bring rreparablc injury the prospects of any officer
in The service Such proceedings so contrary to all re-
ceiyed notions Of proprety and public justice aud SO
opposed to the principles OF government l. for ope
could never countenance or be a party to- No other
was therefore, left tome in the various ballots
for the selection Of officers for promotion than to mark
every ballot decline to vote,
In further illustration Of this hasy and obnoxious
mode Of despatchng officers aud dsposug OF their repu
presented from the es of the Department calculated to
create prejudice against the officer whose fate was to be
passed upon-papes having claim to the character of
evidence in any of honor justiceand yet at
the time other papers and testimonials of charac
ter highly favorable to the individual and designated
such in the synopsis the case were never
Yet DESTROYS do find myself to comply far as it
Hon Secretary Of the Navy, that feel II my duty 10
state explicitly my opinion upon the chief inquiry pro-
pounded the decision of which rests his snh.eusat
in the opinion have now the honor to give.
The Hon secretary's main propo ton, upon which
depend all others embodied in his letter OF the list july
1646, Is in the following words:-
sYou will express your opinion whether in your judg
ment promotion in the Navy should be made with excu-
sive reference to seniorityf'
In obedience to the Injunction contained in this para
made with Exclusive to seniority
cept where great galantry before shall ente
The officer to the exalted distinction Of preference over
his peers, where immediate guilt Incompetence
shall be declared to exist by tribunal legally and ex
prossly constituted to determine rhine the question
| WASHINGTON Cry, y. c., July %, 1916.
The officer referred to by Conn., Stewart Commander
Henry, the United States steamer Plymouth, who was
fuloughcd by the Board then in session. and the follow
| is the paper withheld -
LEGATION THE UNITED STATS,
RIO DE JANERo Dec 20, 1915. I
Mt DEAR SR--Sincc my visit to the Plymouth with His
Excellency Hoanda Cavalcant Minister and Secretary
Of State for the Affairs Of the Marine Of the Imperial
eminent Of Brazil Monday, the 22d inst, have not
had the opportunity until now to make the proper and
due acknowledgment Of the pride felt as an American
citiren-es public functonary of my country, and
alive to the improvement and prosperity Of
navy in the exhibition Of the perfectly beautiful and eff
cient ship under your command. YOU your officers,
and corvette are entitled to my testimonial, and
you shall have 1t.
Fer beauty OF naval architecture for order system and
comfort of internal arrangements for of warkc ap
pearance for apparent efficiency for battery and part
culary its preservation for cleanliness; for space to
fight or work; for ventilation by ports or pumps for
adaptation, especially In all respects warm climate
for total absence Of all gimrackery for lghtness and
c,~ al ~
useless ornament for quiet discipline and for the sweet
and cordial shipshape entertainment which makes 80
favorable impression OF country upon strangers
abroad have ship OF our any other
nation surpass and in essential respects to equal