The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-09-21
THE nETIREp NAVAL tlsr


We have been permitted, upon application at the Navy
Department to make public the following papers, which
constitute part of the record yet published upon the
interesting subject of the action Of the board
~ under the provisions of the law of Con-
ress The general orders in execution Of the ndng Of
the board as set forth in their report as approved by the
President of the United States, viii be issued
NAVY DEPARTMENT
September 8, 1856
SIR BY the provisions of the act to promote the eff
cheney of the navy approved February 90 1885, became
the duty of the board Of naval officers assembled in pursu-
thereof report the Secretary Of The Navy the
suit Of their proceedings
The order notifying them of their appointment WAS Is
sued June s. 1855 They assembled the goth Of June
and concluded their labors the 26h Of July last Their
report to the Secretary in accordance with the require
mens of the law and the regulations prescribed having
been made is herewith submitted you your approval
or disapproval.
You have, however, informed that you desire my
views this important and delicate subject and shall
therefore, present them briefly possible with much
Difference, yet with frankness
You will doubt, recollect that in my two annual
ports urged the importance of measure Of reform by
which inefficient officers could be relieved and the efficient
be promoted and suggested the nerposon of board OF
naval officers with view to reaching surely
rect and just result
The great end sought TO be attained by Congress was
TO promote the efficiency Of the navy by removing from
the active-scrvice list" all officers found incompetent
do their whole duty efficiently and promptly both ashore
and afoat and by dropping entirely from the ros such
TO blame themselves for their incompecncy. Some
mode then, was to be adopted and persons selected
to examine" and make finding of not only the incom
peent but also Of those who had become from
for which they to blame The law this point
speaks plainly and distinctly 1t does not impose this task
l,,fv IF The
Navy, the President 1t does, however provide
that the persons who to perform this work shall be m
teen naval officers to consist Of five captains FIVE
manders and five euenants, ordered by the President
After thus selecting the persons who to this
work. ii then provides how it is to be done This board OF
fifteen naval officers shall make careful examination
The efficiency Of the officers Of The graden specified After
this careful examination" what does the law re-
quire Its terms again plain They "sha report TO
the Secretary of the Navynnot argument to sustain
their conclusionsnot the facts the evidence, the
copies of records by which they formed their Judgment but
simply the and rank of all officers Of the sad
grades who in the Judgment of said board shall be inca
pable &C. &C. and recommend those to be stricken alto
gcthcr from the rolls whenever said board shall 6eue
their ncompetency has arisen from causes implying sui-
cient blame
1t may not be unnteresng to cal your attention the
fact that this mode of proceeding is by novel,
and occasions when Congress directed the reduction of
the army by which many officers necessarily dropped
from the service the delicate task performed in
somewhat similar by the Presidents appointing
board who after examination reported the of such
in their opinion should be retained without assigning
any facts which caused them prefer some and
exclude others have before the report of the board
the reduction of the army under the act OF 1915 They
report names and give merely the result Of their exnmna
on without facts reasons and their report adopt
ed by the President
Audi cipdfyp uuf}
permitted to 60 into execution without the sanction of
the President who is very wisely authorized to dsapprove
of their action; by which safeguard is provided to
protect the public service from any fragrant abuse Of
power
AT your suggestion have examined carefully their re-
port.
The peculiar fitness OF the officers selected for this deli
cate and arduous duty has been conceded with remarkable
unaniiny by both of'cers and citizens. They were in
session many weeks they applied for and had possession
of the records of the department. there among them
Of age and experience whose achievements form part
of the history Of the country and young of pride in
tellgence, observation, and exalted character.
And while should be uncandid were | TO say that
should have formed the Judgment and the same clas
scaton in regard to each individual precisely rs they
have done, without single variation yet clear my
conviction from my official knowledge of the correct
ness of their opinion in large number of the cases and
such is my Difference to the Judgment of the board and
their superior knowledge of what renders officer ne
Gent and what constitutes real efficiency that cannot
withhold from their report my approval advise you to
do so, unless your better Judgment shall make suggestions
which may have escaped me. have reflected much sir
this important proceeding, under proper appreciation
of the trying task dovolved the board and with feel
ngs far from indifference insensibty the inconyc
nicnce and pain to which many may be subjected.
transmit herewith copy Of the regulations prescribed
by the department for the board under the law.
have the honor to be- very respectfully your obedient
servant, j. g. DOBBIN
To the PRESIDENT.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
Washington, September IL, 1856
SIM Having carefully examined and deliberately con-
sdercd the report Of the board of officers convened under
the act to promote the efficiency of the navy approved
February 49, 1885, and also your communication Of the 9Th
instant hereby express my approval of the Ending of
the board set forth in their report Proper orders will
accordingly be issued in Of the provisions OF the
law FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Hon. J. @. DoBBrs Secretary of the Navy.
From card which published in the New York papers