Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-06-29

Naval Board to promote the Efficiency OF the Nav,
This Board has assembled at Washington, and NO
cannot conceive more delicate and embarrass;ne
duty than that which has been placed in it's hands
According to the instructions received by the Board
from Secretary Dobbln, its duties are of an 'adv;so
ry' nature, and an aid to the Executive in prom
ting the efficiency of the Navy. But this s'advsors
will not relieve the Board of responsibility. III
Executive will follow its advice" else the
iZation of the Board is nero farce. What are tLa
dunes of the members, under the law, ACCORDING n
the Secretary's instructions? They must make ra,"
full examination and report all officers who are inca
pable, mentally physically, and morally from p4r
forming their whole duty, efficiently and promnlly
ashore and afoat! We venture to say that there =
not one of the Board who would not rather lie broad
side to broadsde with the largest line of battle shin
in the British navy, than sit in such an nqustior
upon the capacity conduct and character of his bro.
ther officers 1t is due to the country however, thai
| the Navy should be weeded of worthless and inefH
cent men, and we trust that the moral heroism of
Board composed of such men as Shubrick, Perry
&c., will be equal to their physical courage
According to the instructions of the Secretarv
there two distinct classes of officers to be broupI,
within the examination of the Board, and one If
these classes is sub divided They are required to
report the names of officers who should be- in their
Judgment, placed on the preserved list" and then
designate those of the ''reserved who in their on;n
ion, for service rel dered and for fidelity in the dis
charge of duty, should receive full "leave-of:ab
sence" pay, and those &ho should merely receive
furlough, or half s'leave of absence pay.
II They are required 10 advance step further in
their examination and discrimination and report the
names of such officers they "beieve have become
. incompetent from any cause implying sufficient
blame the part of the officers to justify" their
recommending them to ''be stricken altogether from
the rolls And this point, the Secretary suggests
the opinion that officer is to blame if he has be-
come incompetent from neglect Of duty and ina,ten
~ nd ;pd;f tn
: from dissipation and immoral indulgences."
To be placed on the reserved list with full leave.
of-absence pay is considered no degradation but a
high compliment to those who have faithfully served
their country but have become unable to perform the
severe duties of their profession. Nor does the Sec
rotary consider that it will be necessarily degrade
tion or mark of governmental dispeasure, for ar
officer to be placed on furlough which is halt leave
ofabseEce pay, because he says he may have become
really incompetent to the discharge of his duties and
yet may have served so long and faithfully an
with such credit to entitle him to the highest COM
pensation to be deserved
In holding their deliberations, the entire BOARD
; will sit together, deliberate and determine and BY
u proper means authenticate their conclusion as Il
J. lleutenants, masters and passed midshlpmen; afte
i that the leutenants will have to retire, and the cap
tains and commanders will act in regard to all off
s GERS of the rank of commander; when the command
ers must retire, and the captains will act 10 off
= GERS of that rank All the examinations having thu
:, been made, and the proper judgments reached in til
j. manner contemplated by the law the sum total
the opinions will be certified to the Secretary in sue
" form of naturalization he in his regulations sha
e see fit to prescrbe.''
S Again, we repeat it is most trying and painful
e responsibility which is devolved upon this board
they perform their duty faithfully and without fea
e favor Affection" they will achieve the most sigma
benefits for service upon which the country depend
IS or its security and honor in all future contests vii
n the great powers of the world.--Rachmond DBpatc