Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-11-02
From the Charleston Mercury.
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Naval Reform.
An effort has been made, and no doubt to some
extent successfully, to prejudice the public mind
against the board of naval officers" convened in
June last to form reserved list of those officers
who unfit for active service Of sea- and TO cassi-
fy them according to the sense of the board as to
their past service and merit, on leave of absence y
or on furlough pay and to drop from the service
those who had from faults of their own rendered
themselves incompetent TO perform duty.
1t has been lnsInuated by your correspondent " In
Qulsor" that the board consisted of officers who
yet have 10 be proved better than those they retired
and dropped The history of the war of 1872 an
of the Mexican we hold contains the testimony
required and the confidence of the service in the
honor and ability of those gentlemen we deem
sufficient guarantee of the justice of their action.
The president and senior officer of the board
Commodore Shubrick is South Caronian. Our
State, as token of It's appreciation of his valor in
the last war with England presented him, by Joint
resolution OF both houses OF the legislature, with
sword, which he treasures as his most valuable pos
session. He commanded the Pacific squadron during
the best part of the Mexican war
! Commodore Perry, next In rank, is well known
! that 1t would be supererogatory were we to more
than aude TO his services in two wars, and COM
mander in, chief of the Japan squadron. 1t is sig
nlfcant fact that the name OF his own son may be
found on the furlough list.
| We need not give the history of each one of The
board for it is enough to say that it composed
Of such men Buchanan, Dupont, Pendergrast, Bar
out of the service, of honor patriotism, and
valOr.
| The board consisted of fifteen officers, five from
each grade, three of whom were from this State
Commodore Shubrlck, Captain Strlbling and Lieu
| tenant Mssroon-which alone would be conclusive
that particular effort has been made TO nortify
the pride or lnf1lct an injury particularly upon
own citizens. We deem it rather fortunate and
fattering circumstance that Carolina should have
had representation of one fifth in the board. Half
! of the officers, at least, were from the South.
Our own delegation In both houses voted believe,
to man. for the bill authorizing the organization of
the board and feel proud to be able to say that
this State has withheld her vote from any effort
to improve the condition of our naval service. That
narrow ,mindedness and parsimony which have char
acteriZed other portions of the Union in this respect
cannot be laid at our door.
1t has been also argued-and he who pleads bad
cause always imputes sordid motives to actions of
good men-that 1t was 10 the advantage of the board
tc retire all above them and that they were governed
by this selfish end. Now, if, out of the whole ser.
vice. fifteen honest could not be found, the
navy had better be dsbanded at once; for it would
be folly intrust the honor of our country in the
hands of such corrupt body The past and present
history of the navy will tell you how much of the
confidence of the people it is entitled to and the
conquest of California what it had contributed to the
national wealth. Go to Washington, where, if re-
ports be true, dishonesty and corruption cultiYa
ted in ho-house, and ask if ever the chief of a
naval bareau has had the shadow of suspicion cast
upon his official recttude.
The report of the reform board, and the manner
in which the selection for retirement made, are
evidence enough that these gentlemen neither did
nor could have taken advantage of any opportunity
of selfadvancement The law which governed them
In forming an estimate of each officers qualifications
was smp y this: Each grade alone voted in its own
grade and the grades lower. Thus, in canvassing
the merits of the passed mIdshipmen masters and
lieutenants. the whole hoard voted on each man as
his name was taken up. The five lieutenants then
Withdrew. The captains and commanders voted on
the list of commanders and the five commanders re-
tired, leaving the captains to vote the captains, or
the highest grade TO vote the highest grade. By
examining the official list published in your paper it
will be found that more leutenants have been retired
and dropped than in any two grades put together
yet this was the lowest grade represented.
1t must be ever borne mind that the leave alb
sence list is an honorable one, and that the furlough
list is but second to It, In the list of captains re-
| tired on leave of absence will be found The name of
Commodore Charles Stewart, the captor of the Cyane
and Levant; and in the list, of eutenants,
Lieut.. M. f. Maury, the Superintendent of the Ma
tonal Observatory, and author of the celebrated
wind and current charts. Old age and long expert
ence have untitled the Commodore for future labor,
and grateful country permits him to rest upon his
oars, with an income from government Of twenty
five hundred year. Lieutenant Maury enjoys a
salary OF three thousand year. by special act of
Congress, rs Superintendent of the Observatory an
accident from the overturning of stage-coach has,
otlt'e precluued the PossDnty OF MS gong TO sea,
while his tastes evidently for the scientific
branches OF his profession. Mr.. Maury also had q
connexOn on the board Lieut.. William l.. Maurv
Need any man, if his conscience is right blush to be
IN the same category with two such as Stewart
and Maury?
The fifteen officers who have been appointed TO
perform this delicate task have done their duty and
! should the unfortunate be rash rs TO demand by
an act OF Congress the evidence against them it can
be easily produced by reference TO the records OF
the Navy Department. We under the impress
sion that the captain of every ship in service makes
at stated times report of the qualifications and con-
duct OF every officer under his command, which re-
port is forwarded to the Secretary of the Navy, and
hled III The department. A mans professional biog.
raphy is there written.
Finally, after perusng the reserved list as it stands
and TO the best OF ouri abilities, mpartally citici
sing the report of The board, the Navy Register
meanwhile before u.s. we find but one case against
which to raise an objection-that of Lieut. Alex c.
Rhlnd. The circumstances of his late court MARTA
IN the PacIhc we are not acquainted with but We
feel assured that if he did, or ever has erred it has
been from TOO keen sense of honor, if a man car
morally be IN that condition. His talents are of the
highest order, and, though his career has perhap
been stormy one, they have borne him through ey.
cry trial HIS ability to command we have never seen
equalled and his courage has been tested too often
and proved lis existence keeping with his whole
character. His chiyarous mind never has, and never
will stoop 10 the approximation of the decimal of
low thought; and In losing him the service is beref
OF hgh-toned gentleman and gifted officer. In
TINS case the board, We deem, was mistaken but, tc
the best of our judgment it is the only one, and he
: was junior TO any officer on the board
Personalities have been avoided in this article
We have simply stated facts they are in the rough
perhaps, coming as they do from
!. st. Luke's, Oct. 5, 1855. A BLUE JACKET.
GREENvnLE IS CO. Ard FRENCH BROAD RAIL
RoAD.-The sum of 5000 600 require to secure ths