Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-10-19
Action of the Navy Retiring Board


The action Of the late Navy Retiring Board
continues to engage the attention Of the press,
and, as more and more Of the details are known,
the public mind views with increased indignation
the injustice wrought upon individuals and the
odious character of the mode Of preosedng.-
Nothing can be more revolving to the innate
sense Of justice and fair play Of the American
people. than a trial in which the judges are the
prosecutors, and where the accused is not only
not permitted to bring testimony in his behalf
bat is kept in ignorance of the offence of which
he is found guilty. Such was the tribunal, and
such the mode of proceeding. by which many of
the choicest spirits of the Navy have been sac
rifced. Whilst the grossest injus,icei is admitted
to have been done in many instances, the Presi-
dent. having approved the finding of the Board
in toto, has rendered himself incapable of affor
ding redress-or. at least. declines to interpose.
Nothing remains, therefore, bu. an appeal to
Congress by the injured parties. Some doubt
whether any Legislative action can be had which
would not be fraught with mischief great us
that which 1t may seek TO repair. Sooner than
an outrage upon the rights of an American citi-
zen so monstrous should go unredressed, we
would be willing to see the Navy disbanded.
Some nine years ago. band Of officers was
convened by the Secretary of the Navy, Mr..
BANCROFT, for the purpose of passing upon the
character and services of officers with view of
assisting him intis choice of such as should
be placed on furlough. At the head of this
Board was Commander STEWART. Tho mode of
proceeding prescribed then precisely that
pursued by the late star-chnmber cosrs. 1t
revolted the sense of justice Of the veteran
STEwARY. and he addressed solemn declaration
and protest against the proceedings of n band
of Naval officers, assembled at Washington. July
Dist ls46" from which VIC mako an extract
No board of officers, however pure, is compe.
tent to pass upon the professional ind moral
qualifications Of any officer whether for promo
tion or any other. purpose, unless under MI tho
solemn obligations Of oath 10 10 1Bsticr-a
olesesnd steady investigation into whatever de-
inertia raav be alleged. aiaed by al the lights If
testimony, in his behalf as well against him,
and patient hearing of whatever he mny have
To advance in eytonuaiion or defenoe.
Our naval organization is such that il rs hardly
possible that the officers composing q board could
have much personal knowledge of che quaiifca-
tons or disqualihcations OF those whose claims
for promotion are TO he considered 20 illus
trate this remark, will state that, 81 the fifteen
officers whose names have been passed upon by
this Board, have no personal knowledge of the
qualifications OF more than two Of them, atho'
Ihave numbered more than forty eight years of
service, twenty three of which have been passed
at sea. Most of them were unknown 10 me even
by name. and as The remainder of the officers
composing this Beard average a sen service of but
eighteen and half yearsit is highly probable that
q majority Of the Board never had au opportunity
Of forming opinion of them from personal
knowledge in any one case. Yet uotwithstand
ing this this BOARD, by joint aud secret ballot,
has recommended the promotion Of certain officers
to the injury of others and that certain other
officers should be considered unworthy of promo
ton altogether.
The adoption of this joint and secret ballot has
gone far 10 render the proceedings Of this Board
Justly obnoxious. Ii has assumed for itself tho
detestablc attributes Of the Star Chamber. Not
recognized by any law, nor under rhe protection
of any law without even the obligation of
oath to Do justice 80 the oihcer whose claims
il has sed, or to the service vi thoet any evil
dence or their merits of disquafcations or with
out assigning any reasons for its opinions, either
individually collectively has given condeln-
natory judgement on the regulations Of men Icing
in the service of their country, tone OF whom is
now abroad serving with distinction, emphat cal
ly intmatng that they shall not be promoted, and
thus virtually disgracng them forever in public
estimation.
There is nothing precious to an officer AS
his reputation. When arraigned for alleged OF
fences before n court martial, he earnestly,
and at great cost, seeks his vindication.-
He confronts his aocusers, he objects to
his Judges, he offers his witnesses, his ex-
plantations of defence, and the truth Is sift
ed. The Judges urder oath to decide
according to law, the evidence and their CON
sciencies; after fair and impartial trial, the
punishment, if any, falls upon him sanctioned
by law. And yet such punishment by court
martial can rarely surpassi IN severity, and IN It's
effects the Judgment pronounced by this Board
"a board sitting in secret oaneiave-the victim
abroad and unheard in lis defence; without
charges against him, without evidence of any
kind, acting or suspicion or hesrsay; without
personal knowledge of his qualifications, and
many of its members perhaps iniuenced by per
sonal prejudices and enmities Before such tr-
bunsI no one would be safe IL clique, or even n
single member of board mi ght briag irrepara-
BILE injury upon the prospects of an oaicer III the
service. Such proceedings, 50 CONTRARY to all
received notions of propriety and public justice,
and SO opposed to the prneP,es III government,
J. for one. coild never oounts nance ca I've party
to. No other course was, theretore, 2eft to me,
in the various ballots for the selection @f officers
for promotion, than 10 mari, or every ballot
decline 10 vote.
1n1ufthef Illustration ei ."s "17'y ""9 '""oA
ious mode of despatching officers and dssposing
of their reputstons- will here state that in one
case papers were presented frem the slice of the
Department calculated TO create prejud'os against
the officer whose fate wac 10 be p&tsea Aison-
papers having no claH to the character of evil
dence in any court of homer or jsssiee -sad yet,
at the same time, other papers and testimonials
of character, highly favorable to the individual
and designated as such in the synopsis accom-
panying the case, were never presented to the
Board.
Yet SO DESTROYS DO find myselft to coaaply, so
far as it is within my competence, with the re-