Washington sentinel., 1855-02-13
NAVY BILLS.

set apart by the House of Representatives, at
the instance of the chairman Of the Committee
on Naval Affairs, for the consideration of i'm.
portant public measures relating TO the Navy,
which have been considered and matured by
the naval committees.
The country, in its length and breadth, has
given unmistakable evidence of the deep'in-
ierest it takes in the discussion of those mea.
sures in Congress which have for their object
the renovation, improvement, and increased
efficiency of the Navy in all its branches; and
il must be admitted that the Navy itself, and
its friends, look with great anxiety to the re.
suit of this days proceedings in the House of
Representatives.
Among the bills which have OF late occupied
the attention Of the committees and of the De-
partment, the three following may be consid-
Of most pressing necessity at this time, viz:
The Discipline bill;
The bill authorizing the construction of seven
steam sloops of war; and
The bill to promote the efficiency of the
Navy
These three measures have been so ably dis.
cussed, and the necessity for speedy legislative
action upon them, SO clearly demonstrated in
high official quarters, that it would seem like
temerity to attempt to add new facts, or ad-
duce new arguments, TO prove that upon the
passage or rejection Of them depends the early
re.invigoration or the rapid decadence of the
once vigorous and improving, but now rapidly
declining, and prematurely old, Navy of the
country.
The passage of the FIRST bill named, it is be-
!ieyed, is of unquestionable necessity in the
opinion of those who, from high official position
and from professional duties, have had the
best means Of arriving Of correct conclusions.
Discipline is of vital importance to the har-
mony, comfort, health, welbeing, and efficiency
Of the personnel of the service. Without it,
cur ships cannot be creditsbly and safely man
aged at sea, nor displayed at home nor abroad
without humiliation, and in the hour Of need
no amount Of nautical skill and personal bra
very, uncontrolled By proper discipline, can
avert defeat and disgrace.
The necessity for the passage Of the second
bill (for seven small steamers Of wary seems to
be so selfevident, to say nothing Of the very
cosent and unanswerable reasons which have
been given by the Hon. Secretary Of the Navy
10 Congress, that it is believed no one who IS
at eli aware Of the present very limited number
of available vessels at the disposal of the De.
partment for keeping up and relieving our
present small force afoat, can fail to recognise
the absolute necessity for this nominal lbut
not actual, Gs has been shown by the Depart
ment,) increase in the number Of our vessels OF
war.
II is 10 the third and last named bill Ito pro-
mote the efficiency Of the Navy that it is the
chief object Of this article to invite attention.
For many years the country, the Department
and the Navy have been looking anxiously tc
Congress for the passage of measures Of reform
at this time, or, rather, that the entire naval es
tablishment of the country has not long age
fallen TO pieces, proves the wisdom and strength
Of its early organization and the character o.
those who carried it through the several wars
IN which we have been engaged with undi
minished zeal and energy, and this, too, with
out any Of these incentives which pertain to
those military organizations, in which efficient
service procures professional advancement.
The great evil under which the Navy is nov
suffering, arises from the stagnation in all the
grades, and the utter hopelessness Of an officer
being advanced to the execution Of responsible
and important duties within the period Of hi'
greatest professional, mental, and physical ef
fciency.
There is an evil, the present extent Of which
and the manner in which il is increasing, few
ere aware Of who have not carefully examined
the subject.
If the individual officer alone suffered, the
remedies proposed by this bill would be fitting
and proper, but when we consider that the
best interests Of the country, and The proper
efficiency Of the Navy 80 loudly call for this re.
form, il becomes a measure Of positive neces.
sity.
One example will probably serve 10 illustrate
what has been said above
The enlarged views Of the Executive branch
OF the Government, commencing under the ad
ministration Of President Polk, and continued
through the succeeding administrations, sus
tanned by the liberal and enlightened spirit
Of Congress, have built up the finest Nava
Academy in the world, and this claim to supe
riority cannot be denied by any intelligent per
son who is familiar with the subject.
The admirable system at this Institution, b.
which the academic studies and the practica
instruction, ashore and aaoa,, are SO perfectly
combined as TO insure the future development
Of The most accomplished and efficient nava
of Gers
But what return will the nation receive for
this munfcent endowment? Let us see.
The graduating class for the year 1854, the
Go, nndnr tho nav and ;mnroved svster, ara