The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-06

often more calculated 10 confuse than TO direct.
Reposng confidence In your integrity and Intelligence;
persuaded Of your competence discriminate with justice
because OF your experience and your personal and oo
association With your brother Ocersj entertaining
doubt OF your having the Independence to discharge
duty with fidelity and steadness Of purpose, however deli
painful have abiding faith that the honor and
reputation of the service win be safe in your hands, and
that need not indulge in elaborate argument appeals 10
your pride officers and patriotism citizens to coop
crate in causing the standard capacity the American
navy to be maintained at elevation commanding the
confidence and respect Of the country Consdeate states
men look to the the theatre which future
national conflicts to large extent be settled and
the Of the country regards the navy not merely
friendly ally, but sure protector. Our wonderful
expansion nation the necessary multiplication of grave
commerce, have attracted with greatly increased concern
the attention of the legislative and executive departments
OF government to the condition Of the navy and the import
ance Of securing rgor energy and capacity In its persone
In order the ehectua to attain that object and yet
not do injustice from haste ignorance Congress has
thorzed the assembling of board OF officers whose duties
iha ne merely oi an advisory nature ana as an d 70 the
Executive has appointed under that law and 1t now be-
in pursuance thereof And here gentlemen allow me TO in
vite your attention to the searching language of the law.
Be- nsd a
1t stops not here's for it not content with capacity
promptly, but efficiently The lao therefore, has fixed
the test 70" advisory board enforcing
the duties of officer viii guide you the true practical in
depreciation Of this Efficiency a@eeacyaat Is what i
drawn in orer promote efficient. Neither o law nor
the country asks for anything unreasonable examining
ashore and aaoa need hardly suggest to you that an OIL
may be incapable either mentally physically or nor
frame yet bis perception Of right and wrong be SO
and debased as to render him unreabs he could
hardly be ranked the capable officer to be intruted with
OF his counymen and the property and honor of
his country"
Wen did the Secretary know that the navy did
mand the confidence and respect of country He saw
1t IN the official records under his eye Of vice and
crime and mbecliy He in the repeated reports of
his in that department He it in the
peated action Of Congress attempting naval reform lie
saw it in the attempt TO disband the navy revoke its
commissions, and to service of s shat
tered fragments When the board assembled, will under
take to here that there scarcely dissenting voice
from the common Judgment of the navy approving Of the
selection OF officers to compose it. The general voice of
the navy confirmed the selection of the Secretary and
now after all the camor that has been raisedaer listen
ing to everything that has been said against the board
ater challenging in my place investigation of every act of
all the Ingenious attacks direct and nsnuaed their
characters and their motives and even the stale tests
and shre~d surmses upon what hoy did, why they did it,
ana what were their private thoughts they emerge from
the extraordinary and unprecedented ordeal only
scathed but without even the smoke of the battle upon
Their garnenta And sir 1t affords that qualification
which ell should feel who sustain the right reite-
rate my conviction, that other fifteen could be
IN your service to enter upon the discharge OF so
delicate trust with higher u Of right
who could have discharged it justly nobly than
they did,
Here for the present. will leave these regulations to
examine the action of the assembled board the first obec-
ton to which is that its action not public. rar
THIS point has afforded prolific theme of declaDa
ton but as yet have to hear the first argument to show
US how the terms Of the law upon face could have been
complied WITH or its obvious intent attained by such pub
lie action go.
say, sir that only does the duty which the act de-
volved upon the board the idea that its action
TO be public but excluded by the express terms of the
law itself Congress had decided that the navy needed
form and calling upon the Executive aid in attaining it,
provided him with committee Of councillors, whose ad-
vice he might adopt reject at pleasure and this
mitteo board without any of the elements of legal
tribunal without the power OF summonng Witness
enforcing his attendance administering OATH punish
ing for contempt appointing clerk, were to aid him
with their opinion derived from their personal knowledge
of the navy and the records and files of the department.
No prosecutor complainant was there TO aid their nvss
tigation, but they originate and conclude upon
their own inquiries Now, sir, inebriey was common
vice in the navy-a vice 10 which seamen in all services
from the peculiar priyatons and hardshps OF their
profession less addicted Courts for this reason,
regard exhibition by the foremost hand with enity
but in the officer is commonly the basis OF total dsqua
ifcation.
Let us suppose the board to be convened and member
of the ieutenants grade to be under examination The
five ieutenants have sailed with him. and have always
known him as a in whom the ships company had no
confidence whom the ship could not be trusted and
whose mid watch in stormy autudes usually Kept all
hands awake One Of the commanders perhaps has sailed
with him. and found him asleep his wateh and excused
the offence pledge of amendment which pledge was
broken while another, who has had him as master de
his days work could never be conhdcd IN ana
his positions were usually wrong and the files of the de
parmcnt show such be his character Now, sir here Is
clear case for removal from the deUe h for II IS ev-
dent that he s incompetent But the question arises where
he is to be placed upon this point the law again
consult and here board find that II they believe his
incompetency has arisen from any cause implying s.-
cent blame on the part Of ne officer they are to recommend
his be struck from the rolls At this stage OF the
proceedings the euenan who have known him through
bis career declare that the man rarely goes 70 bed so
ber and that in default Of liquor he takes opium Mathis
The Of his ineompeency 10 perform his duty and 1t
becomes the duty board TO determine course
they should recommend the Executive adopt and their dn
y then discussed Now sir suppose that throughout this
investigation and dscussionwheren official repoa and
records OF coursmarta in his case are producedhe Of
fcer himself his friends, bis family are present: what
prospect would exist that ench member OF the board
would speak out firmly and frankly all his knowledge of
the party that board conducting their inyestsgs-
ons under such circumstances could be expected TO
q stern, rigid, firm and unbiased course Why, sir,
here even here the midst Of legislation where
wliaR to admit that sympathies influence Judgment do
we not witness the effect Of the presence OF the memorial
lists And could we look for more heroic hrmness in
board so greatly abused
Let us advance step and suppose that from extraor
binary peculiar features in his the board determine
by Of eight seven not TO dismiss but TO reserve
him or you please that he is retired but il
still retained the active list by what right ask, has
the board thus published TO the world, by its public acts
his vices his oles his misortunes The law coners
no such right do the duties of the hoard involve is
exercise Why then ask, would you perform the cruel
mockery retaining him in your service while you pub
sh his shame and thus hod the word OF promise TO the
ear TO break it in the hopeT
But sir have said that the law IN terms excludes the
idea Of public examination and to show THIS ask your
attention 10 the proviso at the end Of the first section in
! these words
Provided That no officers upon said board shall examine
into report upon, the efficiency OF officers OF grade