The daily union., 1856-04-05

he advanced rank No Al Mr. MeCauley carried
from No "a up 10 No. 10; Mr. Stribing from 63 TO 20
and Nj. Bigeow from SO to 81
This Is the result and effect OF the operations and udg
ments OF this board upon their fortunes rank aud PC
sition ir their profession know that the interior Officers
had nothing TO do, apparently with the decision OF he
cases of those above them but looking AT all The crcum
stances with which this question is surrounded who
TO any other conclusion than that there a
muniy OF interest," Of feeling and Of object which perSa
ded the whole board
The friends of these gentlemen on this floor and else
where have characterized them honorable neu" will
not dispute their claim TO this very title do
not know any Of them personally but have doubt
and speak with all sinceriiy-that they quite
honorable any other fifteen officers who could have
heen selected for the performance Of this dei'ate and
important trust but honorable they were they
but men at last possessing all The in6rmiirs OF
common humanity-subject 10 the same influences the
passions and feelings which operate less
all men. Auy man who understands human nature knows
welfhow powerfunay, how rresisrbleis that sofr Sc
dneiive voice OF interest and ambition to which these gem
temen exposed. To say that they In wise
affected by IL Is to say not only that they the bes If
who assembled since the foundation Of
the world TO the present time, but il s TO say that they
than mortal The great dramnst has put inro
the mouth of Marc Antony, in his GRAFTON the dead
body Of Caesar, words which characterized Bruus Cassus
and the other conspirators who slew him. honorable
men," They all honorable men" in the language of
the orator but violence done to the teachings Of
human wisdom or human experience when he Also by the
most subtle and effective insnuaons charged them with
having been controlled by the workings of selfish aubi-
ton. They Slew Cfsa they SAID, for the good Of Rome;
but the death Of their great rival opened the door their
own preerment to place and power. This naval board
tired two hundred and officers OF the navy promote
the efficiency OF the navy but they elevated themselves
higher more lucrative honorable and important po
stions in their profession.
But sir, the naval board not only in my opinion com.
med in the evidence upon which they acted hut
they ought not TO have tried condemned any with
out giving him opportunity of defence The demands
OF justice Of common decency the sacred nuncons Of the
constitutions every consideration with which this ect
be surrounded demanded that the officers whose
were considered should have opportunity, either by
themselves or friends OF rebutng the charges which
preferred against them before final judgment of condemna
With oil due Difference the Secretary of the Navy
think he would have relieved the proceedings of the board
of much Of their obnoxious character and would better
promoted the ends OF justice if he had instructed them
hold open sessions and hear evidence in behalf OF the Of
hcers This is the first instance Of which have heard,
since the formation of government in all this broad
land, where secret tribunal, authorized by la and
sanctioned by the government has been created, to
sit in secret to try the most sacred private and personal
rights England has had her court Star Cham
Der Franco has had her revou tionary tribunals
Spain her secret inquston. Despoc governments have
rcsorled to these arbitrary 10 accomplish arb
trary Objects and to nct arbitrary punshmens These
institutions deestable and odious they were been
condemned by the honorable and highmnded of the
enlightened age in which live 10 the United States
had Hartford Convention, which with
closed doors plot treason against their country and
have heard much OF late OF the midnight sttngs of
tain order called know-nohings These meetings.
although purely political in their character sui-
ceuty dangerous and deesiable but have never bc
judicial tribunal sitting with closed DOORS and il shut
ting out the light of the at least excluding the
searching aud saluary hight which from the jonus
and sorunizing Of the people. Sir opposed 10
all such tribunals, political or judicial they wrong Ia
principle and dangerous in practice they opposed
the genius and eprit OF fe age in which hive; they
ought be tolerated countenanced in cou-
try and rejoice know that they have received-as
trust such proceedings ever will recerye-he UNQUALIFIED
condemnation of the great Of the American people
In my opinion The Secretary Of the Navy erred not only
in the formation Of this board by selecting interested
judges but he erred in not giving them different nsuuc
lions TO control their conduct II in the power Tie
Secretary of the Navy TO do this The power was ex-
pressy conferred him; and he ought not in my opu-
have left this question the decision Of the board
itself lie might have known what would be the action r
such board Sir am authorized 10 say that mcul-
Of the board introduced resolution TO have open
sons but it voted down by decided majority the
board thus furnishing plausible If not orcible aud
conclusive foundation for the mputaton which has been
either ashamed or afraid to expose their conduit the
public view, and whose judgments and opinions have al
ready been formed before they assembled.
Sir the proceedings of this board holding their sessions
in secret and condemning officers without hearing or al
opportunity OF defence, have been simulated by gentle
upon this floor the pro eedings Of the Spanish
quston In my opinion in many respects they -
than those Of the Spanish lnquisition "Ske tut .
venerated for its antiquity is sacred
wi. dom and justice The Spanish nquston although II
generally struck always heard Painting il flr
the blood OF It's victims and hloated 1t was with
crime nevertheless gave It's victims the poor p vippe
or being heard 10 se,-deence although the privilege ala
not often avail them from the bloody sacri6rc: hut
this secret interested irres ousble naval board struck
without hearug and struck two hundred and NJ, d
single blow. Sir 10 my opinion, there never has be- H.
since the formation OF government solitary instance m
which the principles OF justice and fairness have
been utterly disregarded The principles OF justice whch
lie the foundation OF all civil society the dictates OF
common sense the demands OF deueucy The "a
cred inuoclons Of your constitution which guaranty
every udyidual-the vest and the lowest crimina-the
right Of being tried openly by impartial tribunal and
the privilege Of sedefeuce all these Considerations
cir more the injured character the wounded feelings and
the violated rights Of these unfortunate victims
" Plead like angels, trumpet tongued, against
The deep dSmnation OF their taking oH."
SO the proceedings OF the naval board and s
effects In the language Of the equity -pleadrr In my
opinion Il has been marked with manifold errors and in
consist 'euces from the beginning the end. II vio
lated the most sacred principles Of your government, it
has inflicted serious Injury the character and stand
log Of gallant The public voice demands a correc
ton Of this error and the officers themselves call for re-
dress
They all feel profess feel and have no doubt do
feel not only that their rights and interests and eenys
have been sacrificed but that their honor has been tar
nished their character impaired by the judgments Of ibis
naval board.
II has been argued on this floor that no degradation or
disgrace has attached these officers BY the Judgment of
the naval board. differ from that opinion. The people
differ from that opinion. The officers themselves, DO
best understand the effect Of these judgments differ from
this opinion. For what have these ofcers been
retired Does any on this floor know 2 Does the
President know Docs the world know The naval
hoard have reported facs evidence grou ads no
For what cause then have these officers been
have fallen under Judgment Of physical disability Have
deaf FIR