The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-11
CITY OF WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE H. 1855


to reduce the navy officer AS matter Of course those
on the retired list regard out Of the eryce and never
70 be called upon do service for although the bill gives
the Executive the power call them active duty II is
power based on the assumption that man may posi-
bly, have been placed the reserved list who had some
cuar fitness for peculiar duty which the Executive
might desire to call him to do. But when arrive
at such stage Of life when they arrive at stage OF
disease which pecudes them from the performance OF the
active duties OF their profession aoa no man would eoun-
tenanee their employment those duties which require all
the activity and energy of youth but would take for these
commands the competent
The difficulty was 10 provide for those who would
remain shore drawing their full pay They constituted
in fact permanent retired list would not vote for their
dismissal from the service | would not treat them as
would old and valued hunter that have used through
out the best energies Of bis life and then in his declining
years instead OF smoothing his pathway TO the grave turn
him out 70 die. No. sir they have done well for their
country and when they unable longer TO respond to
their patriotic impulses they should be not only treated
kindly, but Cherished monuments Of gratitude
reserved list is essential 10 military naval orgapiza-
tons. You have well organized navy without IT,
The idea that have naval officers employed only
when necessary and when they become useless TO nrn
them out to say at once that the service which compen-
safes for the choicest years of life with palty
pttance and turns him TO the charities of the world
WHEN hs has lost health and strength in Your cause is un-
fit for the ambition Of an honorable man.
Mr.. TOOMBS. The Eenator will allow me to interrupt
him for a msment lie has gone and shown the Senate
that under the old system it is not possible for officer
entering the service to attain captaincy until ne IS sew
years of age. Now ask him whether there is anything
in the net establishing the naval board anything his
bill now before u.s. which will alter that the slightest
degree for the fnture2 @e E.H KS a r.
Mr.. MALLORY. There is not. In framing the bill as ii
was originally framed it had provision that board
should be convened every five years. but it was suggested
by the friends OF the navy and Others that ~ would be
better to how the operation would work with one re-
tremept aud Congress would at all times have the mat
ter entirely within their control to scrytinze the navy
contend that scrutiny should go frequently and the
only way keep your navy efficient is to eliminate from
it occasionally the worthless and imbeclle.
Mr.. TOOMBS. You do not improve it; you admit that
you leave II as bad as you found it,
Mr.. MALLORY. No, sir; do not admit any such
thing say that when the time again arrives for
tiny Congress will have the power to order it and as
they how this operation has been performed they may
possibly improve it That time is not now. We are
not called to legislae prospectively. prepared a
clause to that effect but it did not meet the appreciation
of Others will vote for 1t at any time am in favor OF It,
But, sir, am occupying time than expected.
ws however, draw the attention of the Senate to one
feature Of our naval organization We can never SIR,
be brought believe that country can be invaded
No enemy can land shores and march ten miles
into country and ten miles back with impunity.
Any difficulty i'll which shall be engaged will be
the deep Our gates the eyes of the government
They 90 upon all the of the earh and truthfuly
reflect upon the feeling of the nations towards u.s. The
heart oo country follows them upon the great deep sym
pahzes with them in ali their suerngs and successes and
pusaes with grafca,ion with indignation accord
ing to the spirit with which they greeted. ...
On all the important stations of the earth where COM
ships protect them We told few days ago that
the British rgate Eurydice had taken il upon herself to
overhaul American vessel at San Juan del Nore do
adm the facts presented TO by the press that
gross an outrage has been perpetrated by the Eurydce
have not the official reports but there are certain cir
within my knowledge which induce me to
suspend my opinion and to doubt whether such wrong
has really occurred But at the end of that transit we
should all times have ship moreif necessary, two
threeto protect interests. Such outrage if it
has been committed would aye been dreamed OF in
he of
would be fit the American uniform who would not
il once the hazard Of sinking his vessel one
hundred fathoms deep
Sir the only time since the last war with England that
know Of where had vessel the spot in time TO do
any service or prevent any outrage was the affair at
SMYRNA in which Captain lngraharn acted promptly
where he did his duty where he did what believe every
American officer, who Is worthy of commission OF the
country would do, and would not have done less. We
never have ship in the right place at the right time
foreign commander government insults your bag and
derdes your government and send ship perhaps four
or Eve thousand miles away from the United States espe-
cially to right the wrong u Is the came thing every
where Our navy is 30 limited that in part Of the
world where our commerce goes have the means OF
promptly rectifying wrong, or OF verifying the old
adage that "an ounce of prevention is worth pound Of
cure"
shall not occupy the attention Of the Senate longer
ought have given my friend from Georgia more direct
answer his question in relation TO the law assigning cap
taips 10 twentygun ships That Is the smallest ship in
the navy. do not know that have ship rated at less
than twenty guns but may have but there Is nothing
IN the law preventing the secretary OF the navy from OF
dering lieutenant 10 command her The President OF the
United States may order the most efficient officer TO com
maud any vessel He may select among them but az
remarked yesterday where proper esprit d corps exists
the President has right TO discriminate among them
Congress gives him these instruments 10 act WITH and nc
Is obliged 10 presume them all competent for duty IL be
were TO oyersaugh in the command to which the
usages OF the service assign him. he would be Immediately
mporuued by political influence TO right what would be
considered wrong
Anxious for a vote on this measure, sir, have thus
briefly presented such views as In my Judgment are
worthy our consideration and have passed over many
things which have said in this debate as unworthy
the attention Of the Senate.
NomsArEp-A. f. Leonard editor Of the Argus, has
been nominated for mayor by the democrats Of Norfolk