New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-15
NAVAL MATTERs-DEMOCR DIFF
CULTIES.

From Our Own Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April l3, 1856.
From the present indications il is extremely
doubtful if the Senate will act at all during this
session upon the promotions in the navy which re-
suited from the action of the late Board. The nOn-
nations sre still kept suspended in the Committee
though it is known to be favorable to them
waiting the developments in the chamber, and per-
haps an OppOrtune moment, for running the gaunt-
let of Senatorial inqusitiOn If this course should
be pursued it might be attended with grea. deal
of embarrassment; for, as was shown in iOrmer
letter, the present Commissions would expire at
tbe end Of the session. and those holding them hav
ing no authority of law to claim the Comm 'sions
last vacated would be practically out OF Office until
,be President might. under his discretion, renom-
mate at the ensuing session. The opponents OF the
Board in the Senate feel they have got its friends IN
fight place, and they are by no means unwilling
TO employ all the means which address or paris'
mentary privileges may allow in turning this adj
vantaRe TO account for the benefit OF the sOealled
victims.
While good deal of proper sympathy has been
excited for some of the officers who have suffered
by the snap judgment of this tribunal, there Is no
apubt there was too much justification for the &C.
ton in a great majority of cases. This has been
painfully demonstrated by some OF the inyestiga-
tons undertaken BY the Naval Committee of the
Senate in which il was cOntended that the moral
deln0uencies, which were proven IN presence OF
some al the parties implicated, did not constitute
a good cause OF retirement unser the operation OF
the law creating the Board. What can be thought
of men who having 4nemOriallZed the Senate for
inin
rest their defense upon a miserable technlcahty
which substantially admits the real charges !! a
Reyisory Board Of Inquiry, like that proposed by
the Senate Committee would correct SUCH errors
as have been committed for 1t IS well understood
the President is prepared 10 act promptly upon
such recommendations But 10 repeai the Jaw Ell
tirely because of some admitted inperiecuOns
would be taking a very dangerous step backward
In sUmmOniDg Capt. lneraham to the charge OF
tie Bureau of Ordnance and photography, the
President must have acted undur the belief that
objection would not be interposed 10 has conhrma-
fion But the Senate has manifested the dlsp0sl-
tiOn TO make an exceptional case, and therefore
he will have TO share the fate OF his compeers IN
any general principle that may be adopted; IL
would be rather . curious conclusion OF this bust.
ness if the officers put upon the reserved ist oy
the Board constituted, even If but Temporarily.
the personnel Of the navy; while the Board ITSELF
aud those whom il promoted, were actually ostra-
csed from the service until restored by Executive
interposit0n.
In seven weeks more the Democratic Conven'
tiea at Cincinnati will be in full blast. As II ap-
proaches there is q manifest 1uttering among tue
asp,rants aud their bottle holders here IL is Tor
this reason that the whole time OF the senate Is
appropriated to political engineering, and that
personal promptngs are made paramount 10 con-
alterations of public interest. For more than four
months it has been sort Of stumping- ground for
every little demagogue who may have presump'
top enough TO aspire to the Presidency himself
or who may be equally earnest in the advocacy OF
equally inferior pretenslOns in another. CAndi-
dates are becoming thicker than blackberries ever
were, aud especially since it has become apparent
that prominence is doomed.
Among the most recent suggestions in this re-
spect aud not without certain degree OF serious
ness il the name of William Aiken Of South
Carolns "a compromise between al the eX-
tremes The vote which he commanded during
the contest of Speaker and his personal aecepta-
bility in the House, have inspired no small cont
dcnce that he might be able 10 concentrate that
feeling of harmony which others more conspicuous
do not seem likely 10 accomplish. While MT
Aiken is large slavehOlder-by no means SO
large, however, as has been represenied-it is due
to him TO say that no man. identified as he is with
that so.Called institution, temPers 1t with more
humanity or more earnestly seeks to ameliorate
ats condition, by the exercise OF liberal and con-
kderate influences In all the excited contro'
VERSES concerning Slavery during the last sX
Scans, since he has been Member of Congress,
he has never once raised his voice in It's justihca