Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-05-17

= man who entered the service SO long sgo u.. ne
hos hcen in it for forty.one years and nse mon.s
In. oil that time of forty one years ana hvc o
that commander of the Navy did no sea ss'y's i 70
nav was 81, 800 year, as commahoe' ". 4e"''
absence. &c .h.r ;,et.n
no.. oS This kind but think it unnecessary. me
House must see that some measure OF reform u "o'
solutely necessary. Men not only stand the'e, cum
herring the Navy Register and receiving pay lot ser
vices which they never performed out worse SUM-
thew stand in the way Of other officers, merltoro1s
energetic, and enterprisng, who feel pride IN tns
service and who would do honour to the country IN
any position to which they might be called
And what said the Committee on Naval Affairs!
sApart from oil other considerations, tue present
system tends to check the ardor and to deade" .ne
ambition Of the whole corps, by sustaining anu per-
netuating injustice A seaman's ability to play .
seaman's part depends much. very much, upon nls
sea ssrrics and had naval contest to'motro"'
the common sense Of the country would not to'er-
ate the appointment of any man to act'VS sets.
who was not FAMILIAR and thoroughly fam;''a! w'sn
the handling of ships and fleets under, all circum'
stances, Yet we find, from the returns before us
that out of sixty-eight captains forty tseo are "a
inc orders on shore at q salary OF $2,oOo per an
nun. (six of whom were severally last at sea IN
1916, 'aS, 81, 34 '35, and 'S9D making an aggfe-
gate Of $lO5, 900. 1ouon of whom
were last respectively at sea in 1915, '29, ~ 3D.
'34 SO, and '3S) there are waiting orders ao ny
two at ST. 800 per annum-an aggregate OF . o'ooo'
Of three hundred and twenty-six lieutenants'
there are waiting orders ffty-nne, at Si'zoo n'a-
king aggregate OF $7O,eoo. ..oa mid.
OF one hundred and ninety.eght passed. ne e~
shipmen, there are but eight waiting orders at SOU
! snd that while there are seven captains and COM
manders who have been each forty years III Tue
| NAVY and who are now receiving respectively o.
houo cppn
years sea service, there are torty-three passeu u
SSb;nmen who have seen ten years sea service,
and who are receiving but $500 per annum"
Alter repeated efforts in Congress the BILL approx
ed esth of February, 1885, was passed by MAORI
ty unexamplcd, and has been executed SO lar as Tue
| President Without the concurrence OF the oehate,
A violent attack, commenced at the opening OF
this Congress- and still continued, against the a"
| the President the Secretary OF the Navy, ana the
naval board, has produced not only DEFENSE VI
these official but the &c war has been carried into
the enemys country" by exposures of the private
faults and moral denquencies OF some OF the com.
nla;nno officers not creditabe to the character o.!
our gallant Navy, and which would have preferred
had been left " to sleep the sleep OF death III the
archives of the Navy Department, or IN the memory
merely of living witnesses, soon to be buried = WIN
them in the cold grave; and have no doubt it this
debate continues IN the same spirit, we are to De
entertained, or rather disgnsted with otner more
painful and unpleasant disclosures.
But what is the result Of the law, and the execu'
ton of it, upon the Navy Its eHlciehcy anu
MEL we are told by the Secretary OF the Navy,
| to whom is confded the supervision OF that
branch of the public service, and who, | suppose,
from his position and official knowledge IS better
prepared to give us correct information on the sup
iect notwithstanding the Senator from Texas thinks
any Secretary, including, OF course the pos1s a"a
eleqant gentleman" now at the head Of the Navy
as compelled to yield himsey oictim to the ae
signs of packed conspiracies." read from Secreta
ry Dobbin's annual report:
:" have an abiding conviction that history vii
prove that this work of reform refrigerated the
Navy-imparted to it robust and active hea =.
inspired the hearts of the young and gallant officers
hitherto dropping with hopeless dependency, witt
fresh energy and contentment with the service
warned the thought!ess and indoleEt to quit III
haunts Of dleness and SEEK the paths of Duty lead
ing to honor and caused the country to repose witt
the more pride and confidence in the belief OF tn
inyincibty of this right arm OF DEFENSE nav
no hesitation but take much pleasure in saying tina
have already witnessed its happy effect in the new
impulse and readiness for duty seen and iet at III
Department"
Now, sir this is the result of the law and its exc
cuton, as testified by him who | know is not -
victim to the designs Of packed consplracles, gu
who thinks for himself, and who dares to utter VIVA
he honestly believes is for the best interests OF tn
public-who feels Just pride and laudable anxiet
for the elevation and success of that branch OF tn
public service contided to his care-who would Jea
ousy and earlessly protect by all his Official power
every meritorious officer of the Navy from inJusc
and oppression, but who has the moral courage
sink the kindly sympat!es of his nature in tn
discharge of stern public duty he owes to hi
| country
We have also the opinion of the President in hi
annual message. He says:
"In regard to the steps taken in execution OF tn
act of Congress to promote the efficiency OF tn
Navy, it is unnecessary tor me to say more tnan
express entire concurrence in the observations o
that subject presented by the Secretary in his n
port"
And now, Mr. President ask the indulgence
the Senate to discharge duty l owe to that just
, distinguished and honored son of my own State,
the person of the Secretary Of the Navy, by answe
ing some grave charges that have been made in til
debate against his official conduct. The general d
Tense of the naval board, the policy and provision
: Of the law, shall leave to other and ADLER hand
The report of the Committee on Naval Affairs, al
, the speeches Of the Senator from Delaware, VI
CLAYTON, establishing the propriety OF the law al
. the action Of the board, have not, in my opnlo
been successfully replied to- There are paragraph
in the speech OF the Senator from Texas, MIR. Hot
, TON, which strike me with surprise. lhe law
s the last session, which the Senator himself vot
for, has been executed by packed conspiracy
according to his opinion; and, although the Senat
processes to deal with the Secretary as "a polite al
d elegant gentleman" yet there is no 'nistaking
4 misunderstanding the charge which duplicates hi
o as one Of the packed conspirators." l will re
, some extracts from the Senator's speech:
:. "No, sir; it was a system of espionage on
!. Navy; it was combination; and, as characteriz
v by distinguished member of the navy board,
:. was packed conspiracy'to strike down chivalro
r. and gallant men, and give position and promotion
" those who grasped the scept.r in their hands, a
4 welded it with despotic sway"
~
Y.