Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-01-11

three higher grades whose knowledge of their broth
er officers naturally enables them to perform the duty
more thoroughly, and with less liability to err. The
task was delicate, and involved struggles between
duty and feelings. They men not infalible.-|
1t would be strange, indeed if their work were per.
feet and entirely free from Those errors, if
they exist will and surely be discovered by the
developments of time; by continued inquiry, and by
! calm, dspassionate observations.
The officers of the Navy a class are proud,
brave sensitive, patriotic and self-sacrifcng, and if
| the sword of any of these gallant men has been
incautiously taken from him, all rjght-mnded men
will say let his country restore it to him with all the
honors and reparation due to injured merit, and
| while can by no recommend the adoption of
any of repeal any of proceeding in
conflict with the general action of the board have
no doubt that there should he and will be found a
remedy for any mistake of Judgment, if the
service has thus been deprived of meritorious and
capable officer either by reservation OF dropping.
Facts which have come to my knowledge, assure me
that it would be but reasonable 10 provide years
pay for the officers who have been suddenly dropped
from service upon which they had heretofore so
exclusivey depended without any consideration for
| future self-reIiance.
IS But, sir cannot conclude this branch of my re-
port without doing justice to the officers of the
Board. From the spirit and temper with which they
entered upon painful and unsought duty, and from
the earnestness and diligence with which they search
ed the records of the department, deem it but
| act OF simple justice 10 express my conviction that
they acuated by elevated considerations. and
that their aim truth, impartially, and the good
of the service and although from the liability of man
to err there may be discovered here and there mis-
take of iud gment, have abiding conviction that
history will prove that this work reinv gorated the
Navy, impaired 10 it robust and active health in
spred the hearts of the young and gallant officers
hitherto dropping with hopeless dependency, with
fresh energy and COntenment with the service
cd the thUug h'lcss and the INDECENT Quit the hamns
of dleness and seek the path of duty leading hon.
or, and caused the country to repose with the
pride and confidence in the belief of the nvnciblity
OF this right o. defence / have no hesitation,
and | take much pleasure in saying that have al
ready witnessed its happy effects in the new impulse
and readiness for duty and felt at the depart
ment.
And, sir though the number reported incompe-
tent seems large, and NAV we'll attract attention, is
that circumstance of itself sufficient to Justify re-
Election upon a Board who were bound under the law
to make careful examinations and report the
names of all whom they adjudge incompetent OF
every grade, to do their whole duty promptly and
efficiently, ashore and afoat If but small num-
Der of officers had become inefficient, would the Sec
retaries of the Navy for the last fifteen years have
again and again urged, with almost pe-tnacous
ZEAL that some stringent measure of reform was in.
dispensahle to save the navy from impending ruin
Would committees session after session have report
ed and pressed such measures Would grave mem.
bers have arisen as they did in Congress and have
seriously moved to abolish the navy and begin
again, If but a small defect existed Would the
Senate every session for some years, have almost
with unanmity passed the measure for relieving
the service of the inefficient, and for mparing vigol
and health by promoting able and brave officers
before age had crippled their energies and i'm
paired their usefulness Would the press in al
most every Town and village have fulmina Led it's
thunders for reform, and have teemed with arti-
Giles of laudation and approval when the measure
prevailed, if but small number of the incapable
blocked up the path of promotion Or had it be-
come manifest ALL to statesman and citizen, thai
something radical, thorough and searching must be
administered to the navy from the dangers
which imperiled it, and emancipate it, if possible
from the weight which seemed SO surely to be bur
dening and pressing it down @
j FINANCIAL Position OF RUssIA.-The Londor
Economist has the following observations in regard
to the financial prospects Of Russia
Our readers already aware that the mperia
} Commercial Bank of Odessa has suspended cast
payments. lis notes are now inconverible, anc
those who hesitate to accept them denounced a.
enemies OF the State. This is exactly what happened
during the former wars in Russia, and what pre-
dicted would happen as soon as the Emperor begar
to decree large additional issues of paper at The be
ginning OF the present war. In former wars the
rouble note, which had been orr ginay issued at
value of thirtyeght pence, gradually fell in value
till 1t was worth little more than ten pence; and II
the course of time decree was issued, by which
three and a half OF those notes. originally issued a
roubles, should be received by the State in exchange
for one roube note of full value The latter are tn
= notes that are about 10 follow the example 0
Y former issues; and if the war lasts, we shall NJ
doubt find all the paper currency nconvertible, anC
e very much deprecated An impression prevails il
quarters that Russia requires little of the pre-
cious metals to carry war and that her resources
of men, provisions, &c. 10 be in abundance within
e herself. Nothing can be a greater error. NJ
f country in the world has such extensive and expen
: sive foreign agencies to sustain; unsupported any
= where by public opinion, she only purchase in
e fuence by extravagant payments. Again, her for
e eign purchases must be made upon the most expen
y sive plans. In point of fact, the precious metal
which Russia must require at the present time Il
0 make her foreign payments must be OF very larg
r amount to say nothing of what she must have
! cure the convertibty OF her large paper circulation
: and for other necessary objects. From information
+ which has reached US, disposed to beiev
l. that the suspension of the Bank of Odessa is onl
IS preclude to the other banks taking the
e For some time past, convertibllity has been but
If name; has ventured, without great dan
h GER to demand specie in exchange for notes.
DEATH MIsER.--The Sandusky Vindicao
U announces the death of German named John Her
o ryman at that place, leaving fortune estimated
d between twenty-five and fifty thousand dollars. Fl
v one of the lowest class of misers equal to tn
n most ioathsome ever painted by Dickens. For tn
e last sixteen years he has constantly worn the sam
= blue, llnsey woosey and panaloOns, careful
10 ly run or darned all with strong thread,
b prevent the possibility of wearing out except i'm
ye portant occasions such land sales something
10 that nature, when they gave place 10 suit of bac
velvet that he often boasted had served him faithful
tor forty years He contracted the disease of whic
d. he died by walking over the bad roads during tt
,e most nclement weather of the season. all the wa
n to Putnam and Henry counties, to pay his taxes