Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-01-04
THE PUBLIC UOCuMENTS.

tn Mr.. buchanan, that This Government can nrve
yield Ia the British prcten-"n that Tie CE'yt"n-bui
wcr Treaty was uuy prospective III lis OPERATION
Alter some spicy diplomatic ccnsure OF his c"nunc
in this ncrotiaon he closes 10y declaring that j
Great Britain persists in holding Ruaan, III defiance
of all right, we shall know her purpose IN lioiIng
simply IN naval aud military station Is 10 afcc
irurlousIv our interests. predetcrmina'ion to IN
tertrre with our affairs, thus manifested, will rcnde
tue continuance of our amicabe relations with he
precarious. Mr.. Buchanan's discus. ion ri This en
tire question is very able and thorough
On tho 9th OF August last Mr.. Marcy again urges
the immediate settlement of this question: before hr
| Buchanan should retire from l.umdun, and the lnlte
is instructed to ask Great Britain distinctly, whethe
she intends TO insist on holding Ruatan, and to lnsS
on her abandoning her pretcuslons there.
| Mr.. Buchanan addressed a note accordingly ant
on the 18th of Utohcr. Lord Clarendon replied, de
clining to reopen the general dscusslnn ana staiht
that the British Government adlerea ~ lis previous
| positions.
Wy.
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy Hon
James &. Dnbhim,y recommends the construction I"
additional steam sloups of war; expresses entire satiS
faction with the result Of the apprenticeship system
and the legislation of the last Congress Tor the Navy
maiuta tho abolition OF corporal punishment; ail1
recommends an increase OF the Marine corps, and the
increase of scancn ten thousand men. lie sus
tains the general action OF the Naval Retiring Board
but intimates his readiness tn aid Ill restoring any Oh
iiccrs in special cases who have been unlusy treated
The remarks OF the Secretary on the action OF the
Board will he looked for with so much anxiety uy Il
large class of readers that transmit them IN iil
"rhc report of the Naval Board Of fifteen officers
Of the higher grades assembled under Inc ac 10 pro-
mote the efficiency OF the Navy, having beel up
proved by yOu have i'll pursuance ui your direction
carried the same into execution, according 10 the
provisions Of the law. After q careful examination,
col officers we're in their Judgment found incapable
of performing, promptly and efficiently, all their uuty
n
OH leave Of absence pay 81 on turlough pny, and ~
recommended to he stricken from the polls.
The vacancies have been filled according 70 the
Act by regular promotion i'll tho order OF rank or &C.
nurty. Although there ure now on thus reserved hst
one hundred and forty Officers the expenses Of
the Navy, as appears from calculations accurately
NUDE are Increased, Tor the reason that they are
not only reduced pay, but The officers promoted
10 their vacancies do not receive the iu pay ot the
grade TO which they are thus promoted They obtain
the higher rank and secure more responsible and i'm
purtant cUnuauds but IRE not to ENJOY iull pay until
the vacancies they fill u'o made complete either by
resignation, death or removal. And the law judi.
clio usIy administered by no means involves All in
uf the aggregate number OF officers, for 1t Is
the crowdng of the service with the lower grade Of
Passed Mid>hipmeu, to linger there until the prime
of lie, without rank, mud comparatively without use
ful service, which has really done sad mischief.
Perhaps event, either legislative or executive
touching the history of the Navy has attracted more
earnest attention or created more profound sensa-
tiun than the action Of the lite Naval Board, with n
view TO just aud wise consideration Of this grave
and dclicnte subject. The unexclted mind will not
merely pass in cum and scrutluizing review the pro-
cecdIugs of the Board and the Executive, but nEtu.
rally TO the history Of tho law ITSELF and with
especial cure to the condition III the Navy, which DC
casoned its passage with such remarkable unauim-
ty.
''Tho peculiar nature of the law did not escape the
scrutiny Of those who passed it. The allegation that
ii partook somewhat of the odi"us character of star
chamber proceeding, was even then presented with
ardent and warning eloquence. The feature prov-
ding for dropping entirely from the service, which
not III the original bill, was Inserted III the House by
an overwhelming majority. and after elaborate and
thorOugh debate in the Senate, passed almost
muusy. There was still on the statute book and in
daily enforcement, the law OF courts martini surround
nS their proceedings with the soicnnity Of
court, sworn Judge dvUcaic, and sworn witnesses
subject 10 penalties Tor nonaPpearancc and Yet such
WIS the condition of the Navy urged by secretaries
and conceded by statesmen officers aud citizens: such
the loud cry Tor prompt Reform echoed and reechoed
through the country, that Congress in its wisdom fail
ing 10 pass the general and more comprehensive bills
originally reported by the committees Instituted this
summary tribunal with signal innjorities.
1.-The officers selected TO compose this Board were
in terms highly laudaory pronounced tit men for the
delicate task. Indeed, when their names were
nnunced there was Il warm ari general expression
Of favor ant, qualification rarely exhibited. Before
prescribing regulations authorized, the opinion
of the Acknowledgement was asked Oh the true
Of the following provision oi the act:
Provided that no officers upon said Board shall
examine into or report upon tho efficiency al OFF,
GERS of q grade above them His opinion was that
the entire body will cit together. deliberate and de-
ternine and by proper meas authenticate their con
clusinn IN lcu:enamt., mns.ers ana passed md
shpnen. After that the lientcnants will have To
retire, and the captains and commanders VIII act IN
regard to all officers OF the rank OF commander, wien
the commanders must retire and the captains will
net ny 10 officers Of that rank. All the examinations
having thus been made, and the proper judgments
reached in the manner contemplated 10y the law. me
sum total of the opinions will be certified 10 the Sec
reary in such form ofauthenCation as lie Ill ms regu-
lalions snail SEE fit 10 prescribe.
"rhc few regulations prescribed were chiefly based
on this opinion, With the purpose nj protecting the
officers whose efficiency WINS thus 10 bc examined mo
from the slightest danger of being prendired by the
influence or the presence Of Judges below them IN
grade. Leu,enamts were not allowed even To be
present the proceedings and deliberations III regard
10 commanders, and therefore could not aid TO ELECT
their own promotion; and i'll accordance with the
same regulation, n commander could not have the
opportunity by his presence TO exert influence Ia Sc
cure his promotion IL Captancy; and thus II was
designed, that il by the execution Of the law, officers
OF the board should happen to hs promoea' 'hcr pro
ccedlrs should not be tainted with tile oEhting sus-
picion that they labored Cor their own advancement
and not the public good.
"rhr Department therefore, by filling the board
with men of high reputatlnn and acceptabie 10 Tue
safeguards and restrictions, to secure imparnty and
iustcc aud Ia remove the opportunity and the temp
ration Tor indulgence III action iur personal gum, by
sprcadny before them the entire files and records {"
the Department. hoped that u successful effort han
be.n made 10 insure the faithful aud satisfactory ex-
ccuton OF law passed with every indication OF err
nest soicitude to promote the efficiency of the Navy
"The order notifying the officers OF their appoint
,nen issued Oh the 9th OF unci they commenced their
Joint labors on tho 2U OF June, ana reporter Tue re-
suit on the 26th of July.
"And TOW, sir, willie the operation OF this law IL
by some hailed with enthusiasm as salutary anu IN
dispeIsabc corrective OF admitted ~, when ce-
s,,l the service, by others il il received with I'M
disruiscL discomfort and dissatisfaction. This can
hardly be regarded as nnnaurnl. The provisions o
the law arc grnrrurs-imdecl, strikirgy LIBERAL but
they at the same time eNaciing ana sterhiy lCs'
liz provides for the careful support at some, and the
nrn,npt removal at Others and however faithfully,
honestly, aud carefully executed. II is u measure ot
reform, and 10 measure at that character IS ever ex-
ecucd without more or less Inconvenience, dlsap-
puintments and discomfort.
",ctua,.d no doubt by a desire to seek truth and
;lsticc as nearly ~ possible, Congress thought 1t
sars tn en:rus the reform not merely Ia Inc frtsi-
dent aud the Secretary, whose acquaintance win me
officers both personally aud officially, must necessa-
rily be very limited, but chiefly IN the officers ct the
hres higher grades, whose knowledge of their brother
officers naturally enables them to perform the duty
more thoroughly, and witt! less liability to err The
task was delicate. aud involved struggles between
duty and feeling. They were men not lniallIOle IL
would be strange indeed, il their work were perfect
and entirely free from Those errors If they en-
t, will soon and surely be discovered by the dcve p
neuts of time By continued inquiry and by cnn dis
passionate observation
1.-The officers of the Navy as class, are
proud brave, sensitive, patriotic and scit-sacrIic'
Ing and il the sword at any one OF those gal
lant men hns been incautiously taken from him. al
richt.mrdrd men will say, lei his country rrstors It to
him, with all the honors and rcparatlon due to IN.
iured merit; aud while by no 'neans recommend
the adoption any mras,re OF repeal or any course
,b. Board have no doubt that there should be, and
will be, found n remedy for ary mistake or error o
Judgment, if the service las thus been deprived OF
meriio-inus aud capable officer, eherby resignation
or dropping. Facts which have come TO my know,
lrdrc assure that il would be but reasonable tc