The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-16

4 OF LOUIsiAkAt v-Eba
Delivered in the Senate on The 9Th and 18th Of February
1886
| s NAVAL BOARD.
Mr. BENJAMIN said;
Mr. PaKsDEsr: shall before sit down. move the post.
ponement of this question some future day when de-
bate upon the merits OF the whole subject Of the naval
Doard and is action can more properly come before
tne senate Every effort has been made hitherto 10y those
who are disposed to give this subject fair and impartial
investigation with full knowledge of all the facts after
those facts should have been ascertained by standing
conmitleeevery effort has been made TO stave of de-
bate on this subject But sir II has been In vain We
have protested again and again. that the in which
the subject was brought up irregular that had
not the materials necessary proper dehate that il
more consonan with proprety to await the action Of
committee to which conhde matters OF this kind with
confidence ia its discretion and its wisdom. Notwith
standing these rcpsaed and urgent appeals by those who
are disposed TO look calmly and considerably and deber
ately into the natter scarcely memorial has been pre-
sented here scarcely resolution has been offered
proposition made touching this subject which has
been made of-l viii not pretend say 1t ia with
view OF forestang the public opnionbu that has not
been made use or for the purpose OF making appeals which,
by their necessary effect must oresall public opinion be
fore the elements for the just formation Of public opinion
have been afforded to the country.
Sir in the remarks which heretofore had occasion
to submit TO the Senate, have stated that desired TO
avoid the discussion because the time for it had
and should not have said word them should say
word now, If the proposition made by the senator from
Tennessee had been discussed upon its merits propo
ston for information, and II gentlemen all sides Of the
examining the general subject again. ,4
Sr there are some errors II appears to me which have
been committed IN regard to this matter which the simplest
inspection OF the language of the law will correct have
here before me- II is very short but do not to
read what there s of it short as IL is The first section Of
the law indicates the character the proceeding which
Congress intended by the law Of the session so clearly
as to make IT impossible that body however little ha-
bituatcd to consrue legal language could by possibility
misapprehend it Here are the words: E.s m as.3 s 4
practicable after the passage of this act the
President of the United States shall board
officers be assembled which board under such regulations
as the Secretary of the Navy prescribe shall make
careful examination into the efficiency
not the character, but ai&89 @ tlaat ga3
nto the efficiency of the officers Of the grades hereinafter
mentione and shall report to the Secretary of the Navy
judgment Of said board shall be incapable performing
promptly and efficiently all their duty, both ashore and
That is what the board was TO do 1t was to 90 one
step further, and only one step further
Whenever the board shall believe that said
has arisen from any cause implying sufficient blame the
part OF the officer to justify they shall recommend that his
name be stricken altogether from the rolls"
Now sir how stood the case when this law passed
For quarter of century complaints had been made in
reference to the efficiency Of the navy On all sides of this
chamber from all parties report made
to the country that there absolute necessity for
form in the navy and we were told that in the event Of
any collision upon the should be exposed to the
possibility OF having the flag Of country dsgraced by
reason Of the ncompeency of the officers to whose its
honor was intrusted. Now that law has been passed
with view remedy that evil and that execution has
taken place all forgetting completely the circum
stances which existed prior TO the passage Of the law
forgetting the condition Of the country which called
mperatvey for remedy of this kind and lending our
TO the appeals OF A. and Of and Of Copyright and
honorable men, who deserve the thanks of their
try perhaps for services performed in past years. and
be totally inefficient for present active service We
lending ears, say, to these complaints, and are
charmed by the voice Of persons who appeal to US for sym
pathy or for pity. We forgetting duty TO our
country forgetting duty the public service
Of the country; forgetting that which is first
and most imperative oblgatonto preserve the of this
country in condition in which Il can strike efficiently
when the hour for action shall come.
We know that the condition Of the navy would not
reached this point if there had existed the beginning
retired or pension list in country We know that
for long series Of years OF high official position in the
navy have been retained in that official position because OF
the natural epugnance in the heart OF President Of the
United States 10 discharge from the navy, without assist
ance without pay without support who had grown
gray in the public service although they might be ine
cient at the present time for the performance Of duty The
President had remedy he had of keeping up
the efficiency OF the navy except by striking men from the
rolls entirely and naturally and properly the Executive Of
this country upon all occasions has shrunk from the
else Of prerogave which demanded stern and
lutte sacrifice of all personal feeling The country per-
hnps would have been dissatisfied by any such executive
action We were, therefore compelled 10 provide some
by which support should be accorded 10 those old
and faithful public officers and at the time that the
efficiency Of the national the should be
impaired.
What did we do9 We said We will provide means for
the President TO from the navy officers who are in
shall find inefficient incompetent to do duty shall be
tired from active service their full esveoebscncc pay
We do order them 10 be dismissed from the navy We
permit the President dismiss them from active service
Instead of dismssng them from the navy we-onlsrge The
executive prerogatve to this extent That instead OF ab
soute and unconditional dismissal be shall have the power
70 dismiss them reserved list pay. That is the
power which conferred on the President. We said,
however not willing to authorize The President 70
retire TO the reserved list pay incompetent or inef
cient TO perform their duties when that ncompeency or
inefcency has resulted from faults mputabe 10 them,
selves We going 20 set the example of pension
bureau for inefficient incompetent officers when that in
competency necepcy results from their vices or
crimes from their tollies And therefore, at the
same time that authorize the President of the United
States make only qualified dismissal of public officers
the time that extend his prerogative to the
Of permitting him 10 retire officers from the navy on
pay tell him that ID s not intention that he shall
exercise that prerogave by putting upon that favored
retired list whose ineficicncy incompetency Is
the result of their vices crimes and that the pub
lie money Is not be devoted TO ponsioning men like
these. H@ ts#n
That sir Is the theory OF the law What was The ma
chinery devised by Congress for its execution To whom
commit the charge of ascertaning what men
could properly be retired from the navyY The President
had the constitutional power There was no necessity for
us TO form for him boardany advisory council at all
Suppose that instead Of passing the law have passed
t. 10 the illustration in part OF my friend from Missis
we had said that President Of the United States sbonld
in the bis executive prerogave form these lists
As a matter of course know that there Is certain
BODY of officers who form the executive council We have
the Secretaries OF the different departments Of the govern
en who lend TO the Executive the aid OF their advice
aud counsel The President in the exercise OF the duty
imposed on him by this law would have had the right
L.. lt.lt. A. .I..u.