Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-01-05
THE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

Var. The dction Of the Ndcal Re
tiring Board Sustained Report of
the Postmaster General.
The reports, or rather abstracts, OF
several of the Departments at Washing
ion are published in the New York Times,
from which we take the subjoincd:
THR UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN.
The following are the cardinal points
OF the documents accompanying the Pres
idcnts Message, in relation to our af-
fairs with Great Britain:
Mr. Marcy, in June of 1854, declares
in dispatch to Mr.. Buchanan, that this
Government can never yield to the Brit
ISL pretensious that the Clayton Bulwer
treaty was only prospective in its oper-
atoms. After some spicy diplomatic
censure Of. his conductin this negotiation
he closes by declaring that if Great
Britain persists in holding Ruatan in de-
fance of all right we shall know her
purpose in holding it simply as naval
station is to effect injuriously our inter-
ests. A predetermination to interfere
with our affairs, thus manifested, will
render the continuance of our amicable
relations with her precarious. Mr..
Buchanan's discussion Of this entire
question is very able and thorough.
On the 9th Of August last, Mr.. Marcy
again urges the immediate settlement
Of this question, before Mr.. Buchanan
should retire from London, and the lat
ter is instructed to ask Great Britain,
distinctly, whether she intends to insist
on holding Ruatan, and to insist on her
abandoning her pretensions there.
Mr.. Buchanan addressed note ac-
cordingly, and on the 2Sth of October,
Lord Clarendon replied, declining to re-
open the general discussion, and stating
that the British Government adheres to
It's previous positions.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy (Hon. James G. Dobbin) recon-
mends the construction of additional
steam sloops Of war; expresses entire
satisfaction with the result of the APP
premiership system, and the legislation
of the last Congress for the Navy; main
tains the abolition Of corporal punishment;
and recommends an increase of the Ma
rine corps, and the increase of seamen
to ten thousand men. He sustains the
general action of the Naval Retiring
Board, but intimatcs his read mess to aid
IN restoring any officers in special cases
who have been unjustly treated.
The remarks of the Secretary on the
action of the Board will be looked for
with SO much anxiety by large class of
readers, that we transmit them in full
% The report of the Naval Board of
fifteen officers of the higher grades, as
sembled under the act to promote the
efficiency of the Navy having been ap-
proved by you, ! have in pursuance Of
your direction carried the same into ex-
ecutlon, according to the provisions of
tho law After careful examination
POI officers were, in their Judgment.
found incapable of performing, promptly
and efficiently, all their duty both ashore
and ahoat and of these II were reserved
on leave of absence pay 81 on furloueh
pay, and 40 recommended to be stricken
from the roll
Toe vacancies hay, been filled ae-
cording to the Act by regular promotion
IN the order OF rank or seniority. Al
though there are now on this reserved
list one hundred and forty-seven officers
the expenses of the Navy, as appears
from calculations accurately made, are
not increased, for the reason that tbey
are not only on reduced pay, but the
officers promoted to their vacancies do
not receive the full pay of the grade to
which they are thus promoted. They
obtain the higher rank and secure more
responsible and important commands,
but are not to enjoy full pay until the
vacancies they Gil arc made complete
either by resignation, death or removal.
And the law judiciously administered
by no means involves an increase Of the
aggregate number of officers, for it is the
crowding of the service with the lower
grade of Passed Midshipmcn, to linger
there until the prime Of life, without
rank, and comparatively without useful
service, which has really done sad mis-
chief.
/" Perhaps no event, either legislative
or executive, touching the history of the
Navy, has attracted more earnest attcn-
tion or created moreprofound sensation.
than the action of the late Naval Board
with view to a just and wise consider
alton Of this grave and delicate subject.
The unexcited mind win notmerely pass
in calm and scrutinizing review the pro-
ceedings of the Board, aud the Executive,
but naturally recurs 70 the history of the
law itself, and with especial care to the
condition of the Navy, which occasioned
its passage with such remarkable una
nimity.
The peculiar nature of the law did
not escape the scrutiny of those who
passed it. The allegation that it partoolS
somewhat Of the odious character of a
star-chamber proceeding was even then
presented with ardent aud warning elo-
quencc. The feature providing for
dropping entirely from the service, which
was not in the original bill. was inserted
IN the House by an Overwhelming ma
jority, and after elaborate and thorough
debate in the Senate was passed almost
unanimously There was still on the
statute book, aud in daily enforcement,
the law Of court martial. surrounding
their proceedings with the soIemnity Of
sworn court, sworn Judge-Advccate