The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-14
The Late Naval Beard.


INTERESTING LETTER FROM COMMODORE sHUBRrCK.
WASHINGTON, February, 1856.
SIR have the honor 70 Aclno "le.ge the receipt OF
prssicrg ofcee of late Naval Board certain que
mes in relation the action of said board ana in
answer respectfully to ave as follows
QUERY J. The general principles which roverned this
hoA.d in reseiving ard droppig Ulcers and in classify
ANSWER. The esject OF tbs act of Congress as its
title shows, was 10 promote the efficiency Of the
Der of officers in each grade fixed with q maxi.
mum iinis This NUMBER was determined and con-
trolec by the vicissud.s the service referecce
to onty ben. Since that time every officer who
has helc place on the register and who could not or
would not perform hi share of sea duty, has imposed
orher officer who both able aud willing extra
share If duty Th- gel ersl principle then which first
toe bosro was to meet this requirement of the
law, snd "prcmote the ,ier-y Of Il navy by kscer
tsini who those officers nigut be Of each grade who
could not be reec tor the prompt and efficient dis
charge Of their GUY both ashore and sAoat and place
them general reserved list. The necessity tor
This viii be more apparent when 1t is recoected that the
officers estab ished ia 1912 and OF cou
controlled by the requirements the service at that
time fourteen and that provision has been
made 70 meet the increased amount Of Sea service by
correspondirg inc ease OF officers.
Hayirg {, ose considered available for the
prompt and efficient performance OF gu duties, both
asho.e and aoa 1t became Necessary to classify the
served officers according to the provisions Of the act
The eee OIL principle winch governed hs board 10 this
cjs sihoaon TO select fol retirement leave Of alb
ssncs psy al those who for distinguished sevv:es
high character dee med to be ened this ioerat pro-
viin OF grateful country On The furiough list those
paoeo who hao not been careful enough fortunate
enough t, rencer such services gave cain to the
highest euhiy OF their country. To comp etc the
qutreuents the law the duly Of the board
lastly, 10 designate such had become incompe eat
from sIy cause Implying sufic Gent blame on their
part The principle which Cover ntd the board in this
most painful Of its duty to relieve the register
Of all these whose course had been such TO leave
expecstior OF future usefulness and who had fortified
their claim TO the los erirg care OF the government
QusRY . The general character OF the proof which
gui5ed the action OF I e ooa-ds
ANsvET.. Tie beard, havir & authority under the
act to summon witI to administer oahs ano
power 20 at 81 dance left to 6 ad proofs
In tbs known capaci les conditions and hsbis Of the
officers and the OF the Navy Department, TO
which they haa free access and of which they made free
use.
The law called upon the board for it's judgment, It's
professional Judgment the condition and capacity of
all tho ocsis CT certain grades of The nsvF. 1t Is i
possible 60 e1uuerate ali sources rtn which the ele
meuts which went to make up III ar judgment weee Drawn
some OF them were cocumtntary come we're historical.
and some Of them we're from personal knowscge Al Of
them and believed be reliable and to have been
consdered in sp 1t OF capoor, fairness and Lbersy
and when 1t is lected that before coming to
cluson unfavorabe 10 brother officer the board had
to the pesoirgs in his favor of early assoca
ton sometimes Of communion peril often Of long
tnued and sincere friendship and that the higher the
rank Of the officer the greater proba ,y the plead
ing Of al these feelings his behalf when this Is recol
lected it be believed by any fair and csnod mind
that report upavorsble to any has made out
With the greatest pain and from conviction that the
requiem ents Of the If Congress
Ii is u be recollec ed in addition tina. Congress had
and etonn endatory that their work 70 have the
scrur Of the head Of the Department and the approval
cf the II II were necessary thrown
arou-u tie officers whose condition TO be affected,
and calculated to nspire confidence and secure pro-
tar'ioD-
QJRY 3. The general character Of the proceedings Of
the board 10 eern what officers shoud be retained
upon the active list those who should be retired
rurioughsd or dropped
ANSWER The best TO this query. perhaps viii
be 70 cessil briefly the nodss pyramid Of the board,
which pas az fotlows:-
The o1sld having Assem- lied on the Goth Of Jure,
oroerea, the semi officer having reported that fact
- the SECRETARY Of the Navy, communi cation made
by him To- The board contai log regulations for its
verrment, which have been published aud doubt
in the ssessicn Of The committee. With this commu
nicadon the b5aid received fifteen colies Of the Navy
Register, ed up to that day, OF which with
copy OF the ect Ct Congress- of 26th February 1856 and
copy Of the regulations Of tbs secretary furnished
70 eacd member.
The board then tock up the List Of passed mdfhipmen
Each member desired 10 make careful examination
OF the register, and to make list OF all those passed mid
Htirmen against whom, 10 hs knowledge belief, any
chsg" q fnecieicy from any cause could be brought
Wper heie liza henoed to the senior of GER be
sI"snten two members Of the Doard TO Jndense them
into list This having bten done and the condensed
list ned to the senior officer each It WAS
tskfr p separately history OF the o1cer examined
biz seveef counted up lis character and habits discuss
ed hr0 caLyaseu unt every member Of the board de-
cared that be Was prepaIe1 to vote the case-the
question at this peroe OF the proceedings being Sha
he he from the active list Tnose caes where
- laid by, Suspended for farther ccneide ration.
"a list was gone through With then the
et.-ten up and reconsidered, dis
- -orne cases, again suspended.
S-feved at once from all
han.~euy ooubt and