The daily union., 1856-04-05
~Ss~ss> NJ


sss he Is informed OF toe grounds and causes which
these oHicsts have been reInoyedY
Here undertake 10 say another error ~ the lnsfac
ons which the Secretary Of the Navy gave OF ought 70
ha given 10 the board he ought 70 have instructed
that board 10 keep memorandum Of their proceedings
keep record Of their transactions ana 70 inform he
President Of the particular grounds ana he evidence
support them which their Judgment In every case
was predeaed ia order that the President might DC able
investigate inform himself and judge correctly whether
the board decided properly or not 10 eaea ana every
In couseouense OF the absence Of this information which
the board themselves have carefully kept 10 themselves
the President driven 10 the necessity OF taking the
proceedings Of the board and conrm or asaPProve hem
as whole Under such circumstances the President is
not 20 blame for the injustice which has been inflicted
upon any one of the disrated oieers but humbly sub
nit that the Secretary Of the Navy might have better
no,sd the ends of Justice if be had compelled the board
under the instructions which he had the power TO give
them TO keep record of the facts in each easso the
evidence upon which they founded their judgments to be
submitted to the President for his inspection examination
and decision.
Now desire to supply this defect in the action and pro
ceedngs of the board propose examine the officers Of
the board want them brought up; and the principle
that bird that sing and will not sing should be made
sing propose to compel them TO tell the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truhto disclose the
facts which they relied want TO sift them, and not
only the ground which they retired officers but TO
know the evidence which that ground was fortified
and supported. want to know where they got the evil
dence / want to know how they got it If they have
acted dshonoraby, il has been charged In hshing up
from unreliable evidence TO condemn their brother
the eensu properly attached to them tor such
conduct desire to s them and II they are the honor
able which they have been alleged TO be on this moor
aud elsewhere they will not shrink from such an examine
tion If they acted right they have adjudged cor
recty if they conscious OF innocence themselves ey
will be ready and willing to present to this BODY ana 10
the world the grounds and evidence on which they nave
adjudged and condemned these officers
The bill of the Committee Naval Affairs does not
reach the seat of the disease in this case They propose
board of inquiry, to be composed of-whomf omcers oil
the navy-nteresed ofcers-me who quite as much
interested keeping the disrated officers out of actual SER
vice the members Of the board who have discharged
them. Are intrus these sacred rights TO another
interested tribunal? No. sir; not willing to do that
prefer get the facts and submit them to the consider
alton of the President with tue full persuasion that he is
able and willing to do justice to these oihcers lie can
have no motive for doing wrong. lie can have only one
object aeeompishto promote the efficiency OF the navy
Inform him of the facts give him the evidence on which
bis Judgment may be exercised allow him TO look into the
hand OF naval board they shall present 1t to COM
mtee and he will be able, have no doubt he IS viii
ling, do complete and ample justice to every man who
has been affected by the decisions OF the naval board
propose after the examination of the naval board is
made that copy of the proceedings IN each case shall be
submitted TO the officer who has been affected do not
propose go into general and universal examination OF
all the of the retired officers but 10 conhne the ex
animation those who have asked for review and de-
mand investigation submit that such as have demanded
entitled investigation OF this sort propose
get the evidence and having obtained it. to call on the
officers excupa,e themselves from any charges which
nav have been preferred against them. would not say
that would send for witnesses and examine them before
this commtee-that might take too much time, and be
too tedious and expensivebu would give TO the officers
an opportunity OF bringing forward testimonials in their
behalf under such rules and regulations as the com
mittee might prescribe When this investigation should
be completed and these testimonials obtained In behalf
of those officers would submit them to the President
with respectful request that he would review each
case and decide according TO its merits have confidence
that in this way large portion If not the whole U the
injustice which may have been done by the hoard NAY be
reached and corrected and it is in my opinion the only
form in which correct the evil and at the same
time retain any good which the board may have done
doubt that there some rotten materials in
the navy which ought have been cut ousome officers
who for yscal and other nrnes deserved 10 be re-
moveddOubess there such upon the "reser'ed
and dropped" list made by the board have wish
such the tive service of the navy The
repeal of the late law if it should have that effect would
whilst it might correct injustice, also be productive OF
much harm To the service
Ii il proposed to repeal the law and repeating the law it
is contended by the from Virginia, Mr. Mason
who has spoken so earnestly this subject would have
the restoring all the retired officers 10 the active
list but the from Louisiana, With astuteness
for which be is much distinguished has argued that the
repeal of the law would effect only the object of removing
these entirely from the navy at least doubtful
proposition Whatever effect it may have still the objec
ton that proposition, we'll to the bill OF the Com
mites Naval Afsrs is that it must meet the sanction
Of the other branch of Congress How do we know what
the House OF Representatives would do with any Of those
propos ions What guarantee have We that the House
would conform to the action OF the Senator What reason
have suppose that the House would concur in the
repeal of the law the passage OF the bill reported by
The Committee on Naval Affairs Sir believe that the
power lies the hands of the Senate and the President TO
correct all the evil which this board has done not
willing part with that power II we have II here we
should retain it and exercise it. and exercise speedily and
efectuay.
II may be urged that too auch time will be taken up by
the investigation which propose. Why sir If the naval
board made careful examination into six hundred and
unety-seyen in tweny-nine days do not see why
committee the Senate might not investigate hundred
cAses-hat is about the number Of the petitions present.
ed-in the time. Certainly could accomplish the
whole object before the end Of the session and IL 1t
took more time do this If could accomplish the OBJ
jec of doing Justice TO any injured who has been at
feced by this board we should hesitate in the mat
tertme should be put In the scales against the
sumed, provided we do justice to these believe the
whole investigation may be carried through In the
Of the session without inconvenience and be-
fore the termination Of the session. before the Senate shall
be called upon act upon the nominations made growing
out Of the action Of the board the President may have in
his power to correct all the injustice whch has DONE
restore those officers who have been retired dropped
without good their original positions and satisfy
the public mind This think, may be done in the mode
pointed out by my resolutions
II is true my proposition provides that the committee
shall consult with the President after having obtained this
mass Of information which il is proposed accomplish
1t has been suggested to that the President would
slider his dignity compromised by consultation with
committee Of this body. II Is said that Mr. Madison
fused former OCCASION TO advise and consult with
committee OF the Senate. do know how that s
do consider ii at all important For one do not believe
that the dignity Of the Executive would he compromised
compromised by consulting with committee Of this
body. So far executive appointments concerned
we are part and parcel Of the executive prerogave and
power lie appoints, but confirm and appointment
can be valid until IL Is confirmed by the Senate II does
appear to me- therefore that the Presidents dignity
Al Ia Al