The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-05

great work to do Of party publication and
Reconstruction, but that in their formal sepa-
ration from the black republicans, considera-
BILE reinforcements win be required from the
loose materials Of the country before they can
reasonably count upon winning the prize Of
the White House, and its seventy-fve millions
per annum of public plumber. Is it not tn an
the manifest policy of the conservative Know
Nothings to act boldly while these loose mate
rails are still adrift?
The task before this Philadelphia Grand Ma
tional Council will be difficult and delicate
The results of its deliberations will, perhaps
be decisive of the rapid reconstruction through
out the Union Of the party concerned, or it's
speedy disintegration and absorption between
the two other parties in the field
Secretary DObbin's Report-Dcfencc or the
Naval Retiring Board.
In the annual report Of the Secretary Of the
Navy to the President, Mr. Dobbin devotes
considerable space to defence of the Naval
Retiring Board. He enters into an elaborate
statement Of the circumstances under which
the bill creating the Board was passed by Con-
gress the general approval which it met with,
and the care taken to render the constitution
of the commission such as to ensure q fair and
impartial result. Although some mistakes and
errors of Judgment may have been committed,
and for which remedy can be provided, he
does not see fit to recommend the action Of
any measure of repeal or any course of pro-
ceedng in conflict with the general position OF
the Board. He expresses his conviction that,
in the discharge Of their painful and delicate
duties, its members were actuated by elevated
impartiality and the good Of the service. And
the effect upon the Navy of the changes which
it has effected, he asserts to be already mani
fest in the new impulse and readiness for duty
felt in the department
1t is pleasant to find SO much official satisfac-
tion at the results of an inquiry respecting
which such strong doubts are entertained else
where. The Aippant generalities of hr. Dob
bin will, however, neither convince the pub
lie that grievous and unnecessary wrong has
not been done to a large number OF merito-
rious officers, or that the Board has been in all
cases actuated by the pure and elevated mo.
tives which he claims for it. But admitting,
for argument sake, that these acts Of injIs
tice have been committed unintentionaliy, the
Secretary has laid himself open to serious cen
sure for giving them the sanction OF his apprO-
val. According to the terms Of his own in
structions to the Board, he appears to have
labored under no misconceptiOn of the powers
conferred by the act, and therefore cannot JUS
tify his conduct by any pretence Of that sort.
The duties of the commission he states to be
merely Of an advisory character, showing that
the act left large powers of discretion to the
President in acting upon its recommendations.
Where, then, was the necessity or justice of his
giving his official sanction to the blunders OF
the Board, of which he could not plead igno-
rance, and Of blighting the characters and
running the professional regulations Of the Off
GERS who were unfortunately made the victims
of them. The task which is now imposed on
Congress Of redressing their grievances, might
have been obviated altogether if Mr.. Dobbin
had understood his duties better, and had had
the moral courage to fulfil them. Such
course would have spared the unnecessary dis
grace and agony Of mind which the official con-
firmation of these admitted I" mistakes of judg-
ment'' has inflicted upon so many deserving
officers.
With regard to the conduct of the Board it
self, we are by no means prepared to coincide
in the eulogiums pronounced upon it by the
Secretary. The facts that have already tran
spired show clearly that ii was guided by no
settled principles in its proceedings, the
meaning Of the act having been strained in
numerous instances to meet the peculiar views
of its members By the express terms Of the
bill, the inquiries of the Board were limited to
the single question of the inability or incompe-
tency of an officer for the discharge Of his du-
ties 1t was manifestly intended by Congress
that this incompetency should only be judged
Of by the Board on the evidence of certain
notorious mental and physical Disqualification
such, for instance, as insanity, bodily infirmity,
or old age. Had it been the object Of the bill
TO give the Board power to inquire into charges
Of misconduct or violations Of duty, same pro
vision would undoubtedly have been made to
afford the accused parties an opportunity of
he airing and rcbutting the charges preferred
against them. If Congress meant TO confer
such extensive and arbitrary powers as those
exercised, it would have been acting in express
of the constitution. Besides, by
50 doing il would have removed these offences
out Of the jurisdiction of the regular tribunals
appointed to try them, and would have created
another not known to or recognized by our
laws.
In assuming therefore, The faculty OF in.
curing into alleged moral de!inquencies or
of duty, the Board clearly trans
cended its powers, and both in principle and
in form violated all thoss constitutional
guarantees which have been formed to pro
tect the rights and liberties Of American citi-