Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-09
TIE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

ii TIE. PUBLIC DOCU MENlCs
NN Give below an abstract Of some of the public
documents accompanying the Presidents Message;
md we uuotc at some length from the sReport OF
Mr. Secretary Dobbin:
ENGLAND AID THE UNITED STATES.
The following are the cardinal points of the docu-
msnts accompanying the Presidents message, in re-
lation to our affairs with Great Britain
Mr.. Marcy, in June of 1855, declares, IN des'
patch to Mr. Buchanan, that this Government can
never yield the British pretension that the Clay
ton Bulwer Treaty only prospective IN IT'S ope:
ation After some spicy diplomatic censure OF ms
conduct in this negotiation, he closes ny declaring
that il Gruat Britain persists in holding Hiatsh' III
defiance Of all right, we shall! know her purpose IN
holding it simply as naval and military station Is
to affect niuro;lsly interests. pfe'tctcrhiha
ton to interfere with our affairs thus manifested
will render the continuance of our amca'e reia'
lions with her prccaroas. Nj. Buchanan discus
sion of this entire question Is very ao'e a"' 'o'
ough.
On the 9th of August last Mr.. Marcy again urges
the immediate settlement Of this question, before
Mr. Buchanan should retire from Lpntion, ana the
latter is instructed to ask Great britain, d'Shcty,
whether she intends To insist on holding huatah'
and to insist on her abandoning her prete''siohs
there.
Mr. Buchanan addressed note accordingly, ana
on the 2Sh of October Lord Clarendon replied, de-
clining TO reopen the general discussion, and sa!'hs
that the British Go ernnent adhercs 10 Its previous
positions.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF TIE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy (Hon::
James e.. Dobbn,) recommends the construction VI
additional steam soops of war expresses cntire sat
isacton with the result Of the apprenticeship sys'
tem and the legislation of the last Congress lor Tue
NAVY: maintains the abolition Of corpora! PUNISH
ment and recommends an increase OF the Marine
CORDS and the increase of scamcn to ten Thousand
men. He sustains the general acton OF the Na'a'
Retiring Board hut intimateS his readiness 10 anu IN
restoring any officers III special who lave been
uniusily treated.
The remarks Of the Secretary the action OF the
Board will be looked for with SD much anxiety ny
q large class IF readers, that we publish 'hchi III
full.
The report of the Naval Board of fifteen officers
of the higher grades, assembled under the act to
promote the c.::icicscy Of the Navy, having been
approved by you, have in pursuance OF your d.
reetion carried the into execution, according
TO the provisions of the law After careful exam
inaoa, aul officers were, in their Judgment, found
incapable Of performing, promptly and efficiently,
all their duty 10th ashore and atoat; and OF those
II were reserved on leave of absence pay, 81 on
furough pay, and ~ recommended to be stricken
from the oils.
The vacancies have been filled according to the
Act by regular promotion in the order OF rank or
seniority Although there now Oh this reserved
list one hundred and forty officers, the ex-
pens-s Of the Navy, as appears from calculations
accurately made, not increased, for the reason
that they are only reduced p"y, but the Of
eers promoted to their vacancies do receive the
full pay of the grade to which they thus promo
ted. They obtain the higher rank and secure mnre
responsible and important commands, but arc not
to enjoy full pay until the vacancies they I'LL arc
made complete either Ivy resignation, death Or re-
moval. And the law judiciouS. administered by no
means involves an increase Of the aggregate number
fof{io ic rffh.,
the lower grade of Passed Mtlshpmen, To- Enger
there until the prime of lifr without rank, and
parative!y without useful service, which has really
done sad mischief
Perhaps no event, either legislative executive,
touching the history Of the Navy, has attracted more
earnest attention or created mere profound sensa
tim, than the action OF the late Naval Board. With
view to just and wise consId ration OF this grave
and delicate subject, the uncxctcd mind will not
merely pass in calm and scrurinzing review the pro-
ceedlgs OF the IL AID aid tht Exetuti, but nau-
rally to the history Of he Law ITSELF an with
especial care t, tn. condition of the Navy, whc',
casioncd Its pass.gc with such RENAL kablc uuau-
~.
The peculiar nature Of the law did not escape
the scrutiny of those who passed it. The aega-
ton that it partook somewhat of the od;ouS charac
ter Of starchanh.r proceeding, then pre-
scented with ardent an.l warning c!oInencc. The
feature providing Tor dropping entirely from the
service, which not i'll the original bill, WAS in
serted III the House by ain overwhelming ma jnritv,
and after elaborate and thorough debate in the SEN
ate, was passed almost unanimously. There
still on the statute: book aid in daily cnfn cement
the law Of courts martial, surrounding their pro ce
ings with the >oem;,y of sworn co;rt, a II
Judge advocate. ami sworn witnesses, subject to
penalties Tor non-appearaicc; and Yet such was tie
condition al the Navy urged by secretaries and
conceded by STATESMEN, Officers and citizens such the
loud cIy for prompt reform echoed and rc-vcovl
through the country, that Congress i'll lis wisdom
failing t" pass TIE general an; more comprehensive
bills originally reruIted by the committees, instituted
this summary tribunal with signal ma ortc<.
The Ulcers self ctcd to compose this Board were
IN terms Iii ,y Mandatory pronounced lit men for
the delicate task. Indeed when their names were
announced there warm and general expression
ut favor a!:d qualification rarely exhibited. Before
prescribing r"gu!atu,,S as authorized the opinion
Of the Attorney General was asked on the true in
depreciation of the following, provision of the act :
Provided that nn officers upon s id Board shall
examine into report upon the efficiency of Off
GERS Of grade above them HIS opinion was that
the entire body will sit together deliberate and de-
terInine, and by proper authentca'e their
conclusion As to eutenants masters and passed mid
s!pInen. After that the liuutenants will have to re-
tire, anu the captains and commanders will act in
regard to all officers Of the rank of commander,
when the commanders must retire and the captains
VIII act as to otcciS of that rank. All the exam
nations having thus been made and the proper udg.
inents reached i'll the manner contemplated by tie
law. the sum total Of the opinions will be certified
to the Secretary in such form of authorization as
he in his regulations shall see fit to prescribe
The few regulations prescribed were chiefly based
on THIS opinion, with the purpose of protecting the
officers whose efficiency was thus to be examined
into from the slightest danger of being preudiccd
ny the influence or the presence of judges below
them in grade. Leutenants were not allowed even
to be present at the proceedings and deliberations
in regard to commanders. and therefore could noe
aid TO effect their OWL nronninn. and in aecorIann