The daily union., 1856-04-03
TY OF WASHINGTON THURSDAY MORNING. APRIL 8 1885,

will venture say that this in keeping with the CON-
plants OF nineteentW eneths of the dropped officers and
tha the statements in derogaon of the character
founded.
one word in reference to the subject of the resou-
ton OF my friend from Georgia If should receive the
SANCTION OF the Senate after due delberaon because the
Senate cannot be taken by surprise shall consider
It as direct censure and vote Of want of confidence in
the Committee on Naval Affairs For myseE-and think
should be unwilling TO hold any position ON II when
such feeling had been avowed the part of the Senate
TO sdch an expression OF its will shall be prepared cheer
fuly to defer aud SO believe will all my colleagues.
There another objection to this resolution The effect
will be virtually to put the officers of the naval board on
trial They were selected by the Secretary Of the Navy
for their supposed superior fitness their Accomplishments
their high standing and character In the navy to make
report to the President through the Secretary Of the Navy
They were not judges do know what to call them
they counselors experts jurors call them what
please not to decide definitely 10 the course which
should be pursued in regard to any particular class of
os individuals in the service bpt generally 10 give
their advice 10 the Executive IN order thns he nehs
act understanaingly in carrying out the objects Of the
law. You are now to put them tria-for having done
what For having performed duty which meme OF them
sought and which believe every of them desired to
avoid There may be an exception but l am acquainted
with many of the members of the board and know that
they approached this duty most unwillingly. So far
Commodore Perry is concerned say positively that
he made the most strenuous objection to being placed
it. lie informed the Secretary that there were provisions
in the law OF which he did not approve The Secretary at
ached very high estimate to the character and repua-
uon Of Commodore Perry. Knowing his standing not
only with his peers, but before the country he thought
there would be great advantage in having Of his
distinguished position and character the board Com
this unpleasant duty, but Mr. Dobbin was inexerable
and replied ~ want your services and cannot dispense
with them"
The opponents of the action of the board eulogze the
conduct of certain officers when it suits their purposes
and, the other hand repudiae them when their opin
ions may not be in accordance with their Com
modore Perry cited conclusive evidence OF the in
Of the of the board and the injustice
Mr.. VERsoN Will the gentleman allow me to inter-
rupt him tor moment2
Mr.. SLlDELL Certainly.
Mr. lVERSON. So many statements made that can
not vouch for their truth but have doubt Of the fact
as have been informed that Commodore Perry protested
against the action of the board before the Secretary of
the Navy. | call on the gentleman, he seems fa-
mar with Commodore Perys action to say il that is not
so?
Mr. SLIDELL will state to the senator very frankly
what know on that subject Commodore Perry took his
place on that board very reluctantly lie did approve
of the spirit or policy of the la and presume in many
instances he in the minority in regard its action
do not hesitate to say that Commodore Perry thinks the
finding of the board unnecessarily and harsh
individual instances but if his testimony is to be
in order to impugn the action of the board presume the
senator from Georgia will at least refuse give il
duo weight when II bears upon the other side of the
Now, it chances that out of two hundred and Off
retired dropped the action Of the board uuani
nous in one hundred and fifty Therefore, you have Com
modore Perrys testimony, taking it for what II may be
worth 10 the OF the action of the board In
three-fourths OF the whole number of cases.
wish to state however and beg to be understood that
am not intrudng at all Commodore Perrys actions or
opinions what be have said doue the attention
OF the Senate but when such charge made thought
1t involved 10 certain extent the character Of Commo-
dore Perry He is said to have denounced atrocities
and monsrosies the action of the board with whom he
sa-fourteen wofhcers-during the period OF thirty
five days unreservedly and indscrinn nately This |
think attack Commodore Perry hut as | Isaid
before, with utterly worthless and degraded as
Lieut. Bartlett do not choose to raise issue of veraci
ty between him and Commodore Perry, except in so
far sustain it by the record and by written evil
dence.
| shall avail myself of this opportunity to give my
views upon the efficiency BILL and the In which Ii
has been executed.
There circumstances of personal nature understood
by several Senator's that would have induced alb
stain from taking any part in this discussion and have
confined the expression Of my concurrence in the report OF
the Naval Committee far as 1t sustans the proceedings
Of the reform board TO SIMPLE affirmative But from
position member OF that committee silence might
naturally be construed as mp ying doubt Of the
rectness Of the action OF the Executive In confirming
the finding of the board indifference TO the great
object Of the act of the last sesson--he promotion Of
the efficiency Of the navy voted after due conside-
ration for that bill approved II then approve 1t
think that the selection OF the board which il directed to
be convened under the orders Of the Secretary emi
judcous that the proper construction has been
gwen the law by the Secretary and by the officers whom
e take the Dtaory steps for carrying
into effect that the task imposed upon them painful and
ungracious all acknowledge 1t to be- conscen tous-
y and mpartiay dis harged that the careful examine
ton into individual efficiency, required by the law has
been made that Ia their proceedings justice has been tenn
pered by mercy that the report made by them TO the
Secretary Of the Navy properly received his sanction and
that the final action Of the President In giving his appro
val TO the finding OF the board, correct will
dcavor briefly to sustain each OF these propositions
To appreciate the motives that acuaed Congress
ing the law Of 18th February 1854 II n necessary TO
what then universally admitted be the condition
OF the personnel Of the navy and TO the evils intend
ed to remedy system Of advancement by seniority
where merit worhessness the highest professional skill
and competency the most gsring ncaPacy, elevated
moral qualities debasing vices, neither accelerated nor
retarded the slow but Of the ladder Of promo
toubad placed in the two higher grades Of tho navy
utterly unfit to command vessel OF any class-men to
whom II they had commenced their In
tile marine the command of ship would have been
couhded in early life they had shown sufficient
pacy for the trust would have been reduced subord
at first promoted, and afterwards retained
through the cupabe axuess OF successive Secretaries OF
Navy. The records Of the department filed with
dence Of failure TO bring officers to trial welfounded
charges of drunkenness and other offences equally grave
and when have cashiered suspended
others for dsgraeenl conduct the sentence has almost in
varaby been entirely RENTED, greatly mitigated
| Besides these, there was class still more numerous
whom advanced age, disease accident had ncapaci
tated for the discharge Of any active duty As to the off,
who by the action Of the Executive baye been declared
be In this category and been retired eaveoabsence
pay, can sec Just ground Of complaint their part
or Of sympathy on Whatever they may say TO the
contrary the Secretary by bis Instructions and the law by
Its munhcent provisions have removed every preex for
unvorabe comment their present character past his
tory Some Of them have distinguished themselves by
| liant all of 10 ba INV