The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-06

ar Conmsnder Guest Cansesoort and the steamer las
sachasetts Commander Samuel Swartgont fhs station
ary store ship Fredonia Lieutenant James d. Johnston -
at Valparaiso and the Warren Lieutenant David Mepou-
gall is at the Mare island, California J9m-
modore w lillian Msryine commands TINS squadron -,
The ST Lawrence, Commander William W Hunter the
flagship of Commodore Bladen Dulany having been re-
ieyed BY The independence the I'd OF February arrived
With the Commodore on board Norfolk the 2lst OF
March, The soop-of-war Portsmouth,, Commander i A.
Dornn returned from this station the 9th ot April en-
tering Norfolk The time OF the ST Marys viii expire the
latter part Of the year when she viii be ordered 70 the
The cruising Of the vessels Of the Pacific squadron during
the past year has been extended The straits Of AS
iora and Portland, the Sandwich islands the feJee
islands Southern Polynesia, and many OF the ports OF
Chile and Mexico have been visited vessel viii soon
be despatched the Maquesas islands 10 correct rrega
arities on the part of the natives Of those islands The
interests Of Americans have been fully looked aer .
The Michigan, Commarder Charles u Mel3lair iunul
the 2lst Of September under the command OF Commander
j. s. Nichoas is still ussiuIy employed on the lakes af
ordng assistance merchantmen in distress and during
the past year has becn the Of saving large amount
of property and many lives.
9 REPORT or THE NAVAL BOARD
The report Of the naval board Of fifteen officers Of the
higher grades assembled under the act to promote the
efficiency Of the navy having been approved By you
have in of your direction carried the same iito
execution according the provisions of the law After
careful examination" two hundred and officers we're
in their Judgment found "incapabe Of performing prompt
ly and efficiently all their duty both ashore and afoat
and OF those seventyonc reserved on eaye-oao-
sence pay eighty-one on hrlough pay, ana toriy-ne
recommended to be stricken from the Tolls Inc facah-
have been filed according to the net 'b regular pre-
motion in the order Of rank seniority Although thera
this reserved list hundred and fory-seyen
officers the expenses Of the navy as appears from cacaa
ons accurately made notncreased for the that
they not only reduced pay but the officers promoted
% Their vacancies do not receive thsy pay q Inc grace
to which they thus promoted They attain the higher
rank and secure more responsible and important cont
mands but not to enjoy @ pay until The vacancies
they Gil made complete BY either resignation DEATH Or
removal. WI
And the law, judiciousy administered, by in
wolves increase Of the aggregate number OF Officers or
is the crowdng the service with the lower grade q
passed mdshipmen linger there until the prime OF lie,
without rank and comparatively without useful service,
which has really done sad mischief
Perhaps event. either legislative or executive ouch-
ing the history of the navy has attracted more earnest
attention, created more profound sensation, ihAn
the action of the late naval board. With view 70 q
just and wise consideration of this grave and delicate
subject, the unexcited mind will not merely pass Ia
calm and scrutnizng review the proceedings Of the board
and the Executive but will naturally recur 70 me hs-
tory the law ITSELF and with especial care TO the con-
don Of the navy which occasioned ts passage sue
remarkable unanimiy The peculiar nature of tae law a
escape the scrutiny of those who passed H. The ai
cation that parook somewhat OF the odious character o
star-chamber proceeding even then presented WIN
droepns enreY om hs service Which was not in The
original BILL inserted in the House by oyerwhe-
ing majority and after elaborate and thorough depe
In the Senate, passed almost unanimously. There Was
still the satute-book and in daily enforcement the law
of courtsmartal surrounding their proceedings with te
soemniy of sworn court sworn judge advocate ana
And yet such the condition of the navyas urged
by and conceded by statesmen officers and ct
such the loud cry for prompt reform echoed and re-
echoed through the Congress- its wisdom,
failing pass the general and more comprehensive bs,
originally reported by the committees instituted this sum
mary tribunal with signal The officers selected 10
compose the board in terms highly laudaory pro-
nounced Gt for the delicate task indeed when their
names were announced there and general
preston of favor aud qualification rarely exhibited Be-
fore prescribing regulations authorized the opinion oil the
Attorney General 'sked the true Interpretation OF
the following provision Of the act Proued That no Oh
cers upon said board shall examine into report upon
the efficiency Of officers Of grade above them His opn-
ion that he entire body viii sit together deliberate
and determine and by proper means authenticate their
conclusion ieutenants masters and passed mdship
men after that the eutenants will have 10 retire and the
captains and commanders win in regard 20 all officers
of tho rank of commander; when the commanders
retire. and the captains will act as 10 officers
Of that rank. All the examinations having thus been
made, and the proper judgments reached, in the
manner contemplated by the law, the sum total Of
the opinions will be certified to the Secretary in such
form of authentcaton as he in his regulations, shall
sec ft to prescribe The few regulations prescribed
chiefly based this opinion with the purpose OF pro-
tectinp the officers whose efficiency thus TO be exam
ned into from the slightest danger Of being peudiced 6y
influence the presence of judges below them IN grade
Lenenan;s not allowed to be present at the
proceedings and deliberations regard TO commdnder
and therefore could aid 10 effect their promotion
And In accordance with the same regulation eomman-
der coud the opportunity by bis presence to ex
er influence to secure h. prononon TO cnpimney Asu
thus was designed that IT, by the execution OF the law, oh-
the board should happen TO be promoted their pro-
ceedngs should be tainted with the blghdng suspicion
that they abored for their advancement and not the
public good. The department thereore--by filing the
board with Of high reputation, and acceptable TO the
country and the navy; by surrounding thcm with afe-
guards and restrictions to impartaiy and justice
and the opportunity and the temptation oF in
diligence in action for personal gain by spreading bsore
them the files and records Of the departmenhoPed
that successful effort had been made 10 insure the faith
f and satisfactory execution Of law passed with every
indication solicitude ito promote the efficiency
! of the navy
The order notifying tho officers Of their appoin IS
sued on the bh OF June; they commenced their joint la
bors goth Of june and reported the result on tie
! 26th of July.
And now sir while the operation of this law ia by
hailed with enthusiasm ssutary and Indispensable
corrective Of admitted ills which depressed the service by
satisfaction. This hardly be regarded unnatural
liberal they the time exaciing and sternly
just II provides for the careful support Of some and for
the prompt removal Of others and however faithfully
honestly and carefully executed il is Of reform;
and no measure of that character il executed with
less inconvenience, disappointment md dis
/ content
Aetuated, doubt by desire 10 seek truth and JUS
tce az nearly possible, Congress thought u safest
n,rnst this reform not merely to the President ana
Secretary whose acquaintance With the officers, bota
personally and officially must necessarily be- very n-
tied, hut chiefly 10 the officers OF the three higher
grades whose knowledge Of their brother officers would
naturally enable them to perform the duty more thor
oughly, and with less liability to err The task was
delicate and involved struggles between duty and feel
/ inos They were men--not infallibe. II would be