The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-16

anime into report the eeeney Of ocers Of asfaoe
above them Next Il provided that the deliberations
OF the board should be conducted according To rules and
regulations be laid down by the Secretary Of the Navy
We have before those rules and those regulations ana
IL Is my purpose in very cursory TO refer 70
them and take this list OF officers who have been acted
by the board and compare the action OF the board WIN
the regulations OF the Secretary the purpose OF ana
ing precise quantum Of interest which could py posi-
biity acuated the minds OF officers who were called
upon against their wishes, to perform this oneous puDc
duty.
Mr. TOoMBs Does the senator know that such was the
case as all of them
Mr.. BENJAMIN. Many Of them. have been informed
nearly ali of them very anxious to be excused nom
the service
Mr. TooMBs Does the senator limit the generality o.
his remark
Mr. BENJAMIN am perfectly willing to limit the
generality Of the remark presume they ectuated
by the feelings ourselves should be under SINH
lar circumstances presume OF US would be willing
to 20 on such board would do So without being re-
quired by the regulations Of the service
Mr. President this board constituted OF fifteen Oh
fcers five captains five commanders and five leuenanls
The board ordered TO meet aud the hrst regulation
directed them to make IA careful examination IN purou
of the law, us TO passed midshpmen masters anu
leutenants and make report upon them, and tnen
that the should retire from the board and tha
the remainder OF the handicapped OF ve captains ana
five commanders take up the list OF commanders
and make their report them and then that the com
anders should retire from the board and leave the cap
ains alone decide AS TO the members Of the service OF
equal grade with themselves. .t
Now i find that OF masters and passed mdshipmen,
this board acted on thrtynne Here at all events
is nearly oneftth Of the action OF the board enrey
from the slightest suspicion OF interest bias in the minds
Of the officers But again, find that the action OF the
board comprehended, also eighty-three euenans You
will observe sir that although there five eutenants
on the board the action those Ave leutenans con-
troed by superior officers They composed put one
third of the board and officer could be anecten ny M
vote of his ow-ocer of the same grade, without tne
OF superior officers who could by no p0ssi-
bity be affected by the decision TO be rendered You
will ~ nA, IL ,he oossstv know how
commanders how many captains would be operated
on by the board that to follow them nor what would
be the the members voting on the eases OF those
special of the action afterwards To be had by
the remainder of the board in its deliberations upon the
commanders and captains So with the grade OF COM
rnander and SO with the grade CT captain
Therefore, say that although, to certain extent i
may be true that bias existed in particular instances IN
the minds Of particular officers yet as general PROPOSE
greatly exaggerated that II did not exist a. the inferior
grades 1t did exist at all as regards onehlth o.
the action of board and regards nearly the
action Of the boardthat In relation to eatenantst
y existed very limited extent by reason OF these two
considerations: first that the action Of the eutenants was
controlled by their superior oicersdoube in number to
the leutenants the board and next that they could
not yet tell what effect their action would nave on
themselves because the board had not acted on those
ror grades in relation to which their own OF
promotion must necessarily depend.
So much for the question of interest Then again We
are told LOOK s a, TINS 'n Of bs action
the board has been confined to the upper half and only
oneh to the lower half and we are asked II II pos
like fairness mpartiay presided over the deliberations
of this advisory board? Why Mr.. President gentlemen
who put this question surely dc not reflect ON what they
ask Were called upon act In relation TO the prun
ing of the navy pruning decayed branches from the
tree and did we with the expectation that young
and vigorous would be cut off, and old and decayed
pohes that the Of facts represented to for year
and years prior to the passage OF this act still continued
10 exist the accumuations of half century hac
LETT In the navy in its higher grades officers who how
erorous apd however deserving OF the respect
gratitude of their country for prior services had become
incompetent perform the duties which their profession
required of theu at the present day. Did any
pec when this law passed. that 1t would be the yont
officers who would be dirated-that the younger officer
of the navy would be retired and placed on the leaveof
absence st2 ii not intention, and was 1t no
the direct purpor of the law declared its face that
pension list should be provided for decyed snd inefcien
officers
desire, Mr. President now to approach really what Il
the question at issue before wish TO cay something
about the remedy that to be afforded in the cases OF suct
persons may satisfy that injustice has beer
committed to their prejudice. would not for any con
sderaon short Of the public service Of my country tina
injury should be done to any individual desire M
harsh and extreme in the present In al
the observations that have had the honor to submit
the Senate this law, have had in view sole OBJ
ectthe good Of the public service and the efficiency
of our national defence If that be recon
ciled with relief TO any Of those officers who clamor
loudly in relation to the action Of the board their par
tcuar cases. am willing to do not only what Is just bu
am willing go far any member this floor IL
doing what is liberal or generous.
We gravey told by experienced senators this oo
that duty hold back the entire list Of promoted
officers not TO act their nomination. but TO repeal thu
law and undo all that has been done might have
fear that the Senate under tho pressure which has beer
brought 10 bear upon IT. could be induced do that IL
had the power; but IL has not the power and glad
has ii not, for the sake of my country
Now sir for moment propose to call the attention o
senators TO this point wish TO know in what way Con
gress act this law to accomplish the obec
which senators TO have 10 view, OF restoring
the navy officer upon wboaecase the board acted
putting this branch Of the public service in precisely tn
condition in which existed before In holding bacl
from worthy officers The promotion to which the verde
of their eowocers has declared them entitled for the
efficiency and activity and Ia consigning the navy TO thu
condition about which such loud complaints hav,
been made years past and complaints made too BY
Of the very officers who demonstrate when th,
reform which they sought has reached themselves
think gentleman will undertake to say that oficers
who have actually been dismissed from the service by tb
President Of the United States be restored the
vice by the action of Congress- My friend from Delaware
lMr. BAYARD accedes to that proposition. think may
challenge that ingenious and able senator careful
critical examination of this law draw the distinction
which know he intends to draw between the officers
the reserved list and the officers who have been dropped
from the service My friend from Connecticut Mr. Tou-
cEY suggesled-I did understand him say an
very thorough examination study Of the subectbu
he suggested the other day that repeal OF the law would
have the eec, OF restoring TO active service officers
reserved list Now presume senator this floor will
deny that whenever vacancy exists in the public service
the President Of the United States alone under the cons
MED by II that proposition be admitted there
remains but this question Of fact to determine have va
cances arisen under this law In the public service and
have they been filed by the President Of the United States