The daily union., 1856-01-22

his seat this morning.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn appointed the following
aors 10 tho Committee Printing on the part
of the Senate Messrs JousoE FiTzeArRIcK and FEsES
DEN. " "
" MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, ETC.
Mr. JONES of Tennessee asked leave to Withdraw from
the files of the Senate the papers in the case Of Abel jack
son. and that the be referred 10 the COMMITTEES on
Pensions which was agreed to.
Mr.. also asked leave TO withdraw the papers in the
case Of Leslie Combs and in the case OF Wyatt Griffith
and that they be referred 10 the commitiee which
was agreed TO-
Mr. BUTLER presented the petition of Thomas r. Ged-
ney commander in The navy who has been placed on the
rough list praying that he may be transferred TO the
tired list of the navy and the petition Of Thomas Petit
grew late commander in the navy who has been dropped
10 consequence of the recommendation OF the late naval
board praying be restored to his former position in the
service which were referred to the Committee on Naval
Affairs. a.@ #G a. .# a##. u# E#
Mr.. SEWARD presented the petition of Jacob Wash
ngton Morse praying to be placed the naval pension
rolls for wounds and disabilities incurred during the
of 1912; which referred to the Committee on PEN
sions. @ ..g...-
Mr. FISH asked leave to withdraw from the files Of the
Senate the petition Of Augustus Ford Of the United States
navy praying compensation for chart and that the same
be referred to the Committee Naval Affairs which was
agreed to. .sLH as .e ..saeaN .ga. -
Mr. BUTLER presented the petition of Thomas Paine,
captain the navy who has been placed on the reserved
list praying to be restored to his former position in the
service and resolutions of the chamber OF commerce Of
Charleston South Carolina, in relation to the action of
the late naval board in consequence of which Lieut. N
referred 10 the Committee Naval Affairs. ..5 ta
Mr. BAYARD presented the memorial of Charles Gray,
late passed mdshpman in the navy, who was dropped
in consequence Of the recommendation of the late naval
board praying to be restored to his former position in the
service which referred to the Committee Naval
Affairs .-.s s ...r-U ... 3 ....asr..- at . #..e.
Mr. STUART asked leave to withdraw from the files of
the Senate the memorial aud papers of John L. Worden
and that they be referred TO the Court of Claims which
was agreed TO-
Mr. iVERSON asked leave to withdraw from the files Of
the Senate the petition of Lewis Raston and that the
be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs which was
agreed to- 4a. ara.. .aa n.##a t3
Mr. HAMLIN presented the petition of Rufus X. Lane,
soldier in the last with Great Britain praying 10 be
allowed Of pension and also paper in relation to
the claim Of benjamin Berry, revolutionary soldier to
pension which were referred to the Committee on Pen
sions. -
Mr.. RUsK presented letter of G. Vanderbilt on the
subject of ocea-ma service between the United States
and Europe which referred TO the Committee On the
Post Office and Post Roads. s at E... ssa. sa IS 81
Mr.. CRITTENDEN asked leave to withdraw from the
files of the Senate the memorials and papers of William
Money and George Stealey; which agreed to.
Mr. CLAY presented petition OF citizens of De kalb
county Alabama, praying that Sarah Benge widow of
Obadiah Bengc revolutionary soldier may be allowed
pension; which was referred to the Committee PEN
sions. -.".... .... ...... ...u.a.. .... .....s.
NAVAL BOARD.
Mr. BELL presented the petition of Leut NJ r. Maury,
lieutenant in the navy Of the United States and stated s
contents The petitioner sets forth that he has been in
ured in bis good without just or fair trial. and
that The naval service has suffered and is likely still further
to suffer- dctrment by of the manner in which the
late naval board has acted lie states that the board did
its work in a manner that not consistent with
the ends of justice, and that does not comport with
the dignity Of the law for the examination OF the
cases of Tl2 officers completed in less than thirty
working days Of about FIVE hours each, notwitstand-
ing It was the duty of the board to make search
ing examination and rigid scrutiny into the ability of each
OF these officers 10 perform promptly and efficiently
his whole duty both ashore and ahoat and therefore such
hasy findings could scarcely be just The petitioner also
objects that the board sat with closed doors kept no jour
| and
| reasons for its findings; that lis members were put
neither OATH affirmation pledge OF honor 10 act
truly fairly and honestly, and that every one OF them SO
far from having motive not TO do right was exposed TO
strong temptations do wrong. Every officer who should
be voted incompetent would If he were above the junior
member of the board advance or promote one or more o.,
its members; but II below, OF the 362 who stood
above the junior member OF the board, 1873 were found
wanting; while of the 322 who stood below him IN the
line of promotion only 46 were found incompetent These
facts says the petitioner well calculated TO excite sus-
pcon and inquiry lie considers himself wronecd
for what standard may be taken as test OF in
competency he finds officers in equal or less favorable
condition efficiency promoted advanced by the ac-
ton of the board while he has been set aside under III
finding incompetent lie prays that Congress will cause
inquiry to be instituted as 10 the manner IN which the
naval board acted and further that the officers who com,
posed that board each in turn be confronted with him
held TO wherefore and upon what evidence they
have ventured without cause TO cast stigma upon bis
After recapitulating the contents OF the petition and
mentioning the objections which Lieutenant Maury made
TO the action OF the board, u. ne
concur with him in all the exceptions which he had taken
to The board The officers composing that board had inn
posed upon them by Congress very ungacous and de
cate duty as all must acknowledge duty which they
would gladly have avoided If possible lie thought they
entitled forbearance IT was impossible
that their duty could have been performed without exciting
the opposition Of those officers who were affected by their
decisions Some reform in the navy necessary, and
the Congress took the only practicable mode Of effect
ing that object He proceeded to mention the eminent SER
vices which Lieutenant Maury had conferred upon nau
science and thought these services ought TO exempt
him from sentence which he cannot but regard as mark
of degradation. He not prepared 10 suggest
what remedy ought to be adopted by which those officers
who received manifest injustice should be restored TO
their rank and their character but hoped the COMMITTEES
on Naval Affairs would be able TO devise some satisfactory
remedy. a IH
Mr. MALLORY said that Lieutenant Maury had earned
his reputation civilian and not seaman lie had
been assigned position shore At bis own request and
no uusce had been done him by the action Of the board
MIR BELL replied that Lieutenant Maury had been nearly
ten years and this ought TO ene him TO some con-
sideraiien for services. II
The petition was referred to the Committee on Naval
| Affairs. -sE .ff.
Mr. PEARCE presented the petition of Capt Charles
Boarnan captain IN the navy, who has been placed
the reserved list praying TO DC restored TO his former posi-
ton IN the navy and also the petition Of s. w lie Compile
late commander In the navy who was dropped in
sequence OF tile recommendation OF the late naval board
prayinp that Congress win inquire into the Of his
dismissal and provide for him measure Of support
which were referred to the Comnittes Naval Affairs
\ Mr. CLAYTON desired 10 know what practical result
was 10 be accomplished by the presentation of all these
memorials What could the Senate do to remedy the In
Justice which these officers conceived that they had sus-
ained2 The law TO promote the efficiency OF The navy,
under which these decisions had been made passed by
coordinate action OF three branches the Senate the