Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-13
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Navy Reform Board Question - The

this interminable question was finally disposed
Of yesterday, so far as Congress is concerned,
after having taken up far more than it legiti-
mate share Of the time of that body for the
past year. If such of the furloughed, retired
or altogether dismissed (dropped) officers as
may feel sggrisved by the action of the lste
reform navy board are now authorized to
demand trial by a court of their peers in the
service, and if it cannot be shown that in their
particular cases thu Board acted correctly
under this law, they will be restored to their
former positions in the service and be compen-
stated for the injury done to them by the ac-
tion Of the Board. Out Of more than two hun
dred cases it is very probable that more or
less of them viii be restored to active duty
The number, we Opine, will, however, be much
less than the public imagine, if they judge Of
the action Of the Board from the outcry which
has been made before Congress and in the
newspapers Oh the subject. We rejoice that
the subject matter has been thus disposed of,
rs it will afford all who contend that they have
been improperly dealt by in this connection a
full opportunity Of righting themselves. We
must add, that We believe that though the late
Naval Reform BoaId may have made more or
less mistakes, they were governed in ali cases
by high convictions Of public duty, and we
are perfectly willing to rest the proof of the
factupOn tho testimony to be adduced in every
case that will be tried under the new Law eu-
acted finally yesterday.
The Underwood Case.-The New York
EVsaing Post, Albany Evsntug JonrnaL ct
ID Onane genus, are again pOw-wowing over
the case Of tie man, Underwood, who has been
expelled by the people Of Clarke county, Va
from their midst. Underwood is a confirmed
and very crazy aboltionist, who residence in
Clarke evidently endangers the lives Of his
neighbors aud THAR tenure Of their slave
properly. No man could have been more hos
pitably and kindly treated than be was by
the people CT Virginia, among whom he mar
ried rich wife, until he got beside himself
with his prosperity thus acquired, and under.
took, Lot only to nalign his kind neigh bors as
community, but to write and speak things
which endangered their lives and property
They have done tight in expelling him; and
that he should not lose dollar by the change
Of residence they forced upon him There are
few Of the South, indeed, who are Eot sur
prised thai he got of with a whole pair Of
carr; which fact reflects credit on the moder
alton Of those whose confidence he abused, as
few ersons under such circumstances would
lave abused confidence and personal kindness
Senator Sumner An understanding pre-
vaiis at this point that the Hon Chas Sum.
ner was reelected recently to the Senate of
the L nitsd states only by way Of compliment
That is, that he is to resign the position ere
the 4th Of Marcn next. We trust, for his own
sake. that there is foundation for this ruuor
If his physical and mental health is such as
TO justify his recent reelection, he has GER
tainly been party to the most persistent case
of false pIstsnces ever urged upon the coun
try. TIE accounts Of his condition with
which newspapers in his interest politically
have Of late been filed, have been 90 contra
dict)ry a. - defy the Judgment (iiscrinina-
tiOn) Ct The most astuts. The problem whether
he has been playing game Of imposturs upon
the American public, or is really the physi-
cslly and mentally disabled man he is repre-
seLted by many Of them, CHE newspapers)
will, however, shortly be solved II he is not,
he II be universally written down to be the
mos: extensive and successful humbug the
country has ever known in connection with
Its public affairs.
TIE Nsw Navy Reform Law The follow.
iny is the Senate bill that, having passed the
Houss yesterday, now only awaits the Presi-
dents 81 grature (which il will ubtless re-
ceive ere the ED OF the week. to become a
Law.
Sec. l. That, upon the written req uest, made
within ninety days after the passage hereof,
or within thirty days after the return of any
ofhcer absent from the United States at the
time OF the Iassage Of this act, provided he
shall return within one year after the passage
OF this act, By any ofhcer Of the navy who was
dropped, furioughed, or retired, by the opera
tion OF the act Of the twenty eighth Of Feb
raaTy, eighteen hundred and City Five, enti.
lied An act to promote the efficiency Of the
navy" the Secretary Of the Navy shall cause
the ply sical, mental, professional and moral
fitness VI such Cthcer for the naval service To
be Investigated by a court Of inquiry, which
shall be governed by the laws ana regulations
which now govern courts OF inquiry and the
said court snail in their finding report whether
the said officer, if he has been dropped from
the rolls Of the navy, ought to be restored
and if restored, whether TO The active list or
The reserved list, and if to the latter, whether
Oh leave of absence or furlough pay and in
case the officer making the written request, as
aforesaid, shall have been placed on the re-.
served list, then the court, on their finding
shall report whether the said officer ought TO
be restored 10 the active list OF if not restored
whether be ought to remain on the retired list
Oh leave Of absence or furlough pay; and the
finding of the court shall, in al! cases, be sub
United to the President of the United states,
and, if approved by him, in the case Of a
dropped officer, where restoration has been
recommended, such oiicer may be nominated
by the President " the Senate for restoration
TO the service, according 10 the finding Of the