New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-13
WASHINGTON. Jan. H. ls5-

two conflicting interests in the Navy concerning the
bill BOW pending before the House, which passed
the Sepste at the last session The interest retired
by the Naval Board and desiring restoration seeks
this chance of what is claimed to be repsratsn for
Injustice inflicted. The other which is secure in
position, AID which prof'ed BY the action of the
Board is disinclned to any such policy. The bill
itself provides new Boards Of Inquiry regulated
by certain rules and afordng full time for thorough
invt stgstion by all who may seek it. Opponents
Of this measure assert that, while general opinion
and knowledge may mark the regulations of Off
ers So unworthy 10 be enrolled On the active list
- T. when tested by the rules of evidence, and con-
.a eriDg the unwilingness of witnesses to volunteer
te., imOpy, even the most fragrant cases might
e.ea pc conviction. Again, il is maintained that
there is official incompatbility in the bill whlch
ranDo be overcome. Suppose it to pass, and old
ofFeer I, like Stewart, Skinner and Smith, should
d,man, ! an inquiry, who could try them They
have no seniors in the service, and they could not
he tried by Juniors. The case was very different
before "A e late Naval Beard. The proceedings
tIere did not assume the form of trial, and the
oficers a. etired" We're not formally arrsigned II
they had b, en- exception would have been taken to
the compos itiOn Of the tribunal. On the other
side the sui Terers by the Board contend that they
were conden ned by a Star. Chamber process, and
are entitled ! least TO indicate their characters
from the repro ach implicitly east upon them Be
tween the tw, coafusion becomes worse con-
founded.
II the bill we returned TO tie Senate; with the
Developments W. hich hsTe come 90 light during the
last three or four months and the manifest reaction
in public opinion upon This subject several mate
rial notifications would be proposed. AZ il is
much effort will be made on both SIDES, 10 accom-
pHsh their respectis view. While I may be true
that the Naval Boar may have committed some
errors it is none the less tue that itJ action sas
exercised whOlesOi ne aud restraining iR1uense
upon the service gel orally. And that it might
have gone further is at tested y the COozt Martial
now sitting in Phiada phia, Sefore which several
oficers ats cbed to the cambridge, who we're sent
home by tie Commodore, are ufon trial for charges
of babitua drunkenness and other disgracedl con-
duct, and will probably tr cashie7ed.
The Investigating Committee will com. sence
proceedings tomorrow, and prosecute the INJURY
diligently and mpartially ~ its coss. They are all
learned in the law and therefore familiar with the
process Of examining witnesses, ana perhaps OF Ak
ploring when cOLtumacy exhibits its Vt Ot'stnatcy
This is serious undertaking; and altl lOugh the
rumOr is common predicted upon past expert
ence that IL viii end in smoke, th9 Go mmittee
owes it to its dignity that no default snould lie
AT its dOors. Some difference of opinion exists az
TO the scope of the inquiry, which MAJ be- easily |
adjusted by extension of power from the House,
so as to cover al transactions involving the object
fair to make victim pay the penalty Of his SIN
ole error or misfortune, when there are other |
cases notorious to the whole House. and which
have provoked nearly all the bad rePute which has
been visited upon Congress. The time has come
when these imputatOns should either be verified or
they should be faIsifed, uPsn the most direct aud
searching examination into all the charges that may
be properly preferred. Upright men should not be
made to suffer under the gross and sweeping accu-
sations that have been distributed all over the coun-
try against Congress in its aggregate capacity. The
onity whoever they may be- ought 10 be exposed
and punished, and il is not apprehended that there
will be much difficulty in separating them from the
innocent
Much indignation bias been expended against GER
tain members for their wholesale reflections upon
the representatives of the press here, and for the
ATTEMPT 10 bellte the influence of that institution
generally Such conversation is usually appreca-
ted BY the measure Of responsibility which employs
IT, as well as that inst which it may be directed.
The accidental position of membership may ah0rd
the privilege of abuse on the floor, which might be
found announcement TO practice personally elsewhere;
and the member who would take advantage of his
Dc sitiOn for such purpose, ought 10 De precuded
from the notice Of any gentleman. But 1t Is due to
candor IL say that too much occ isi0n has been |
given for the common depreciation ct the press,
by those who ought to be most concerned IN Sustain
ing its honor and integrity. If men will cheaper
the dignity of high calling by discreditabe expe-
that moral elevation which is the great power OF
journalism and dsscend to mean triekery to secure
selfish ends, they should be denounced and the
honorable exceptions 10 such baseness h)ud aid IN
the exposure. II is commonly circulated here that
bills before Congress and the Committee are
advocated for consideration by this sort OF inter-
est, and that others are prosecuted and pro-
scribed 10 eXtOrt concessions or compensation. |
The press has power TO hold up delinquent members
of Congress to reproaoh while they have means OF
equal retaliation, when perhaps investigation might
show that the accused and the accusers were not
yery far removed from each other in the scale of
easy virtue Under these circumstances, IL IS due
10 he character of the press since inquiry is the
order of the day, that every correspondent or re-
porter should be summoned before the present
Comnittee. in order TO discover how far interest
may have operated upon the opinions winch nave
gained so much currency OF late IN regard 10 par
tieuar measures OF pecunlary magnitude III the
country is entitled to know how legislation 10 con-
Quoted throug h its representatives 1t IL equally H.
tarested in understanding what sort OF influences
nave borne upon the press. As one humble mem'
Der of this profession, asserting no superiority O'fr
Others, and claiming nothing more than the ettfl-
butes which belong to every gentleman, emitted Dy
bis character and position to be recognized sbd al
mt,ed AZ such everywhere, hope this sug = ,lDn |
NAV be adopted and rigidly pursued. We hold /
privileges upon the 6Oor, and should nor abuse
Them; aid those who are unworthy TO ENJOY thla
confidence, OF 10 maintain their own sell respect
sboua be branded with mark Of inetfac able dis
grace before the whole pablo IApEA'
YOyyNG MENS DEMOCRATIC UNIJBCLU6