New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-15
DEMONSTRATION OF THE HAVI~DE-
PARTIfENT.
70 "A. ESi.o, a. The ". Y. Tri5uns.

70 Ae Editor u TIE ~ 7. Tyi5una
Sin: From your remarks of the detention OF the
crew Of the United States ship Saratoga, you seem TO
be under the npressi that the Hon. 1. foucsy ad-
ministers those sff,is in The Navy Department tia.
relate to the length Of time ships kept cruise,
and TO tho detention Of after their term Of enlist
ment has expired. The same injustice hsvirg charac-
teiized Mr.. Dobbin's administration, you must look
below the Secretary to the Chief Clerk for the author
of this i'll treatment Of talors Welsh is in no way
fitted for Ais berth, place which be holds to the
astoristm ent Of the great majority of gentlemen who
have been go unfortunate as to have business with
him. Beside being deficient in capacity, be is 8 low
fellow, who mutt have been indebted for his appoint
nept TO the il fuence CT some Pewter Mug ociaoa
q whiskS drinking politicians. Certain It Ia that he
does not associate with gentlemen in Washington, and
when the Navy Department. is under discussion, 1t
common thing TO hear surprise expressed that such
person should be reta nj d IN respectable oiiice;
II is great misfortune TO the naval service that 80
much business Of importance TO men and officers
should he intTusted to the Chief Clerk, especially
when like the present incumbent, he IS wanting in
capacity, humanity and the ordinary endowments OF
gentleman In cases Of tyrannlcsl and oppressive
treatment persons In the Navy have no remedy
sgsin.t the Department except such as is obtained by
spublic exposure.
which naval matters have been managed under the
chief cle,kship of Mr.. G. W. Welsh. Last year Mr.
Secretary Dobbn aaid ia his annual report that the
sloop. oEwar Germantown WAS on her way 20 the
United States from Brazil, when, in fact, she was
then living at her anchors in the harbor Of Rio. Ow.
rg to the csrelessness and stupidity Of Welsh, the
order of recall never reached the Germantown; but
Commodore Forrest took the responsibility OF sending
her to the United States in the early part of December
The same laundering occurred in sending orders for
.he return Of the flag chip Savannah That ship went
into commission August g. 1853 and as her crew ship
ned for three years. unless sooner discharged IN the
tinted States" abe ought TO have been at home and
her crew paid of August g. 1856, earlier. Bat her
orders did not reach her till the second week in Oct,
1856, and her crew was paid in December. Toe de-
tention of the chip four months beyond her proper time
was NOT only III lust to her crew but involved large
extra expense to the Government the pay OF the crew
beipg IS per cent after the expiration OF their
term of enlistment. A part OF this detention wa:
ohio y attributable to the careessness or stupidity OF
Welsh for the orders to return were dated qy and
when they reached the ship they were Sty days older
than the latest autie dates from the United States
Smart an that Mr.. Welsh, to be fifty days behind tbs
merchants clerks Of Baltimore. He Is I" fast man
ON the road but not in bis office. Mr. Dobbn apollo
pzed in his annual report for this neglect Of duty on
the part of his chief clerk, but that apology did not
mend the hole that made In the Treasury nor re-
pair the injury done the ships company by OBTAINING
them from their families four months.
II there is an institution a ashlngton that needs
searching scrutiny 1t is the Navy Department where
how not to do it. seems to perYade the entire sys-
tenn. excep. the taking Of their own salaries.