New-York daily tribune., 1858-07-20
FROM flashing TON.

the causes WhirL have led 10 ~ pul 'uc tiuc ~
sons have vet TO be fairly presented lacy ~
attributable mainly TO the influence OF political s,t
siderations on Congress and the Execut'e-consn-
era.ions which baye broken up the proper sPrnd
subordinstion and substituted species OF fayont.
ism utterly repugnsnt 10 every dea ot correct dis'
cipne. few years ago Congress found IL neees.
ssry 10 adopt some reform for the purpose OF
purqing aud pruning the Navy Ii was urged py M
grades az absolutely Necessary 10 redeem the service
from dry rot, decay and degradation. let no sooner
Was that act for which they had 50 much clamored
carried into effect than many OF those very cham.
Mons we're the first 10 raise shout OF repeal, aN
.mplv because they or their friends had sditeredby
.ba snplicaton of the law. And Congress hss beea
engaged ever since IN trying 10 uhdo "hat u then
did under the pressure OF SOLICITATION from 'he ser
vice. -. -,
bv tbe Executive Department. The Navy is noto.
riousy administered By one or two ay0rlie clerks,
vbo iispense position aud patronage lust as they
receive court or consideration. Ihls isct IS admit.
ted on all hards, except by the mere menlals who
iawn and fater. as the means of proPi1iatng iavcr
If an officer is tried and condemned, the question: 70
not ssked whether his sentence was deserved, but
how il NAV affect politicsl objects Take the veJ
last case which has occurred by way OF Illustration
Cant Boutwell, was attached IL the Pachc squad
ron The Commodore was absent on distant duty.
Boutwell, became sick, and, instead OF reportlngto
his superior for survey or for leave ne oruered
the surgeon on board his own ship TO make an exam
nation of hs case, and, upon that report aoandona
his command, and returned loinc' Ano'o 'ie 'uo
undisputed material facts.
court rt-martial was ordered, and, as tne question
was one of great Importance, II was composed oi az
unususl number of officers, many OF them OF tna
very highest standing-eleven captains aud two
commanders. They found him guilty and sentenced
him to be cashiered. Before the sentence was pro.
Ill ;,A, pkpI
the President to modify its penalty. and he com.
muted it 10 FIVE years fiIrlough The practceof
the Department has been, that court-mart,al cam
not affect an officers pay, however II may a1ect MN
otherwise; and as the Presidents Interpolation BE-
comes part of the finding, ergo, he VIII receive
the pay of his rank on leave This CONSTRUCTION
NAV be denied now but l venture to affirm that
Capt. Boutwell, will be found before the year s out
drawing every dollar he would have received II tho
court had never met: and predict that his promo
| ton will 90 on AS regularly as that OF any other
officer We shall see when the time comes Now,
how is il possible 70 keep up any prestige or dsci
pline in the Navy when this sort OF partiality and
| injustice is permitted Courts.martal, like crlmt
nal courts, are becoming n mere m0ckery, aM
rather serve to defeat than to advance the ends a
! Justice. Generalization pervades the whole pubic
service, and the whole tendency is downward.
Since the rush Of emigration from Californs 10
Frazer River has occurred, and the Hudsons Bay
our energetic authorities here are beginning to wipe
their official spectsces, and to hunt through musty
tones to discover the bearings of their charter, and
inquire what degree of protection may be Afforded
to those enterprising Americans who are now de-
serting one set Of mines in pursuit Of richer yens.
That charter will expire next year, and there al.
WAYS has been certain degree of doubt as to its
potency beyond certain limited Jurisdiction II
has stretched and stretched with elastic convenience,
just as British pretensiOns have done in Central
America, where they now quadruplc the original
claims described on their own maps. That the ef.
feet of this movement must be serious on the pro
duction of gold and the population Of California 10
attesed by the fact that the deposits of gold dust At
the Mint and the private assay Offices have already
diminished sbout Si00, 900 week or at the rate Of
$2l 900 coo year. Whether California il to bo
compensated for these two sources Of loss by 10
creased trade with the new region, remains TO DO
demonstrated. Thus far the price of labor has been
materially affected there, for all the wages Of all
mechanical trades have advanced nearly 25 per
cent at the first bound.
As much and great comment has been excited
through the country at the exclusion of all political
opponents from the official hospitality Of the PfeG'
dent thus rendering the White House q party
house in ts narrOwest sense, it is proper to ~
that this example has not been followed by some
Others in public life, upon whom no such claim o.
proprety rests in dispensing those accustomed
cOurtesies, which have never before been outraged
or disregarded. Col. Orr the Speaker Of ths
House. and South Carolnan, man whose opn-
ions and feelings on the questions which have sepa-
rated Northern and Southern parties are quite a.
decided and much more candid than those Of some
others, who, by the most humisiing concessions,
are striving 70 acquire Southern favor, In
stead OF pursuing this exceptional course, re-
buked il in the most emphatic and signii.
cant manner. He invited erery member od
Congress IN both Houses to bis table, and every of.
hcer who might De- regarded as representing any
part OF the Government, ~ well as the Judiciary,
diplomatic corps, and in fact everybody else who
was entitled 10 such ciyllty No obligation rested
upon him 10 extend hospitality IN this liberal man
ner, but be considered il due to his position, and de-
termined to apply every dollar received from tho
Treasury in that way. His salary is less than ono
fourth that received by the President, to say moth
ing of house rent and large household expenses,
which in the other case betrayed by regular sp'
preparations. 4 his contrast bes IT, instruction.
Where the President entertained one guest Col.
Orr must have entertained at least three and per-
bsps more. When the gss, heating, gardens, ser-
wants, and other uBimportant tens attached -
the White House, and paid for out Of
the public purse ~ larger extent than uuder any
for mer President iaten into consideration. tbs
expenses cf the esablIf hment ought not b. exceed
SIC, 0o0 year nj the outside. No entertainments
Of any Kind sre given, except tho formal dinners
during the sitting sf Congress AMI the retrenchment
and economy in that department are proven
bal On reception nights the house il lighted At tho
public expense, the marine band discourses most
horrible music, and The Irish messengers are COO.
verted into the guardians a the peoples hts ASd
cloaks. Tie President don't spend dune for tess
hospitality Amer Congress adjoars the gates arc
shut down and, as the Hon. Mr.. Montgomery hss
informed the country that President B"chsoaa,
a hmm lsfip al ft-.a a