New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-13

COMMODORE PAULDiSG TO TIE SECREIAhl Or iHL
NAVY.
FLAG-SHP WABASH, off Aspinwal, Oct. ~, 1851.
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your dispatch of the Sd inst accompanying copy
of the sailing orders of Commander Amy Of the
steamer Fulton, and circular order from the state
Dcpartultnt in reference to our neutrality laws.
The Department will fail to observe that my
feelings as Commander-n-Chet Of this squadron must
be very much wounded when l say that the service
could have been better performed II Commander
Amy had been sent to me- and some discretion had
been given M by the Del lrtment for employing the
force nominallv under my command, instead OF lts
being assigned 10 duties at distance from home by
tie Government who il Is impossible should So well
undeftand the localities and the mot proper meas
ures to be taken for given purpose. -
Now, Sir how would it look II the Secretary OF War
should direct general in the field 10 place himself on
4 certain point and remain there
Then dctach the subordinates and their commands,
and locate them at points him, without the means
of communication. Ut is an lmpassabs wilderness
between this and Ch!Iiqu.l
Could battle be gained, the commander-n-chle'
respected the interest 81 our country III any man
ner advanced No. Sir and this is parallel case;
md in INV Judgment il would be better for the De-
partment TO superscde an officer whenever II wants
,rfdence in his capacity for command.
is not only in this instance but Others that ieel
called upon to the notice of the Department
irregularities which the Department can alone redress
In the first place. the Cyane a. been absent from mere
al the y, tn for han three months without nay
having received report Official notice in regard
To her IL is the same with the Roanoke II the
Fulton has taken one of the passages, "a she should
have done her course for Chlriqul IN the drec-
ton of Aspnwal, and without material deviation
she could nave passed within sign; of my fla.
From this it will be apparent to the Department
that must feel that my prerogativcs az Commander
ii Chief Of the squadron are turned aside with but
little consideration, and that MY presence here can
have but "A slight appreciation.
Without presumiug to in;rudc .c0ureous!y upon
the Department. it Is proper that sApuid present my
views and in doing SO, 10 say that the duties oil this
command cannot be discharged in o manner due to
the GOOD order and efficiency of the naval service,
unless the Department shall be obseryant, AMI e1ac,
Of other officers street conformity 10 Its military
character.
an Sir yery resp fully. your o6 iiea. servant,
H. PAL LDISG.
Fl.s-Oaicor ConInsu linz Hounr squadron
Tho Hon ISAAC IoveEN Secretary ot th~ Ns "s~-ls-
ton, d. G.
REPLY OF IHE SECRETARY or THE NAVY TO COMO
DuRE PAULDIyG.
NAVY DEPAKrNENT, Nov. D, 1857.
SIR | am in possession OF your dispatch, No. l}3
Ii Was not the intention OF the Department 10 lnsin
uate any doubt Of your knowledge or capacity or oil
your disposition promptly to discharge any duty u.s.
,igned to You. But the Department viii reserve 10
ltseh ie right under the nnnedilte direction of the
PRESIDENT ia dispatch vessel TO any point, upon any
emergency under specific Instructions directing its
commanding officer To report to the nag officer OF any
squadron sut 10 those Instructions. In the present
instance The Fulton dispatched from this port by
order of he President to serve the purposes OF the
Government upcn state OF fleets Of wbrch, from Tie