The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-20
The Untted states Marine Corps.
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.


One Often in Europe. though fortunately seldom
our own oouatry largo farm which has descended from
si-e 70 son through many generaons nearly in the
condition In which IL fel into the first possossor. The
house has the same old walls ana the complains from
year to year Of their heat summcr OF their cold In
WINTER Of tho leaks Ia the roo, admit the rain aud
cracks In doors and windows. through which the
drives In uncomfortable manner-just his father
complained and will transfer the grievance to his
Outside exists the sane want OF attention; the
ground titled with old supplements OF husbandry, and
the produce strictly Scrpturai only sufficient for the
day Thus does the live, forever toIlng, always
wondering why his gram Is light his cattle lean
looking beyond his fences until his deficient crop gath
cred and compared 10 the we'll flied grainery and the
sleek cattle Of energetic aud thriving neghbo, when
he his fortune and relapsng into hs former in
dasrcooe beholds the plough the trenches to
irrgAts the dry and tho for the poor soil with
which the careful farmer improves his estate aud
agAis IN the fall sees only the two results
But II blessed with population Of industrious
farmers whose exertons keep from seong bot rarely
In country such improvldence, there other
Institutions which do no, possess The esgerness for
improvement but like the poor farmer, remain IN their
inert stae-the soon and wonder OF the enlcrprsiug
TIE one 10 which wish TO call your attention Is the
oorrs I, has been shamefully sighted by the
absence u Committees OF Invest reports It's
it,ou, and want Of newspaper oommeats for long
perisd led TO believe that a gallant corps, which
has served lis country long and faithfully 10 all
wars by and land and now doing service wherever
flag flying n last forgotten and kno only 10 the
satiquAry II In your power TO overcome this neglect,
and IN Justice % is loos service let !, once more be
oily wipe Cd the rust the staunch Old blade, accumu
lated while lying In the dark during age q improve
meat and roc wiz deserve the thanks Of the country
% the demise q the late lamea,cd Of the
younger Ia years would possess more energy than could
naturally be expected IN bis predecessor, and proportion
ate progress In keeping with the would be attempted
Bot years have elapsed tho sivent Of this star
o promise, aud vcry little has been effected.
We stu md serseants drilling companies o. recruits
aAvy yards young officers receiving their hrst, and
perhAs. o8y Instruction entering the service, from
non commissioned officers in Washington, and the same
system OF drill in vogue when the corps arsi
ganlyed although II - not only abandoned By AL Euro
pcan armies and our own, but even ~ our volunteer
militia, tor the French light infaatry drill THIS pscu
larry well adapted for the service; and yet while
the SAILORS 10 most Of vessels receive instructions at
u, and rapidly becoming active formidable aud IN
teilxeat soldiers, the marines are drawn up on the
9aEterdeok, with scarce room TO open ranks, and are
drilled during three years At the manual q heavy IN
fanry and occasionally vary H. through the kindness OF
40 ohccr OF the deck, who has u cleared up 70 permit
this cumerous mAss 70 march, elbow 10 elbow, By the
right or len aank, for a short distance.
Any one who has ever walked a ships deck can easily
lmxne bow difficult \ Is to preserve that regularity and
precision Of step called for by Sco,rs tactics and the
all difficult task OF carrying musket perpcndcu.
ly IN the ghcss seavsy, while they would rcadiy
OVERWHELMING
Cor ancient oustoms Of adopting nc independent AM
easy step snd port Of arms Of the Hardy tactics Cor The
Tso Improvements have been made In the corps-,hs
ooe the change Of uniform 10 comfortable dress
the other, The instruction given the recruits In the
howzer and great exercise By Lieutenant Green at
heAdlaarters Bat this latter oay confined 10 those
drin 81 that pest the bcnedt but partial, and
should be extended 10 the OF navy yards. And
10 81 u scndrg many ulcers 20 IN cJmmand OF
twenty hall Instructed prvaes the corps would be much
lnproved few "a rr ofcers were Detained ashore 10
-
dr which 90 hard by recruits 70 obtalt sacsi, at the
sane tine reieviog US q the necessity q having not
stoned odicers who however respectable they may bs
IN their POSITIONS should not be relied 10 perform the
dutcs o. officers and lead casual observer
10 think the latter negligent 10 execute them:
when the reality those who no, at Recruiting
cruise AMI are generally too Dominated until Their
eighteen months OF shore duty past 10 undertake
geticaiy their proper duties
Tue ordinances manuel or table Of so vance, fpr TIE
navy dos no, require marine odcers in second class
navy ressssr Cad seventeen officers doing duty
hs class Of vessels, In command Of few men whose In
sructon, gven 10 the recruits ashore would greatly
advance their standard, and when the corps called
upon 20 dets Tor service they woai have IA
their power 10 furnish soldiers, DOT simply mcz who
know the slusd, perhaps have been exercised W Tho
company drin two or three times by some venerable
sergeant We do not know whether 10 charge this
change luxurious TO the murine corps TO he Depart
merit or TO chief Of corps oiearly
evil elects but all superior sic or lcss
Jealous avoe and regard SUGGESTIONS an an me,r
cns perceived the vantage q reform I, this, ~ vsa
other things have bcen withheld fro expressing Their
opinions from the fear OF giving offence whom the kindss
motives were intended 10 on this rcount you are
appealed tooos with any dssrc 70 iispar>ge the present.
bead of the corps whose long and faithful sevvices
entte hm 10 respect, aad indeed, place hm aoove
iilnstured comment-bu, that, ycu repr~snt tns
eouptrys Interest VOC are more capable OF render
asiance In wip1g % tie dust nov conceans the
Of shield, ard can % 20 With more propfieV
than loo inueutta well wishern OF the corps and s
hoped snaiDen Of lie numbers will not dohG IRON
your occasional attention, which given IA Wholesome
csuare will tesd greatly in promoting ~ Interest and
rsysve aay % The impression that y q a. bat 4 son
RsFOgN