New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-08

But Dir. Touccy did not think that tns gross
dereliction Of duty, to GIVE 1t the very mildsst
term possible required any Investigations nor
did he seize upon the opportunity that was Oh
fered him Of ordering Court Martini, that an
example might be made Of q recreant officer,
through whose imbecility or treaehery 90 demon
olizing an example had been set for other OH
GERS to follow. Many man has been Court
Martialed ard shot for much less serious otiense
than that committed by the Captain of the Fen
sacOla Nsvy.Yard. The only exteuuatng cifcuui-
stance that has been made public in relation 10
Gait Armstrong is one that tells most seriously
against Mr. Touccy. Capt. Armstrong cannot
10 among his brother officers as h3 once couidi
and 10 relieve himself from the impstations toa'
rest upon him, he demands Court oil inquiry
which the Secretary orders; and this Court Is 10
consist Of two Virgiuians-Capts. LaVale'te ana
Powel-and one native Of New-Englaho' oap''
Storer. II il evident that the Secretary sym
patbjes sre with the dsgraced officer. and no has
ciccn him the benefit of Court whose sympa-
thies are likely TO be on the same side.
With ouch Chief of the Department it is not
10 be greatly wondered at that the fair fame
of our Navy, which has hitherto been unsulhed
by an net of treaohery or coNardice, should
have been 20 disgTaced az it has during the pact
month or two b. the conduct Of some of its
officers. There are men in the service. we be-
heyo, who inherit the loyal aud courageous IA
lures of Decatur, and Hull, ard Perry, and
Bninbrdge, who will wipe out the stain that
recent events have fGol upon the national dag II
an opportunity should ever occur; but since these
Secession troubles commenced there have been no
exhibitions Of gallant loyalty to give assurance
that the spirit which once shed halo OF glory
upon our Navy stil IiVcs among its officers.
When General Cass became convinced that his
associates in the Cabinet were traitors to the
Government he resigned his post to save HIM
self from the mputation Of being involved IN
their designs; but Secretary Toucey held on, ana
he has not since given the country any assurance
Of disposition to check the treason which ap-
bears to be almost universal among the Southern
born officers in the Navy. Some OF those who
have resigned aud joined the rebels have made
their boasts that they would come back
into the service in higher grade than that
which they left, and one of them has had the
audacity to publish letter inviting the Southern
officers 10 come over to the traitors, and bring
their ships with them. 1t is as palpGble a. 1t Is
painful. that there has existed deePlaid scheme
of treachery on the part OF large number
Of our naval officers, to betroy their
commands into the hands Of the enemies
OF the Government aud it is difficult to believe
TINT the indifference Of Secretary TOucey 10 these
repeated Gets of trehchery is not owing to
completely in the designs OF the traitors.s Inc
first symptom Of revolt vas shown IN the case
Of Capt Kearpey, one Of the older officers OF the
service. who, at the very commencement oil the
accession difficulties, requested to be put upon
the retired let, that he might De- out of harms
WAY. Here was an officer who, for more than
forty years, had been paid aud fed by the
Government, at the very moment when his ser
vices were required asking to be excused from
duty. If common sailor, who owed nothing 20
his country, had made such o requcst, he would
have been punished for his impotence. His grog
would have been stopped, and the cat-O'-nlne-
tails would have been applied TO his naked back
We would not have these recreant officers kept
an hou. in the service after their reasonable de.
signs became known. but they should not be
permitted to resign their paces. They should be
contaminated and dismissed gn0minously from
the service. Their places can be- easily supplied
with true and gallant men. But they 20 out
now with the understanding that when the Sc
cedinc States to which they belong return to the
Union they VIII be restored 10 their places.
Let Secretary Toneey give tho country an a.
surance that he is not in league with the Seces-
nonists by issuing o general order Ike that
cent by Secretary Dix; "lf any one At
4" tempts TO pull down the American hag shoot
him on the spot" Unless this be done, We
may expect some fine morning before the i.h Of
March to see tie Pelican flag Of Louisiana, or
the Palmetto flag of South Carolina, waving No
rebel folds from the flagstaff at the WAlabout.
and OF every other naval station belonging to us.
COMMERCIAL SUICIDE.