Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-07
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Merit In the Army and Navy.

The Navy department has puDlisned tnt
finding of the court martial In the case OF Capt
Armstrong, who delivered up the Navy Yard al
Pensacola to the rebels. The court lind him
guilty Of q "neglect Of duty" and OF "disobe'
dience of orders, and conduct unbecoming an
officer, )" and sentences him to Suspension from
duty for FIVE years, with the loss OF pay ior the
first half Of said term, and 70 be reprimanded
by the Secretary Of the Navy in general orders
At the same time, the Secretary OF the Navy
publishes an honorable testimonial to William
Conway, an aged seaman, doing duty as Quarter.
master In the Warrington Navy Yard, and who
at the time Of its surrender, when ordered by
Lieut.. F. Renshaw to haul down the national
flag, promptly and Indignantly refused TO obey
the order. The Secretary says:
"The love and reverence thus impulsively
exhibited for his country's flag, in the hour Of
Its PERIL are not the less worthy OF being called
noble and chivalric because displayed by one in
an humble station. IL is the more deserving
of commemoration, for subordinates In the ser.
vice are not usually expected to set examples Of
patriotism and fidelity in their trusts, but TO
follow them"
The question may be we'll asked why "subor.
dinates" in the service are not expected to set
examples of patriotism, and why officers, who
are expected to set such examples, have 80 Ia
mentally failed in that duty2 The answer is
plain. Merit in subordinates is not regarded in
either army or navy as emitting the subordinate
to promotion, so that no exhibition Of fitness, or
devoted duty in the ranks, can ever raise COM
mon sailor or soldier above that station. A
miserable system of favoritism and nepotism
has filled our army and navy with officers who,
feeling that they owe their situations to extra
neous causes, and not to examples OF superior
merit or devotion to their country's interests,
have no attachment at all to their government,
but all their loyalty is expended upon the par
ticular section of country which they are sup
posed to represent. Hitherto the army and navy
have been filled with the sons, and nephews,
and cousins, Of influential politicians at Wash.
ington. The places Of distinction in them have
been regarded as rewards for political service,
and have been proportioned as nearly as possible
to the political influence the different States
have been supposed to exercise in the election Of
President. OF course such system as this
relieves the incumbent of any paramount at
tachment to his government, because he owes
his place not to the approval by that government
of his conduct, or Its appreciation of his merits,
but to the influence Of the politicians Of the
State to which he belongs. So soon as that
State, therefore, demands his service against
the general government, the paramount duty to
his State impressed upon the officer by his graft.
tude for a place which his merits could not pro-
cure for him, obliges him to desert the flag
of his country and the service of q govern
ment from which he can hope for no further fa-
vors.
If a different system prevailed, aud men were
promoted by merit only, very different feeling
Of duty would be established in the heart Of
every officer in the army and navy. As he
would owe his distinction to his government,
and not to the influence of his State, or his
political family relations, his affection and bis
fealty would be to his government, against
every feeling of sectional attachment or local
State pride. He would feel that his service
was eminently due where had been properly
recognized and rewarded, and lis attachment
would be oil to his country, for to his country
be would owe all the rank and fortune he pos
sessed. The merit that had been once recog-
nized in him, would be guarantee that II
would lead to higher honors when exhibited in
higher spheres, or found equal to more respon-
sible position Philadelphia Ledger.