New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-22

he had detached them to await ORDERS having neither
approved disapprOved of their conduct, and not
propoipg to do 70 without full information touching
their conduct In the surrender Of the yard" Why,
after having beer thus warned and having taken this
position the Secretary did not wait for this informa-
ton, the Committee cannot understand.
Several other designations Of officers who do not
appear to have been engaged in actual war against the
United States before rendering the same were never
theless accepted by the Secretary with an unnecessary
haste which neither the purpose OF the resignation nor
the times would justify or excuse. Some Oh tnem were
accepted by telegraph, when II was perfectly APP
parent at the object of resgnng was to re'eve hem
selves as early as possible from embarr@ sment, and
the obligation of the oath of Office, well as summary
trial and punishment by court martial, previous TO
Joining nsurgent forces against the constituted author
tiles of their country. These resign tiODs thus ac-
cepted have been followed by immediate engagement
in service hostile to the Government. One man, hold
inc the office of civil engineer in the Pensacola Navy
Yard at the time of ts surrender forwarded his reg
nation on that day to the Secretary ncosed in letter
10 Senator Mallory in which he expressly states the
reason of hs resignation TO be because he is prevented
from acting against the by the obligation OF
his commission. The letter OF resignation and the one
ncosne it, stating this reason, were both laid before
the Secretary on the oath Of January yet the Secre-
tary not only accepted the resignation at once, and
thus relieved him from the obligation on him not TO act
against the Government bnt caused the acceptance 10
take effect "from the 10Th of January the day OF tue
surrender of the yard twelve days anterior to the time
of ia date The reason given for thus making this ac-
ceptance retroactive in Its effect, VIZ 10 stOP DIS pay
from that tne did not appear under the extraordinary
circumstances by which it was surrounded al az ss-
factory TO the Committee The resignation OF the OFF,
Ger In charge of the Marine Hospital at Pensacola was
accepted by telegraph and he thereby enabled 10
take upon himself the same position under the nsur
gent force, without any interruption; AND that OF
Lieut. X, r. Chapman, dated on board the brooklyn,
when aboat TO sa under orders, likewise accepted
by telegraph and he was thus relieved OF any ineon-
venience lie would otherwise have experienced In be-
ING carried to sea against his wlshes.
The course thus pursued by the Secretary in accept
ipg these designations appears under the crcunstan
ces, to be most extraordinary No custom OF 'ne De
partment in ordinary times can justify It, No want OF
confidence in the loyalty Of these officers can excuse ~
for their previous conduct had usled any sucn sus
picion il also demanded investigation beforehand,
which would as to OF them bave disclosed to the
Secretary completely in treason calling for courts+nar
tial, rather than honorable discharge; prudent re-
fed if not mperously demanded, that some OF the ON
GERS should have been early removed from delicate and
responsible positions OF trust, by the substitution OF
others more reliable. But these very considerations
annear 10 the Committee to have forbidden the furnish
ing any such facilities for engaging in hostilsies
acalnst the Government, as the relief from the sum-
mary trial and punishment OF court-martlal secured
by the acceptance Of their designations. The course
pursued by the Secretary has resulted In furnishing
those engaged in an attempt to overthrow the Govern
ment with the skill experience, and discipline Wmch
education at the expense Of the Government ana long
service in the navy, have conferred upon our own ON
cers The Committee cannot understand how this
course is consistent with a proper discharge Of
the duties of his Office by the Secretary in this critical
iuncture Of affairs. 1t appears TO them 70 nave
been attended with consequences the most serious to
the service of the country They can find no excuse or
justification in the claim up in behalf Of the Secre-
tary that the designations have been accepted In gno
rance of any misconduct for resignation should, at
any time be accepted until there is reason to know at
least that the officer rendering it had been guilty OF no
unofioerlike conduct deserving court-martil. But
the circumstances connected with these designations,
the apparent purpose for which they were made and
the hostile attitude which the manner OF their tender
clealy disclosed called upon the Secretary to refrain
from that haste in their acceptance which permitted OF
neither delay inquiry. The Committee ca9not aP-
prove. but are compelled to condemn such failure in
the discharge of public duty; and they therefore.
recommend the adoption Of the accompanying resolu'
ton:
Rorsd Th.. the Secretary Of the Navy IN aeeePtins
without delay inquiry Ge esgnatons OF ocer, OF the navy
who were snu the Government when te1dsips the
who sought 10 regn that they might De re-
neyed the restraint imposed BY their commissions upon
IN hostility the authorities Of the country
has committed highly pIeudics 70 the discipline
Of the service Injurious to the homer and efficiency OF the
Navy which be deserves the censure OF is hoafe