Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-09-12
EMO CTRER'r COEREafONDENCE.
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GENTLEMEN The law Of Congress, enacted
last winter, providing for the promotion OF
naval officers FOR distinguished and merltorI-
GUS SERVICES is beginning, since the promotion
of Admiral Buchanan and others, to excite
no small share Of public attention and criti.
cism. I find that many, including myself
who had first approved Of the principle upon
which the law is based, have changed front,
and are now in favor of its immediate and I'M
| qualified abolition. The effect, as shown by
the recent promotions, has been TO place ON
| GERS low down in the scale Of rank ABOVE
many meritorious and gallant officers, who,
| owing to the small number Of vessels IN the
Confederate service, have had no opportunity
Of entering the race for distinguished honors'
| TO be won and conferred under the existing
law. Thus We find Admiral buchanan elc-
waited over Flag Officer Forrest, who was
several years his senior in the old service, Tor
the brilliant victory in Hampton Roads, when
the latter officer was mainly instrumental IN
saving the Norfolk Navy Yard from total de-
struction, superintendent the construction OF
the "Merrilnac, and CALAMITY proiiered to
command her when the honor was conferred
on Buchanan.
This single instance, besides others, shows
the unjust operation of the law; for
may ask, who, having the least knowledge
| of the chivalrous character and patrl-
| otto impulses Of the veteran Forrest, Will
doubt iur moment that the same glorious
| triumph would have been accomplished II
the command Of the vessel had been con-
ferrud on him. | dare say, no one. Yet,
under the operation of the law, this officer IS
oyerslaughed, mortified and Inundated BY
the promotion OF Buchanan, equally gallant
aud mertorious, but many years his junior,
who was more fortunate in obtaining the po-
sition denied the other, where promotion
could only he obtained. This single instance,
without nd1ucing any other, makes as PLAIN
az the sun 81 monday the injustice and evil
tendency Of the law. You place the seal nf
implied condemnation at least upon Forrest
and other senior officers by eleVating Buo-
| hanan for not doing acts of heroism which,
by the action Of the department, assigning
them to shore duty, they could not possibly
accom- lsh 10 make doubly plain the cor
rectncss Vi this hypothesis, | will adduce an
other instance Of promotion by way Of Illus
| tratlon.
Commander SemmeS, also q fine officer and
an Accomplished gentleman. Was placed in
command of the stea.lier "McRea' and sent
to sea in the spring Of 1861, the only Con-
Tolerate war vessel aoat at the moment OF her
departure on the trackless deep. The hearts
of lnany ardent spirits in our navy yearned
for that or similar opportunity to com
deeds Of he. osm in their coveted clement
But it was not in the power OF the Depart
| Commander SrlnnlpS
| the lucky officer, acquits himself creditably
| in his lonely adventure against the coln-
merce of the enemy, but not better, wean,
than it would have been performed by his I'M
fortunate brother officers, OF superior rank,
left behind to be assigned to land batteries
on the rivers and such vessels as the Govern
lnrnt, in great revolutionary emergency,
could muster, on the spur Oi the occaSlon,lor
the protection of our inland waters Yet
this officer, pretty low down in the scale OF
rank, has been promoted, by the operation Sf
this unjust law, over the heads Of many 9TH
crs senior to him, and embracing such bril-
liant names as Arthur Sinclair, John K.
Tucker, Thomas Jefferson Page, Ebon Far
rand and others, who have illuminated the
annals of the old and new navy by their
deeds Of galantry aud genial and noble bear
lug.
think the point has been made sufficiently
clear for correct appreciation by the two
cases have here cited for illustration, which
is-and I know it from personal association
with any officer o! the Navy-that the ELECT
Of the operation Of the law Of promotion has
been to destroy the esprit d" corps OF the Ser
vice, creating in the hearts Of the officers
feeling of disgust for their profession and
general desire to abandon it II They can find
any thing else to do to give aid To the coun-
try in it's hour Of peril.
a large number Of the Naval officers are
ponr, some of them having made heavy SAT-
ritices, as in the case Of Flag officer Forrest,
| in resgning FROM the United States Navy
And hence the conviction in my mind that
| the nalrio.ic ca,ritioeo 'n.do l.y theuI III SUI
rendering their comfortable positions and
fleeing to the protection Of the South without
Il field for their peculiar service to invite them,
is one of the most remarkable actions Of self
sacrifice and disinteresiedness that the his
tory Of the world has produced; and viewing
the matter in this light. is 1t not incumbent
upon the Congress Of the Confederacy to
treat the delicate question Of rank with The
utmost discretion ami prudence.
The law is also objectionable, in TINT it is
made the duty Of the President and the Sec
Rotary Of the Navy, to execute its provisions
in The designation Of officers to receive It's
benefits. | care not how accurate and I'M
hiasSrd the Judgments oftheSc gentlemen may
lie for the performance of this unpleasant
task, they can never give satisfaction 10 the
officers and their friends, for the reason that
the principle is wrong, aId Of consequence,
all that results from its adoption, however
we'll intended for the public interest, must be
unsatisfactory. 1t imposes an invidi0us dis
elimination, unpleasant III its performance,
and the excl else Of which. feel assured, would
gladly BIZ ignored by the President aid his
Secretary if they had any choice III the lnat-
ter.
Nne-tenths Of the officers Of the navy
hold the system in utter execratlon. Popular
sentiment Will unguestionabIy condemn II:
and, therefore, 1t should be promptly abolished
By the action OF Congress. 1t was doubtless
conceived by patriotic desire to improve
the service, but, inasmuch rs it Is now appa-
rent that no such effect will follow, it is L'ped
that Congress, the President and Secretary
will abandon the odious system Of promotion
in the nary. lillian.
fwMe Enquirer.
The NAVY DEPARTMENT.
We ere gratited to know, that the public
mind is gradually taking proper view the
issues involved III The Efforts Of our Naval
authorities, to meet the invasion Of oar coasts
,0t III. L.. l..