The New York herald., 1862-12-07
NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY DECEMBER 7, 1882

are distributed throughout Indicate whit mst
be the undoubted uocy OF the government at no distant
period in relation 10 such establishment The time may
not have arrived when the selection Of permanent ioca
tlon for navy yard aud foundry shall be made, but
II must o. tn the near future and until then the depart
ment VIII be dependent in great degree on private es
Ditsnents and such temporary arrangements a. oa be
secured.
HARRoR DEsxxoSs.
long Period Of peace had rendered the government
nattenttvc " the defence of ha bors and
cent alarms the municipal autho, es OF many OF
cities have made application Tor naya vessels to protect
them from apprehended danger Although soiictons 10
relieve any portion Of citizens unnecessary
alarm, the department could not furnish the force
quired for every place exposed has Il baan antic
pated that such force would be expected Of the navy
has the ne standing that the forticatons were
Sa ,ssu sss upvn sreoa
longer ago than May last the chief engineer OF the
War Department In coinmanication TO Congress
states that as general rule, with hardly sn cx
ception, the permanent defensive works or tho United
States designed To- forbid tho passage through the
waters subject their dro OF hostile vessels pre-
vent the Of such waters by enemy in his vessels
or TO secure the OF the waters for our own vessels
So long as these forts tu these conditions our fortified
ports navy yards harbors Of refGge VIII be secure
against injury from an enemy shs and the waters pro-
tccted by them will bo available for the Of
ses and forbidden those Of MI cnemy That say
these forts are designed deenccs against hostile ml
tary power afloat.r
While there may be difference OF opiuiens as to the
views here expressed, there whatever that the
Notifications vt our principal ports should be and doubt
less adequate dcences against any or,cusers
IL has not therefore entered into the estimates
and arrangements OF the Navy Ierartment t0
furnish vessels for the defence Of our ports, nor
purpose when other provisions have been BY the
have been uniformly relied upon their
protection
Our facilities fos docking ships are altogether inadc
qaae 70 our naval wants and in foreign war with for
m1table power Our condition would be deplorable We
have but ono dry dock at each naval station and three
OF six docks Of wood being bOtn perishabc and
combnstibe The capacity Of these docks Is much below
the size required tor Of the vessels
building and such must build for the future Other
nations, finding themselves in similar condition, are
but three pernaaent ones, and thcv designed for
vessels OF less dimensions than some now
build snoad have new new and suitable ones and
Some Of them should be a least $50 feet in length with
breadth Of 80 feet, 70 admit Of large Docks Of
ter for heavy ships than narbors can furnish.
The importance OF constructing wet basins at such of
adverted by the Chief of the Bureau Of Yards and
Docks: Is commended TO the consideration OF Congress-
REORGANIZATION or THE DEPARTMENT AND 1HE NAVY
The act OF tho 9th OF July last reoganzing the Navy
Department creates three additional bureaus This in
much better distribution OF the labos and very
much simpliRes and facilitates tho business OF tho
department. The law has SO recently gone into opo-
ration, and the officers have SO lately entered
upon their duties, that the results and benefits
in this efry stage Of the proceedings that he
change will be productive OF efficiency and economy and
talent Of the chiefs who have been broagh. into the
sels of the department will inspire 1t with additional
vigor. eerr
The greatly increased labor imposed upon tho depart
ment in consequence OF the greatly increased force both
OF and vessels 10 service, with vastly active
employment calls for additional clerical torce in order
that justice may be done TO the service and the govern
ment.
by the law Of December 81 1861 il was enacted that
hah hoan l,OrDo iha Nm
val Register fOrtyve years. who had attained the age
Of sxtytwo years shall be retired from active service
and his name he entero the retired list Of officers Of
the erad0 TO which he belonged The President, By and
with the advice and OF the Senate authorized
receiving vote OF thanks from Congress- upon the
OF the President DO restored 10 the active
list. and not otherwise.
BY the same law the President authorized 70
ect any officer from the grades Of captain commander
and assign him to the command of squadron with che
rink and title 'fag officer" the officer thus as
signed to have command In full il be wero tho
senior officer OF the squadron.
The officers OF slockadng squad-ors and Of the Mig
sgc OF the act OF the 18th OF July shng the grade
OF admiral when thcy received that appsintment
81 ade al line ofcers OF the Unitod States navy does
justice in contcrring ranks and grades that had until
that timc, been withhold from as meritorious and
gallant class Of ocers devoted their days and
eFed their lives for their country Though the justice TO
which they entitled has bcen long delayed,
gracefully and generously rendered By the present Con-
grcs and Is appreciated BY the bravo mon
who are its and by all attached to the service
as Jass recognition o. no worth ana ability q the ON
that contrvmon have responded with such unanimi
~ the action Of Congress that the unworthy preu
does against naval titles and hOn0rs that existed
have generally disappeared
The commanders OF our squadsous now hold rank with
those or other naval Powers the ocean, distant
vice. and wherever they carry flag appear the
representatives d their country.
The operations and working OF the law may be i'm
proved aud mOdined In some respects, without changing
the general principles of the bill, which correct
Votes OF thaa~s having been rendered Flag
Scess rsrr.su GS,s''Io'sa ans they prS", ror.
dominated to senate Tor the place admiral
the day subsequent 10 the approval Of the act AZ the
time the naes of Captains Charles Stewart George
G. Resd William b Shubrick Joseph smith, George w.
Sorer, Francis II. Gregory, Eli A. r. Lavaette Silas
Sriughlm, and Hiram Pauding were sent In or conma-
t,pn as rear admiras the retired list The nomina
tons not having been submitted until the closing hours OF
the session were not acted on by the Senate but the
officers have been continued in the places to which thoy
promoted. Officers commanding squadrons, who,
by the act n December last entitled to the rank
and title OF flag officers have since the passage OF the
of July l6 been awarded while duty the position
OF acting admiral thereby comforting them
corresponding with that OF otcors in similar position IN
the naves OF other countries, and relative rank with
the army officers OF own, when operating or
brought together on active service.
In pursuance the requirements OF the fourth
OF the "aet 10 establish and equalize the grade Of
liuc officers of the United States Navy" direct
ing that the secretary oi the Navy shall ap.
those to bc reported upon who shall carefully
scrutnze the active list OF line officers above and nrud
ing the grade OF tho line o promotion ro
port to him in writing thec who In the opinion u the
board worthy OF promotion" the 22d of July,
appointed Capt William D. Shubrick president aud Car.
Francis Gregory, T. A. y. Iavactte, W H. Gardnc~
ahd William W. Mexican as members o the board.
This board assembled IN Washington the cath July,
aud concluded their iabors the 9Th Of August. Notice
forthwith given the occrs whom they had desig-
mated OF their rank and position The filth Of the
law enacts that "the officers recommended shall be
diatcy commissioned but the senate was not
then IN session, and the right OF selection
aud appointment cannot be conferred
advisory board. or by law Congressional
any other tribunal than specified by the
sttution tho recommended will be presented for
nomination and confirmation subject TO the decision OF
the President and Senate respectively.
The law having made express provision for officers
recommended by the advisory board esther by pro
motion retiring them, question arises 70 the dispo
siton that 70 be made Of the officers thus superseded
for Il is presumed they not ~ be dsmis ed although
strict and literal compliance with the act would
require IL. In another respect the law inadvertently
does injustice To- certain officers Of tho grade OF cap
tain who, though mertor,ous are superseded BY the
act.
These and other defects and ncongruities require
remedial Legislation, and respectfully invite attention