The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-12-21
We CLIP the following from the leading
Republican paper of st. Louis:

We CLIP the following from the leading
Republican paper of St. Louis
Rank Of Nara! SGg QHCsr..-A memorial
offered In the Senate by Mr.. Hamlin, the for.
mer Vice President, In regard to inj Justice done
by promotions In the navy, will, we hope,
prompt Congress to give attention TO the sub
Jset. For there is a large and most important
class OF naval Officers who, whether covered
by Senator HAmIIu's memorial or not, have
been very unJusTly treated, and deserve from
Congress some recognition for eminent seryl.
ces. The STAFF officers Of the navy, during the
war, we're AssIgned suitable rank, under An
order from secretary Wellrs. 1t was never
confirmed by legislation, however, and after
the war, when other officers, both Of army anu
navy, we're houOred by promotion for their ser.
vices, these men, who had done AZ much as
any, had faced the same danger as the brayeu
Of FaTrAgurs Meet, and had devoted to the
cause OF the country abilities which would
have won them distraction in other paths, re-
ceived recognition whatever. For the
youngest Of the line there was = change of
shOuIder-stTsps, but for the hblest and most
useful staff officer there was no promotion.
Moreover, when Secretary Borie came into
ONCE. the rank Assigned by his pFedecessof
was abolished, so thAt these most meritorlous
Ofneers have not only received no prnmoiion,
as others have, but have Hctually been de
graded from rank This 10 their reward for
services Ms hUuOTable Ani useful as were reu
dered hy any Others Of the navy. No wOuder
the ~ ust Discrimination gals them no won.
der that without The rank and hOuDr which,
IN all uAylCs Of other clvlIIErd nations, are
conceded 10 sImIlz0 Officers, they feel uuwil.
ling to remain 10 service. Ga suCh terms, II
must be pl hn, government can never expect
to oomm,nd the services Of men OF education
AID merit. It win not be strange Il he navy
soon Loses every cOmprtent staff Uttcer, unless
Congress repAIrs The wTInE
Doubtless some Jealousy among the line ON
GERS Of the navy has lei . this Injustice. II
the objection BE- raised that stat 0ticers vita
Fsnk mght rutrank trd Interfere with line
officers under present regulations. the answer
10 eHsJ-'he equation iced ovrThaullng. ln
other nHyies tho difficulty J.. ObvIar Iully.
hnd u cNn be In ours ne lutes Of the stHH
omeet can be defined aud his rights and powers
specified aud II can be distinctly established
that his rank shAll iuYulve 10 mower or com
mA9d beyond hi. defined sphere of duty. That
sueh reform OF the regulations Ia necessary,
ought not to be made pTstext fuI gross inius.
tios to men who have served with honor and
aselulnes: They ought to hsys APPROPRIATE
to meet without feelioB OF shame the highly
hOnored Otnoers OF the same branches 10 other
n.yie, We hope Congress will grant II, even
II II be necessary to revise regulations little,
and 20 cut out whole bundle Of red tape.
NAVAL ORDERs.-DetaChed- II.
Cooper, from the navy yard, Norfolk, on
the eth Inst, and ordered to command the
Colorado" on the LIST Of January; Paymas.
ter j. c. Eldridge, from duty as purchasing
paymaster, &c, at New York, on the LIST Of
January next, and ordered to settle his ac-
counts.
orderod-CaptNin Pierce Crosby, to ord.
nance duty at the navy yard, Norfolk, on the
2nh inst. Paymayter J. o, Bradford, to
duty as the relief Of Paymsster Eldrldge, on
the LIST OF January next First Assistant
Engineer William s. Smith to the Nlpslc.
TIE SReRETAHr OF THE TREASURY has
confirmed the appointment 0i P. Douglas
McNeal as aid to the surveyor III the BaltI,
more eustom-house.