The New York herald., 1869-12-08

charge never to he renewed. This class now 30 ex.
ceeds ana preponderates over TAFT known az our
"old man-o-warsmen" as to give very undesirable
character TO the service.
For the lmproyeuent OF the personnel OF the navy
would suggest that some plan DC devised 20 attach
fast falling away through carelessness and neglect
and to raise up and educate new cass Of men foH
warrant and petty officers aimlny to secure BY tni1
means sutiicent number OF nais. born seamen tq
supply current wants aud TO nave large reserve
In our coast squadron suggested In the plan Of
naval establishment hereto anaeAel, we should en-.
dervor 70 combine trnining school and Meet Ios
home defence famliarzing our officers with our
coasts and harbors and providing disciplined
corps OF petty oficers and seamel TO man our iron.
clads for coast defence the sho Test notice. This
squadron would also form reserve from which our
ships could ne manned as they were fitted oYt for
Ii is also highly important that some plan should
pe devised oy when a seamen oe,onging 70 tue
that they could In time OF war, be at designated
and called upon. Notwithstanding all the laws en-
acted Tor their benefit and the protection" they
receive. the United States government has no con-
troll over our seamen In time OF war. A civilian
may be enrolled in the militia subject to call,
pnt no authority exists by which sailor could be
called TO go on board snip to protect our harb0n
were an enemy laundering at our gates.
During the rebellion our navy required some GO, coo
men, and the government only succeeded In getting
vessels to sea at great cost. Bounties were paid At
the rate OF $500 or $500 per man. advances made
pay and local and State bCunties added the whole
amounted In some instances 10 over s., 600 Tor .
be referred to hereafter. 1t therefore becomes
necessary that some means shoad be devised to
time OF war. The people woGid not object to the
payment OF suitable b0nnres ami making proper
government could certainly secuis ms services when
required.
the lakes should be registered. aud means taken 70
secure their service to the country, on some settled
terms, In time OF war. s
take occasion, in this connection. to draw aitsn-
tion TO our mercantile marine, and to urge some ac
ttOn by Congress to protect our seaInen from run.
ners" and land sharksn-terlns not Inapplioable 70
q class Of men engaged In iurnIsnlny seamen to
merchant vessels No class OF men are more cruelty
treated. TAe evil IL on the increase, and stuaple
remedy can only 90 furnished " national leGiSsa-~
ton.
the system adopted by law In England has the
eeof ss1 pr o. securing r their marine me
worst to seek service elsewhere The English law
TO which refer has been In operation upwards Or
twelve years. One effect or 1t has been to abolish
"b0arding and shipping masters" VINO shipped
drunken and worthless men. No seaman can now
be shipped In the British mercanllle marine unless
he can show an honorable discharge from his lAss
ship. This rule s strictly enforced Under the ope-
" .eaving our merchant ships ana seefing service
abroad, where they get better pay and have better
association. % THIS s 2 matter Of great impcr.ancs
as well as the material from winch we are 70 draw
BY adopting az far as practicable system Of regis.
try and enrolment for actlve aud reserve seamen,
induced, need be, by hoeral periodical advance
furoughsh and pensions "lons service honors''
and ratl0ng, and b0untles when necessary, we may
do much towards the speedy restoration Of the per
sOnnel Of our navy, and by adutns 10 THIS regular
system OF training Tor petty officers aud first class
seamen its ancient prestige aud giory may be main.
talned and increased.
NUMBER OF MEN.
Great inconvenience mas been experienced rom
the restriction Of the number OF men Of all glasses
IN the service 70 5000. THIS number was required
TO man the ships In commission, and, hampered
by the law, the department cou,d not provide men
RI IA rAad for a.lh frouU hoA tSS
be discharged before those wno were to take their
place couid be enlisted; and ships oruered nome from
their stations before the manning aud organization
OF those which were 10 relieve them.
The loss OF efficiency through tls Is readily seen,
and the inconvenience Will DO severely felt II
the number OF our ships In commission Is increased.
The estimates for the next year made on the
basis Of ~ 600 men. as me smallest number for the
that tns increase will be authorized.
INTEROCEANIO CANAL.
The great importance OF the construction Of ship
canal across tho lstnlnus OF Daren mas been con-
stantly before the attention Of the department. Now
that the Suez canal has been oocned IOr naylratlon
douoy stimulated " sucn enorts as VIA lead
to the success Of our own great enterprise. 1t 10
scarcely necessary TO ofer argument upon the value
OF such work In ats effect upon commerce. and,
through commerce, upon civiiza throughout the
world The public mind fully accevts and appreciates
It's value. But we have reached the utmost limit OF
utility In the mere study and discasslon Of the sub.
ject. The time has come Tor ac.ou III the 1ed and
we are wen informed az to the direction which this
should take
The successful surveys hitherto made on that pars
the north and the province OF Cnoco on the south
nave furnished us with valuable Information. Several
oi these nave been accompanied Dy projects for An
nteroceanic canal wnicn nave beep for long time
before the world. The best evidence OF their INABILITY
70 command public confidence u tnat not one Of them
mas been carried into execution, although several
excited bopean were received with avor 1t Is clear
therefore, that until we know the whole ground,
we shall never be able to determine the best route.
When that route is known the thorough exam
nation OF the ground Will alone settle the
question OF Feasibility far that question depends
upon cost. IL would be matter Of lasting regret II
the people and governmenC VI the United States
were anticipated In this great work InvestigstUns
should be at once commenced aud directed 10 that
part OF the lsthmns Of which we are still almost
wholly ignorant
The department Is preparing plan or immediate
operations under tue appr0prlatol here 0iore made,
BY which, II Is hoped, vauaoie results will ba OBJ.
tanned during the present season.
the nrst report OF the officer IN charge Of this sub.
ject II herewith submitted.
ADVISORY BOARD.
At the last session or Congress o bill was passed
through one house. but acted upon in the other.
ACTON o Ins suess or u expef 90 ssvsw srs
regard 70 tae building, furnishing and equipment Of
Ny attention mas been directed to tina subiect ana
am OF OPINION that some system OF the kind pro-
posed would be OF great value the Information OF
the secretary on matters putey professional and ioS
the purpose Of harmoniz,nR aud couce entratlnQ the
work ol the various bureaus lnese, under the sys-
tenn OF independent action formerly pursued. were
often antayonstio In their lucas and not urfre-
quently came into direct c0nlict with each other.
rue provisions OF the bill rersrred TO- with some
general notifications al TO the composition OF the
BOARD and the manner OF Its appvl aLsnent would /
think, meet the wants OF tue departments on this
subject.
The board should. however, be wholly advisory,
AMI without the power oil interfering with the action
of the Executive or his Responsible representative
RELATIVE RANK.
The subject Of relative rank in the various corps Of
the naya service Is one OF muoa interest and some
ullhculty some ol these corp5 are dissatisfied with
ther position under the law AZ it now stands, but
there IL no power in the department. 90 change this
even should the proprety OF action be admittea
Dy I'll. Rank can only be hXed Dy law. This sub
Ject, involving at the same time many considera-
lions OF discipline efficiency aad ieeling n now
pressing for wise aud dispasslonate legislation nav.
ing Ia view only the best interests VI the service
board composed Of officers of high rank and
long experience, representing equally the various
personal interests involved, mas been con-
sttuted by the department TO consider and