New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-23
.FAvAL DIsoRsaANIzATIoH.

naval warfare; upon which the naval
powers of the world at once began new
style of naval architecture, to still fur
Their demonstrate those principles SO sue
cessfully inaugurated by the navy OF the
Republic. ...-.....
The new feature of covering the sides of
the ship with iron thick enough to resist
the heaviest ordnance, and the introduce
ton of steam as the motive power, also
caused an increase of the personnel of the
corps of engineers, and to secure the
efficiency of the ship in action these Off
GERS were necessarily of high order of
professional knowledge. These officers
superintended the construction of these
vessels, and equipped them in every par
ticular excepting ordnance. At sea their
efficiency depended entirely upon the
skill and attention of the engineers to
whom, under the commanding officer, no
small debt of gratitude is owing for our
varied successes. In the dim future we
have also to look to these same engineers
if we would see our navy successful and
the pride of the Republic.
During the war, through Farragut, who
recognized their value, they were properly
rewarded with rank fitting their station
and duties in common with the other
staff corps, viz: surgeons and paymasters.
Farragut had attained the highest posi-
ton in the navy, and while enjoying this
mark of gratitude bestowed by the people,
he felt and was above all petty jealousies,
and, actuated by his known Christian
spirit, he exerted himself to have the
rank confirmed by law of Congress,
which, in justice, had been given to the
various staff corps through his recon-
mendation. A board composed OF three
rear-ad mirals, in 1868. also recommended
this rank to the Secretary OF the Navy.
An order was issued by the latter official
comforting rank on the various staff corps,
the highest of which was that OF captain
in the navy. Notwithstanding the re-
peated efforts of the department to have
this order legalized, it was constantly OPP
posed by line officers, and for no cogent
reason which they have ever assigned.
The rank given does not authorize the
exercise Of military command, except in
their respective staff corps, and gives no
additional right to quarters.
Upon the appointment of Mr.. Borie as
Secretary of the Navy, within few days
the staff corps are overtaken by general
order No 120, now celebrated as most
unexampled in military or naval history,
which degraded and Inundated, at one
fell swoop, the whole staff, and most
unrighteously deprived them of that rank
they had so justly earned during the war
by the discharge of duties filled with peril,
exacting in their character untold hard
ship and answering patriotism.
Admiral Porter says the regulation of
the department was not law, and as an old
law gave certain rank to the staff (Which
generic term is expunged from the new
book of regulations), the reduction was
necessity. We are first to advocate
strict observance of the law, as we are
first to advocate liberal policy intended
to advance the interests of the Republic.
If any law prevents the staff from enjoy
ing the rank granted them for their war
services, it should be repealed, and the
order of Secretary Weller should become
law. We are opposed to all class dis
tinctions, and all orders of caste, which
seems to be a good deal implied by the
great efforts being made by certain class
in the navy to subjugate the staff. The
navy by this means must be undergoing
slow process of Reorganization, and by
the destruction of the bonds which should
make a harmonious whole, there can be
no guarantee that the work for which the
government pays will be well done. ,-...
The inexcusable haste with which this
scandalous order, No. 120, was issued,
stripping officers of honors and privileges
they had enjoyed for several years, looks
as if the element of envy and hatred were
pretty thoroughly introduced into the
navy, and were fit subject to be investl-
gated by the naval committees, at the
coming Congress, at which all parties
should have full and impartial hearing
If the staff corps have been wronged,
as it appears to us they have, let the
people make use of their power to correct
it. A wholesome naval discipline which
dees not in the least partakc of the char
acter of tyranny and perfect execution
of the details of the service becomes al
most certainty when each officer is an
swerable with his commission for the
proper discharge of his duty. General
Sherman says, 'this is the object of all
rank" It will not do to submit the whole
service to one class of persons if we wish
to maintain its purity, and preserve it
from disorganization; and there is nothing
like the discomfort arising from military
degradation, such as that imposed by
"order $780," to effect this dissolution,
and make our navy, as under Farragut,
worthless disorganization now.
We can see no reason for not giving the
medical staff Of our navy, for instance,
the same rank and privilege as is enjoyed
by this corps in the army, and then let
the other naval staff corps be modelled
upon this standard