Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-01-19
.latiuuaI Republican.

The LIne and star Of the Havy-cu.i
rIous Corresnsndenee = The star
are ''InsubOrdinhte''t 60 Mr.. george
W. HUNT. 49, u.
We copy tho following from tho New
York Tribune Of Mondayi Hcf r
The following ls the memorial 10 Con
press signed by gentlemen Interested IN the
merchant marine, TO which allusion has
heretofore been mades
TO the Senate aud House Of Representatives
Of ne United States of america IN CongytSs
assembled This undersigned, citizens Of New
York and vicinity, being deeply Interested
In the commercial prosperity Of the country,
and believing that any change which may
lower the standard Of discipline In the navy
must necessarily and injurlously react upon
the merchant service; believing, also, that
any equality Of rank with the captain Of
vessel, or any Independence Of his control,
on the part Of any other person whatever on
board the ship, is eubvorsive OF discipline,
and the fruitful source Of disorder and dis
aster; and understanding that the "stah
officers" Of the navy (yizi the surgeons,
paymasters aud engineers) are cndeavoring
privileges ns seem calculated to prove dotri-
mental TO proper discipline, and that thoy
are enllsllng the sympathy and assistance
Of their professional brethren. throughout
the country, we therefore deem Il incum-
bent on us, In behalf Of the safety and pros.
perity OF our national commerce, to request,
most respectfully, that your honorable body
will exercise tho greatest caution In tho
introduction Of principles In the maritime
service, which we apprehend may DO
fraught with so much danger TO tho public
welfare.
....-.. DpoHnpgH n. $50
To Geo. W. blunt, esq., NeD York-SIR
Tho above memorial, signed, under date OF
November 10, 1859, by yourself and any.
three other distinguished and influential
citizens Of New York, has been presented 20
the Congress Of the United States.
Your signature, and that Of the other
gentlemen associated with you, must have
been given under great misapprehension Of
the facts, which arc that, In every plan and
scheme Of staff rank which we have ever
presented, tho superior rank and authority
OF commanding officers have been carefully
protected, as essential to that discipline
which Is as much desired by staff officers as
by the other half OF tho nayy-facts we'll
the Naval Conmittees Of Congress.
We make this correction In the confidence
that you will doom II proper, either to with
draw your namo from the memorial, or TO
inform us on whose authority you have made
the statements contained in Il, which are 80
Injurious 70 US, and 10 which you have,
under obvious Interpretation, given tho
sanction Of your honorable name.
We are, very respectfully, your obcdicnt
servants, Surgeon GEO. CLTMBR,
And other STAFF Officers of the Navy.
New YoRK, January u, 1870.
Surgeon Geo. CiVmsr and othsFs, a. h. N:
GENTLEMEN l have received your eircu-
lar, with the memorial addressed to Con-
gress, In relation to the bill before that body
as TO the rank OF the staff Of the navy, In
which you ask mo to withdraw my name, or
give up that Of the author Of tho document.
Denying your right to make such a de-
mand upon me as an infringement Of my
liberty OF FREQ action, will say that took
part In getting II mp on information from
one Of the ofiicsrs OF the navy Of the highest
personal and professional standing, that
believed In the necessity Of the memorial
then and do now.
Had any doubt existed In my mind as 10
tho propriety Of my action Il would have
been dispelled on tho receipt OF your memo
rial, as In my view the sentiments Of insub-
ordination conveyed In the demand made on
the Gigners Of the memorial, shows the ne
ces6ity Of great caution on the part Of Con-
gress In leglslatlng on this subject.
Respectfully yours,