New-York tribune., 1870-04-30
II : NAVY.
THE JOINT REsoLUTI on VOTE OF THAMES
NOTE FRO A COMMANDER.
Tr,h

THE JOINT REsoLUTI on VOTE OF THANKS-
NOTE FRO A COMMANDER.
TO the Editor The Tribune
SIR: In THE TRI NE of April s. observe
your comments on the Jnt Resolution introduced by
Mr. Anthony, TO rega the "efect OF vote OF thanks
to officers OF the Nav As one OF the interested,
although still onlyay ng commander, will you allow
TO put you right ne points.
Admiral Godsboroug he had not received a vote OF
thanks, would have be- some years ago the retired
list as would be also q, her Admiral Now there
be doubt that Il "yote OF thanks TO these two
persons was intended that OF the country, and that
the country intended the expense. But II these
two had not been "thsI d." Rogers and WnsOw would
have been Rear Admira about year instead of az
the present time Iti yident then that the vote OF
thanks was given by ounry at the expense Of thes4
latter officers But IL two in their turn retard the
promotion of two other some cases, COmm0dOres VIA
be retired Commodor Md Captains VIII never Derro
noted because by this IT rdaton they will be retired be
fore their turn comes areul calculation shows that
at least one commander be in similar position. Al
most without exception ~ me thus affected served IN
or commanded the very ps, that the battles thai
raised the cheers that ted the people that encour
aged the servants that lde the laws, that the
thanks, that now punisc EN- for fghung So Wtil. IN
other words the fleet Of law OF thanks "a u stood
Is 10 encourage officers n TO work too hard fight too
well unless they rommiI ieets. II they win victory,
and earn thanks for the nandng oneer, lts eHet on
them is 10 stop their o. promotion, and to take rom
their pockets (rot the rnmentsJ tho din renee OF
pay aud hand il officers thanked Tie system
Absolutely sets back the hole navy list too IN such
way that but few officers i'll ever be on the active st
OF Rear Admirals an or months, unless they
have vote of thanks In ny own case although tis
odd years distant, matters now stand shall be l1a'
Admiral Gf not drowned or killed by the enemy or ye!
low fever just about long enough u enable the tor "
make me Rear Admiral's suit TO he buried m but W
the effect OF the proposed joint resolution. sha he
Rear Admiral almost long enough TO wear on inc NJ,
gloss OF my acels pionths, long enough al iea''"
command a squadron. .,o,o.
per annim have made the calculation OF what VII
cost. viii you allow me 10 tell you that durs 'e eli III
tire 20 years in which th resolution may Operate ~
not cost that amount al OF what II does cost VeoFs
annum) more than two thirds OF the WDoe alouh, ,i
nlctng from the officers whose promotions hnNe M Uo ,
retarded You say the resolution VIII give 10 ,.eat
mrals on the active list II Will not make 10 hSt b,hy
mras IL eau make but Is at the outside ana prooaoy
only L. But this should be stated IN dHeIcn' v
wit that beside having 10 Rear Admiras as pSseeu Via
law the Government compliments TWO OF 't.o ~, an
would otherwise have been retired by leaving thnt then
the active list aud pay as honorary ~ an hd
miral yceAdmra Rear Admiral, To attehd " agins
terests OF "A country foreign station Win "a
under him It would with 80. We have So r NAM tSs
size OF our Navy No one who remembers tne UNI Sov
that encountered when we had no AaI AdIsh hsea,<
the ordinary courteses frequently refused ast
we had only Captains where other nations naa a "'e
ofcersw say ought TO abolish these @ half our
MIR. Editor, sailors that live on the sea n'u ,s.t
lives cannot command eloquence ana wri,e we eap
ing these questions, but we can rememIen anu nt 20 thu
feel. There is many among us VINO wei. "snx
war leaving little family circle ana came pis,ion
nothing on his hearthstone but ashes ana 9esV shasr-
many man has fought with heavy load on nis sams
with the knowle ledge of the loved ones suffering.
there were who had sadder histories than my pn,sg,
desSroe Dd t they yda0rT s0R if lad thought Of
thing have guilty OF such cheap gloflh and
heroes theni To us the her'ase o. r children We
cannot make fortunes Do not hinder us then mich
Ing reasonable time to tho only other rewsru
hope offer To Us. 4" ~
Washin"L'" u g.. 4prA 70. ls'o