The New York herald., 1870-01-13

the 'Act TO defne the number and regulate the ap.
pointment Of ofcers in the navy ana ior otnor pur,
more more than ppSsou Two years. after the law 6i April
1854, the only law on this subject WIN when
humber OF each grade, relieved the department.
or IT'S most serious cmbarrassmcns ana avoided the
degradatlon OF large NUMBER 9, wo.uy ocers csn
they ought not. without fault 70 DO deprived You
make no ausi0n to this act OF lS00 and seem not to
be- aware that It's enlarged provisions, with the rec
| Concentrations OF the Board OF Admirals, was the
basis of my action and enabled the government 70
s,Ss soSS as s isss Mas enacted invited
| Admiral FaTagut to Washington and with him
took up and revised the whole register having the
proceedings OF the Board VI Admirals and the rec
ORD OF every olcer before US. No other officer was
| summoned on this OCCASION. for desired TO avoid
all lavortism anu combinations such as have some
times afflicted the navy. More than twenty years
previously, when chief OF u naval bureau, l hnd
sona favortsms in the service. and there indi-
the evll.
Admiral Farragut was at the head OF the service
ana had never been connected with any Of the
cques aud combinations which had afflicted 1t, and
which had labored with some success TO eradicate
knew ms impartlaty, ms devotion TO the true in
terests OF the country and the whole navy that he
was Tree nom fayorlsism or preudice and that he
was sale ana reliable counsellor who wanted
United states many and not personal navy. With
hum went through the entire register, canyassed
ton OF both of us to do equal and exact Justice to
ALL not that expected to give satisfaction TO every
As the responsibility OF the promotions was with
me, ana as IN some instances knew OF services
rendered with which he was not acquainted, acted
on my own convictions, In conformity with hts ex-
pressed WISH ana our mutual understanding before
the register was taken up. Whatever errors.
therefore, were committed, ! am responsible
Tor, and not Admiral Farragut I mention
the fact OF consulting that distinguished
oiilcer In the nna revision Of the promotions
because your report makes no mention OF 1t and
conveys a false impression OF the whole subject.
regretted that the time allotted us to accomplish
this work after the passage OF the act OF 1868 was
so brief; but 1t was near the close or the session,
and only three days were given Us to make the re-
view. The promotions and adyancement3 thus made
continued undls'urbed while was In the depart
mont, except in one instance, when the battle
record or the officers did not reach the department
until after tho nominations were made and con-
hrmed.
You state that some OF the cases affected by this
acrion nave already been acted on by the adinns
tratlon," ana urge this as u reason why you should
"De authorized TO appoint board OF oficers' in
order that leach CASE may be properly judged"
perly judged" is made without any knowledge OF
the facts for when called upon for the proceedings
oi ot the le B1asa @ OF IA Admras is aamsd yon have
suitauon with Admiral Farragut at the close.
AS TO appointing board OF officers to re-examine
subject that was disposed OF nearly four years ago
yon have the authority to convene sucn d board
without Congressional action and the board can re-
pmey Executive nor eaSa,ve sns er az tae matter
action was taken nor any board or Officers con-
yened In the ceases already acted by the admins
tration." such board at this day would create
discomfort and afford an opportunity for master
spirit to exercise Partially and form clique devoted
to his personal interest II so inclined.
am aware OF Dut two cases which have been
'actcd on by this administration" That you may
have the full benefit OF the action in these cases.
shall give you the facts OF each, as they have been
made exceptional
.ta CAPTAIN IT, r IL Stevens had fair war record.
although his efl1clency may have been sometimes
impaired by his habits fact " whicn had It's indT-
ence with the Board OF Admirals and with the de-
partment also when the promotions were under con.
a m hp ada
OF commanders when the Board OF AdmiraIs was
convened and they recommended not only that he
should not be advanced but tnat he should be put
back one number on the list and be registered No.
25. But l, instead OF reducing him In rank below
"a was enabled by the act OF 1868 10 advance him to
l0. He was one who considered himself "unlllstly
treated" and he applied to Congress for redress.
HIS case was referred to the Naval Committee, who
examined the subject and reported against him.
Congress concurred IN that report. Last spring the
President, Notwithstanding the proceedings OF the
Board OF Admirals, the action OF the Navy Depart
ment, the adverse report OF the Naval Committee
and or Congress- promoted him TO higher position
on the list OF captains.
The other and the only other ofAcer who has been
taken from the position assigned him and In like
manner promoted Is Captain Thomas Il. Patterson, a
orotner.ln-law OF Vice Admiral Porter.
Captain Patterson was No. rs on the register as
commander. Tie had no battle record and the
reduced TO rank No. 2s. advanced him to No. IL.
These two officers were last spring taken from their
position on tne register and promoted smulta-
neously over eighteen captains, most OF them exem-
pary. efficient and gallant Offlcers with honor
able record for heroic service. l am aware OF no
reason why exceptions should have been made In
favor OF these two officers. They constitute |
believe the whole OF what you call '.surne OF the
cases. which have been already acted on by the
rnls letter has been drawn from me in conse-
quence OF an application from the department for
anu 0f the use which has been made
OF my reply. had not proposed, nor do now pro- |
pose. 60 comment on the numerous errors which
Instances, to reflect on the previous administration
or the department. Some OF your statements are,
tonabe as the paragraph in relation the advance
lnent Of officers. Without any general review duty
to myself requires, perhaps, that should, when
writing you, advert to one or two points. Among
the subjects which you make prominent Is the
amount OF work which has been accomplished IN re-
pairing vessels changing their character and giving
Inem ship rig and the great economy resulting
therefrom as compared with what you call the
''od systemn You fan to state, however, the
amount Of money which has been and is being ex-
pended to effect these changes. We both know 1t
exceeds by millions the appropriations made by
pending money When Congress has refused to
make appropriations we have differed. Congress
was was informed by me OF the condition OF our yards
and vessels, ana that repairs were needed; re-
fused to appropriate the funds for these repairs
would not after this REFUSAL invade the Treasury In
defiance or the legislative branch OF the govern
ment, and take unappr0priated funds. The repairs
and reuiments OF vessels was consequently limited
% the few ships required to MAINTAIN the squad.
aud ! IN my annual report In December, 1868,
protect vessels and other properly At
our navy yards duty prompted BY economy and dictated
be wholly suspended the ships which have been com
menced and yet unfinished but they should be completed
and gradually launched and brought into service they
be wanted. If properly protected they remain the
,tocks for years without injury after the bulls 6ni.hsd
repaired and placed in an efficient condition Hus and
% sisa s sapa
o
which have been commenced, aud protecting
ing facilities tho good order proper condition
and efficiency the navy yards navy
respects the public interest has suffer
neglect refusal make sufficient appropriations
the purposes herein Indicated and recon-
nended that such omission DO hereafter avoided
had, three years ago, seen the disposition to cur
tail naval estimates and appr0priatons without dts
and to prevent injury to the public SER
vice In consequence OF Withholding the means ncces-
sary for needful repairs l. on the 14th February,
1s6s addressed special communication TO tho
naval committee, urging while reduction might be
made Ia some appropriations that appropriations
may be made for repairs, III accordance with the
estimates furnished nd.co5ed my statement with
the following remArkS:-
have deemed II my duty to call your attention. chair
OF the Committee Naval Affairs 10 the mpolicy Of
nparng and gripping the public service proposed in the
approximation committee. The