National Republican., 1880-03-15
Cnntnin JnunIpa Cnse.
WAsHTNeToN, d. G., March IA, 1880.
Z LII AZ n

WASHINGTON, ID. u, March Ia, lS5O
To The Editor of The National RepaJlican:
SIR: Captain Jouetts claim to advance
ment, as SGT forth in his pamphlet of May 15,
1870, is based upon n singular msconception.
His complaint is, not that he has been inado-
quately rewarded for his services during the
late war, but that he has never been rewarded
ut all. This is an error. The Secretary of the
Navy in urging his elevation to the next
higher grade-commodoro-s states that Captain
Jouett now stands no higher in rank than
others of his date who have, rs he has, reached
their position by general legislation. This,
too is an error. Tho act of July %, 1866, was
passed for the sole purpose of rcwarding those
officers whose conspicuous services merited it,.
The passage of the act was the solution of an
embarrassing aud difficult problem, enabling
the Government to bcstow honor where
honor was due without upsetting the entire
Navy list. by this act the numbers in each
grade were so increased as to admit Of the
promotion of meritorious officers. The law,
by its own terms, required that the increase
of grades should be "made by selection from
the grades next below of officers who had rom
derod most efficient service during the late
war;" Such were the conditions under which
"A certain fortunate set of officers were to re-
ceive recognition for their gallant conduct
during the war Captain Jouett was one of
tho fortunate ones selected under the law for
advancement to the next higher grade, rs one
of those who had rendered most efficient SER
vice during the recent war" and he was ac-
coraingly promoted from the grade of lieu
tenant commander to that of commnnder,
going over the heads of Low Law, Frank
lin, McCauley, Mitchell Gibson, Majan, West,
and Young, all of whom had been up to that
time his senior in rank. He jumped over the
heads of more officers by his promotion than any
one of the sixteen he now proposed to jump,
H., al, ,fT T,,, Al,
1t was perfectly well understood at the time
these promotions were made, and so under
stood now by all save Captain JOuett alone,
that this promotion was made in lou of all
other reward for meritOrious services during
tho war;
As Captain Jouett's claim rests upon the u.s.
sertion that he has never been advanced in
rank for his war services, and rs that ussor-
tiou has bcen shown to be incorrect, mani
fcstly his claim Is not good one. Moreover,
the fabric Of argument contained in the Sec
rotary's memorandum, depending entirely for
its support on the statement Of Captain Jouett,
necessarily crumblos to pieces when the utter
illlacy of tho statement Is exposed.
There Is another grave error committed
In this case. Secretary Thompson says
in his letter to Hon. John s. Williams, for.
warding the memorandum, that for his gallant
services Captain JOuett wae nominated for ud-
vancement to tho grado of commodore: and
on page of the memorandum he says the
nomination is made in accordance with Sec
tions 1906 and 1907 Of the Revised Statutes.
But the very next section, 1908, provides that
an officer TO be advanced one grade must have
received tho hanks OF Congress. As Cap.
tain Jouett never has received the thanks of
Congress, it is plain that tho Secretary of the
Navy proposes to advance him contrary to
law. There Is still another phase to the ques-
tion. Captain Jouett claims that the Board
of Admirals in 1865 recommended him to bo
advanced thirty numbers But Of the sixteen
captains he proposes now to jump, six were
also recommended for thirty numbers. What
right has he to jump those six2