The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-03-21
THE CASE OF CAPTAIN JoUETT.


THE SUNDAY HERALD has always set its
face against the demoralizing practice of pro-
noting officers by favor instead Of by SEMI
ority, or in its stead, by some ineligible
system of ascertaining and rewarding merit.
The Navy has such a system in the exami-
nation which every officer is required to un-
dergo as preliminary to each step in rank
and which tempers the seniority rule with
certain amount of selection. At the close
of the Civil War there was great difficulty in
rewarding all the officers who had done GAL
liant service, without injustice to others
equally brave, faithful, and deserving, but
whose opportunities for distinction had been
less. This difficult question confronted Mr..
Secretary Welles, and it is no disparagement
to his successors In Office to say that he knew
more about the Navy and the comparative
merit of its officers than either of them.
After such heroes as Farragut, Rodgers,
Rowan, Worden, Winslow, and Cushing had
been advanced for conspicuous conduct in
battle, it was found that to 60 on making ir-
regular promotions indefinitely would denor-
| alize the service. Secretary Welles therefore
procured the act of 1866, which while it did
| not "preclude the advancement in rank
(now) authorized by law for distinguished
conduct in battle, or for extraordinary
" heroism," was intended to settle for good
the relative rank of the officers of the Navy.
II was enacted to afford means of disposing
of the whole question which would be more
generally satisfactory to the Navy
than the promotions advised by the
Board of Admirals convened by the
Secretary to advise him in the matter.
Secretary Welles found that had he adopted
the recommendations OF this board without
other action, nearly one-half the officers in
the Navy would have been suspended or
have lost rank. In letter addressed 10
Secretary Robson in 1870, reviewing the
whole question, the venerable ex-Secretary
says, " | could not willingly see any of these
"true and gallant men, after years Of faith.
"ful war service, suffer loss OF rank, which
they would consider degradation. lie
therefore procured the legislation of 1866,
promotion under which was intended to take
the place of that recommended by the Board
of Admirals. Under this act Captain
James Y. Jouett was given an absolute ad-
vance Of one grade, was put forward forty
nine numbers on the Register, and advanced
over the heads OF nine Of his seniors. Be
cause casualties have disposed of these min,
officers, Captain Jouett now argues that h'
has received no reward, and, on the strength
OF the Report of the Board OF Admirals, which
was superseded by the legislation of 1866
asks TO be jumped over the heads Of seven
teen more of his seniors.
II is only reasonable that there should b,
an end some time Of the disturbance OF ranl
growing out of gallantry in war. II the au
thoritiss most familiar with the circum
stances cannot be induced to bestow tn,
proper reward within a reasonable time, il
would be better that injustice should b,
suffered in individual cases than that rela,
tive rank should be forever liable to b'
broken up whenever an ambitious or ag
grieyed officer can get the ear of the Execu
tive or of Congress. But Captain Jouett'i
case is not one Of hardship, for It Is evident
that his claims were fully considered by
Secretary Welles and his own Admiral, Far