REGULATIONS-NAVY U. S. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRANSMITTING The rules and regulations (prepared by the Board of Revision) for the government of the Navy of the United States. DECEMBER 23, 1833. Read, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. To the House of Representatives : WASHINGTON, December 23, 1833. The rules and regulations herewith submitted have been prepared by a board of officers, in conformity with an act passed May 19, 1832. They are approved by me, and, in pursuance of the provisions of said act, are now communicated to the House of Representatives, for the purpose of obtaining to them the sanction of Congress. ANDREW JACKSON. NAVY DEPARTMENT, December 21, 1833. SIR: I again submit to your consideration the rules and regulations prepared by the Board of Revision, and reported to me last November, with the documents annexed, 1, A to D. In conformity with your suggestions, they have been further examined by the Board, and, after making such amendments as appeared useful, the Board now present them through this department for your final approbation. I am, sir, very respectfully, To the PRESIDENT of the United States. URY. No. 1. WASHINGTON, November 9, 1833. SIR: The Board convened under your order, in pursuance of the act of Congress entitled "An act authorizing the revision and extension of the rules and regulations of the naval service," have the honor to report their proceedings to the present date. The Board first met on the 2d November, 1832, and, on referring to the law under which they were convened, and which prescribed their duties, different opinions were entertained by the members in relation to the extent of the duties imposed upon them by the act; and the subjects were finally referred to the Attorney General for his legal opinion, in two letters, copies of which are enclosed, marked A, as is a copy of his answer, marked B. Upon the receipt of this opinion, the Board decided to examine the present law for the better government of the navy, and such others as related to persons employed in it, as well as the rules and regulations adopted in 1817, and to recommend such alterations, modifications, or additions as in their opinion the public interests required. They proceeded accordingly, and transmitted for the examination of the late Attorney General, the revised rules and regulations for the government of the navy, with the exception of the chapters relating to yeoman and pensions, which were subsequently adopted. These regulations were returned by the Attorney General with some marginal remarks; they were subsequently revised, and modified, in some instances, at the suggestion of members of the Board, and, in others, upon the remarks of the Attorney General. The majority of the Board having agreed to all the articles in the rules and regulations for the navy, they enclose them herewith, marked C. Forms, which it is proposed to annex, for the purpose of securing uniformity in the reports, will be presented hereafter. The Board beg leave, however, to state that the articles numbered 281 and 283, in the chapter for pursers, are predicated on the assumption that the pay of those officers may be changed from its present form. If those officers continue to be paid as at present, the Board would recom mend the two articles, which are enclosed on a separate paper, marked D, and having the same numbers, to be adopted as substitutes for those in the book. The Board have also completed their examination of the laws which relate to the government of the navy, or to persons employed in it, and of those to which their attention has been specially directed by you; but as those which had been transmitted to the late Attorney General were not returned by him before his resignation of that office, and the present Attorney General not having entered upon the duties of his office, they propose to retain them for his revision, unless you should deem it advisable to transmit them sooner, in which case they can be sent immediately. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, sir, Your most obedient servant, To the Hon. LEVI WOODBURY, Secretary of the Navy. JOHN RODGERS. A. The Board of Revision to the Attorney General of the United States. WASHINGTON, March 8, 1833. SIR: The Board for revising the regulations of the navy being of opinion that, in the association of marines with the navy, the harmony and efficiency of the naval service and the public interests urgently require that all marines, when employed in navy yards, should be subject to the laws and regulations of the navy, in the same manner as when employed at sea, respectfully ask your opinion whether an article to that effect can, with propriety, be introduced in the revised system of regulations upon which they are now engaged. I have the honor to be, With great respect, sir, Your most obedient servant, Same to same. JOHN RODGERS. WASHINGTON, March 19, 1833. SIR: The Board appointed under the act of Congress entitled "An act authorizing the revision and extension of the rules and regulations of the naval service," approved 19th May, 1832, request your opinion whether, under that law, they have the power to revise the act for the better government of the navy of the United States, passed 23d April, 1800. I have the honor to be, Your most obedient servant, JOHN RODGERS. B. The Attorney General of the United States to the Board of Revision, &c. ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, March 20, 1833. SIR In reply to your note of yesterday, I have the honor to state that the revision of the law of April 23, 1800, appears to me to have been one of the main objects for which your Board was constituted. The design of the act of May 19, 1832, is to obtain a complete system of rules and regulations for the government of the naval service, and you have the power to alter, omit, or modify any of the provisions now existing on that subject. Your acts are not binding until approved by the President, and sanctioned by Congress; and the code you are engaged in preparing is in the nature of a bill, to be submitted to Congress, and upon which they are hereafter to legislate. The principles above stated are also an answer to the question proposed to me in your letter of the 8th instant. If, in your judgment, the interests of the service would be promoted by subjecting marines, when they are employed in the navy yards, to the laws and regulations of the navy, in the same manner as when they are employed at sea, it is clearly within your power to introduce a provision to that effect, in the system of rules and regulations upon which you are now employed. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, |