The principle you suggest cannot be put into practice.

"The principle you suggest for my consideration, though if it could be introduced it would work well, cannot in my opinion be put into practice. It would contravene too much pretension rooted as well in the human heart as in unconquerable prejudices of the military state by which expression I include the naval department. Carrying in the very fact an avowed preference humiliating to the pride of the superior officer and reversing the order of antecedent relations, a cheerful submission could never be obtained. The alternative you mention is the proper expedient and a very necessary one it is. It will be happy if Congress can be induced to adopt it."