Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-04-27

country read the official documents, which
accompanied the meAage IF the proficient
to congrels on the inbjeet of the French
Corvette lie Berceau, three of which are
hereunto fabjoined, numbered from one 70
three. twill be remembered that theie
documents were furnlihed with extreme
reluctance, and only procured by the ex-
ertions Of the conlfitutionalifs, latter every
pollible embarrailment was oppoied 70 their
production.
The letter Of the Secretary OF the navy
Of the roth Of December, 1900, number
one, which directed the nay Agent to
purchafe the Berceau, expressly directs
that he is rot TO be repaired. Thc Pur-
chaie itlelf was undoubtedly proper, as the
law of March IL, directs that al the ma
tional fhips of war captured ihall be the
property of the United States, and ali O.
ther armed chips Of inferior force to the
vsasl making the capture, hail equally be
divided between the United States, and
the captors. And as the judge of the
Difrief court, where the Berceau was
condemned had directed the fale, it became
necedary, tor the purpofe of preventing
a lofsl TO purchafe the veRsl for govern
ment. But as fhe was not then wanted
for immediate isrvice, it was equally
proper to direct, that fhe honld not be re-
paired. It may likewile be obferved,
that as the Rerceau was purchaled before
any conditional ratification OF the French
Convention it was with propriety, that
the purchafe money was paid, from the
Navy Fund as Che was then deligned for.
the naval feryice and could only be de-
liyered to the French government conGf-
ent with the law upon the final ratification
cf the convention.
This purchale and laying up of the Ber-
ceau, was the aa of the former admin.
nifration, but no fooner had the power
paaed into the hands Of the prefent miBif-
try, than different courie was purified
The fec. of the navy, by his letter of the
10th March, 1861, number z, directs the
navy agen t. deliver tie Corvette to the
French Agent under the treaty. Ard in
his letter Of the 1T ofApril, 1901, num-
Der 8, he directs the agent to put the vef-
Eel in the fame Gtuation in refpeef her
armament, Sc. as lhe was in at the time
Of her capture. Under this lait order the
Berceau was repaired at the extraordinary
expence of 37,S3e, 81 100. And this
large fun was taken from the fund which
had been folemnly appropriated for the
fupPort OF our own navy. Indeed the
copper, cordage, canvas, powder and ihot
which had been purchafed for our own
ihips, were taken from the public arlsna!s
and appliedto equip and decorate a French
corvette.
This tranladion requires nc. comment;
it remains for an impartial public to de-
eide, whether this has not been, a grofs
Multiplication Of public money, commit
ted in the infancy of the prcfenr admin
ffration, and by the very men who were
loud IN their clamors, againa the former
administration for exceeding the particu-
lar items Of appropriation, in cafes where
the public fervice absolutely required it.
We here find that the fund for oar navy,
and the public arienals, can at the will Of
the prefent administration, be diverted
from their definations and applied to tie
execution of favorite convention. If
fuch things are done in the green tree
what will be done in the dry
Nc. I.
sser<tayyefibr May oS. H;ggmlsus5 CO.
Der. 70, 1900.
I have the honor TO requef that yon