The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-20
From the Phil Public Ledger.
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY AND
r. CONNODORE Elliot ....

The more we reflect upon the recent order of the
Navy Department against the importation Of animals in
national ships the more are we led to apprehend that
the Secretary Of the Navy. with facility unworthy Of
minister Of state, and with Of view which
IS grievous disqualification in the head OF Depart
ment has lent himself to the petty sptes and eaouses
Of few inconsiderabe individuals. We learn from
Of the papers Of other Cities that this order was
aimed especially at Commodore Elliott for importing in
the Constitution on its late return some valuable horses
and from the Mediterranean Ii we mistake not,
the Secretary Of the Navy will repent when late of
having suddenly abandoned the wise policy of his pre-
decessors office
While in the Mediterranean Commodore Elliot
ceived from gentleman of Baltimore, well known for
having established the first journal in the United States
exclusively devoted to the great national cause Of agr
culture, request TO import two males and two females
Of the best that could be found in the Meditera
IAN, Three of them to be for The applicant
and one for himself and highly respectable gentleman
OF Tennessee. This was followed by another request
from gentleman Of Kentucky, member Of Congress-
to import from the same REGION six males and six fe
males of the same animal Having before the orr
glnal letters containing these requests, in
doubt about the facts Besides these, he received
request from distinguished agriculturis of Missouri to
import some Arabian horses of genuine blood; and
though have not seen the original letter containing
this request, hold from the author, written
from Ohio, announcing 10 Commodore Elliot the arrival
of the horses thus far on their way to Missouri. All
species of stock TO the agricultural interest," especially in
the Western country. ".
Here then we find Commodore Elliott importing, in
the public ships horses and asses, the private property
Of himself and others, at the expense ofthe owners and
the question first presented whether he had the right
to do This question is answered by the Secretary
Of the Navy, who in his very order of revocation
tons the practice heretofore sanctioned by the Ma
Wy Department Whence originated the practice! Dur
ing the administration Of MIR. Adams Mr. Southland, Sc
creary of the Navy, issued the following general order
to the commanders Of ships and sqnadrons foreign
stations 1t will probably be in your power, while
protecting the commercial add something to the agr
cultural interests Of the country 10y procuring information
respecting valuable animals seeds and plants, and I'M
porting such you conveniently without inatten
ton oyour more appropriate duties expense to the
Government There are many agricultural botanical,
and scientific institutions, to which your collections
might be prohtaby intrusted, and ia which whatever
you procure will be used 10 the extensive advantage Of
the country Among others is the Columbian Institute
of this Washington city,
When this general order was issued Commodore
Crane commanded the Mediterranean squadron and
from him has it been transmitted, through all his
successors in that command, to Commodore Elliott
What has been the practice under this order I Com
modore Crane brought from the Mediterranean, in the
ship of the line Delaware, from Is to 20 ANIMALS Cap
tain Chauncey did the same in the Ontario; in the
ships from the Pacific were brought home the Lamas,
VIcunias and Guanacos Of Peru the Turtle of the
which was presented to President Monroe; Commo-
dorc Patterson, the immediate predecessor or Commo-
dore Elliott in the Mediterranean command kept his
ship one week Palma Maorca waiting for asses, and
brought home twelve; Commodore Jones, Captain
Skinner, and other commanders, did the things
and Commodore Elliott received positive orders to this
effect, directly from Commodore Patterson. Though
the expressed order Of the Navy Department may not
be older than the administration of Mr. Southland, yet
the practice is old the with Trpol, and has
| II, aE,i
the country and the gentleman who founded the first
Agricultural Journal in the Union. to whose letter to
Commodore Elliott have already referred, and who
officer Of the navy, says in that very let
ter, that he has frequently celebrated the patriotism
and usefulness Of naval officers, in introducing val
liable seeds, plants and animals from foreign countries
Such then has been the law and the practice, and the
next inquiry is whether Commodore Elliot has abused
it. He brought home. at his own expense, valuable
asses and Arabian horses which are now distributed
through the country for the benefit OF himself and other
owners and the eminent utility Of the agricultural inte
| rest large collection Of seeds and plants, which
distributed, gratis throughout the country and a
large collection of antiquities which he has presented to
various literary and scientific institutions. The Pres-
! dent and Messrs. Dlckorson Woodbury., Ponsett and
Forsyth bestowed great praises upon the animals and
strongly expressed their qualification at such yaua
BILE acquisition the agricultural interest and the
latter wished to obtain some of them for the south.
They are distributed through the States OF Penn
sylyania, Maryland Tennessee and Missouri, IN the
hands Of distinguished agrcutursts several Of whom
are members Of Congress. Baltimore paper has
said that these animals nuisance on board Of the
Constitution, ncommoding the officers and inurng the
ship, which consequently needed repairs. We have
high authority for directly contradicng each of these
statements, and we challenge the least proof. They
were so placed that they could be thrown overheard
Immediately, and the Commodore gave positive orders
| for this should necessity for II occur.
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