Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-03-14
POLITICAL.
Remarks Of Mr.. Pickens, Of S. c. on the
Nary Board, in the House Of Represen-
tutireS, Feb. IA, 1899.

heTQThS " ihf' tCheHS,oJ ~ 20 o' wv
Nauy Board, in the House Of Represen-
tatires, Feb. IA, 1889.
MIR. Pickens said lie had listened with
great attention 10 what had fallen from the
able and experienced gentleman from Mas
sachusel,s, Mig Adams,) as we'll as tro;:;
the eloquent gentleman from New York,
(Mr. Hoiiman,) aud he confessed that he
should have some difficulty in voting, at
present, for such measure as was propo-
sed by The motion ofrhe gentleman from
Michigan, (Mr. Crary.) lie regretted
that it was 100 late in the session to pre-
pare proper system for thsNnanagemenl
of The affairs of the Navy as substitute
for thai at present in operations; but as 10
the relative excellence OF The two plans Of
a Navy Board, as at present organized,
and naval bureaus, il ever an opportunity
was given Tor full and fair discussion, he
could not harbor a doubt that the House
would prefer the latter. His convictions
were against the present system. lie had
no prejudices against the individuals who
composed The Board. As 10 its political
complexion. the present was The first time
he had ever heard, either in public or 10
private, what it was, or the remotest allu-
sion to it. 1t certainly was not OF the
slightest concern to him. But he was oP-
posed to the system because it created a
division of res possibility. 1t was true That
in theory the Secretary Of the Navy was
responsible for the acts of the Board, but
every body knew that this could not, IN
practice, be the fact. He had the highest
personal respect for the Secretary; ne ad-
mired, in common with all his country
men, the briliancy Of those talents when
had shed so captivating light on The llt-
eralure of our country, and had won de-
served admiration from men of letters III
other parts of The world; and he felt more
especial gratitude toward him for what ne
had done toward vindicatins the instItu-
tons of theSoulh from un,neri'ed reProacI;
but still every one knew, and every can
did man must admit. that twas impossl-
Bile for him, or for any other who held the
place, to become personally acquainted
with the details of The service, so as to he
held in practice 10 real and personal re
sponsibility; it was divided between him
and the members of the Navy Board;
aud while this state ofthings continued, II
was impossible that any energy and eih-
cheney could be infused into the manage
men, of this important branch of our pub
lie service. Ii was impossible 10 look at
the system, and not a, once perceive that
there were inherent defects in it, which
were inseparabe from it. As soon as blame
was incurred, the friends Of the Commits
sioners laid il on the Secretary, and the
friends OF the Secretary OIL The Commis
sionrrs, and between the wo,there was in
reality no responsibility at all.
Mr.. P. would have system Tor the Ma
w similar 10 that which had been applied
10 the management Of the Army. He
would have heads of bureaus, whose du-
ties should resemble those Of The Com
missary General, Paymasers General,
Sc. He would have all ordinance bureau,
and a bureau Of construction, Sc; and in
these Offices he would place active and a
BILE young men, capable Of entering with
interest and ardor, into plans for improve
ment; and not veterans in the decline OF
life, with all the honors of past war upon
their heads. The duties Of such stations
never would be performed by old men,
They had preiudices which il was hope
less 10 remove, and which rendered them
averse to al. propositions for Improvement.
Their attachments clung TO The past; il
was the characteristic of age ever 10 es-
TEEN the past better Than The present, and
to dislrus, all innovation. The result of
placing the Navy under such control
was, that we were near half centu-
ry behind both England and France
in our maritime affairs. Let our vetcr-
an officers retire iu glory, ,and lei their pla-
ces he supplied by young and diligent and
enterprising men, who would be anima-
ted by zeal aud emulation, to render their
respective divisions of the service as per-
r.ct as possible. Put such men at the
head of the several bureaus, and make
all practically and really responsible to
the Secretary as their head. and let him
bear the responsibility of,he whole sys-
TEN 10 the county.
Mr.. i. said he could not agree Wild ihe
honorable gentleman from Massachusetts
(Mr. Adams) i'll his surprise that such a
should have proceeded from a
gentleman from Michigan; State almost
surrounded by water, and in immediate
contact with the noblest and most extern
sive inland seas in the world. If ever
we should be at war again with Great
Britain, our naval engagements were as
likely 10 happen on those waters as on the
bosom ofthe ocean. Michigan, therefore,
was as much interested in the good condi-
iion and practical efficiency of the Navy,as
any other portion ofthe Union.
He rejoiced that the subject had been
called up and discussed; and that the at
iention Of the country would thus be a
l.. 81 bof