The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-13

foner Is yet very mpericctly and nadeq uately pro-
eso,eu, anu much, very much, remains 10 be done
aiu -, we are admonished 10 push reductions vgo-
: Iou.'y' How Is II upon the Indian frontier Are
We 70 nave perpetual peace there3 Look at the re.
oommshdaons from the proper departments for militia
poss barracks forts &c in that quarter Inotice that
Tue uosefnor OF Arkansas in his late message the
legislature complains loudly of the neglect Of the
General Government TO provide suitable protection
.he frontiers Of that State and intiaies pretty dis
nciy that Arkansas will take its own defence into
its own hands Is this then, suitable place for Vi
gorous push" for reductions And upon the lakes
anu the niagara frontier, there is loud call for de-
lences, but who needs IL The subject is not even
considered by Congress. Every thing Of public inn
potance, Of national benefit Is abandoned, in obed
ence % the Secreary's recommendation of the vigo
rous work Of reduction
Then regards the Navy. Who that looks at the
imDeciliiy which has long marked its adminstra-
uon Is surprised its present deplorable condition
Ships decaying, condemned and broken up because
they are beyond the reach Of repairs for OF early
ana seasonabie means. Read the report of the Navy
Commissioners this subject. The larger portion
OF our vessels to be divided into Two classes
those NJ for repair" and those not fit. Two ships
o. Inc line are now lying, and have been for long
ume unable to be repaired for want of dry dock at
view ork, which has been SO repeatedly urged and
Of which the Commissioners say that al the cost Of
million OF dollars il is measure. of true economy
and OF very great advantage with reference the flu
lure repair and employment ofthe Navy" have no
douot OF the correctness of this opinion For want
OF IT. these two ships of the line will eventually be
condemned and broken up, and their places supplied
at all, will be supplied cost fully equal to that
which would construct the dock How many others
are destined to share the nglorous fate for the
same cause no one foresee And vet the Score
tary OF the Navy, for or other makes no
alluson to the subject. The Navy Commissioners,
with the characteristic holiness of their profession
are not restrained by any such timidity WHY should
we abandon the Navy, which has been our protection
aud our pride in better times than these when patriot
lsm had some claims upon those of party ?
why see 1t sinking to rapid decayl Rather let us
sell II under the hammer-save something from the
general wreck Sell it to some foreign Government
which has the ability and the disposition to keep il
self IN an attitude OF security and defence Let il
still ride upon the waves of the Ocean where has
before rode in triumph, rather than be buried in its
sands or strewn upon its shores, proofs Of imbeci
lty and our poverty Other nations with which we
are likely to come IN collision, if ever again
driven to hostilities pushing, not vigorous re-
duction, but vigorous improvement and increase of
their naval strength, and especially in steam ships Of
war, while we are doing comparatively nothing |
have already spoken Of the niserably insufficient
amount estimated for the increase of the NAVY this
year One hundred thousand dollars only--to com
plete TWO steamers now in process of building; TO
commence another, which has been already authorz.
ed; to complete the frigae Congress, to collect ma
terials for another frgate in lieu of the Guerrero
which has just been condemned and broken up, and
to bear the same name and to build Of the small
vessels authorized by act of Sd March, 1887, which
has been hitherto omitted Gin consequence of the in
sufhciency OF the appropriation And for all this the
Secretary of the Nav has so restricted the Commits
sioners, that only 100000 be spared for it. For
long series of years past the standing appropriation
tor the increase OF the Navy was half million Of dol
lars annually, and for years a million. Now
indeed, under the injunction to push reductions Wig
orously is thought onefth of the sum will be suf-
i fcient. This is the condition in which those who
have had unchecked and unlimited control of public
affairs for twelve years leave these great interests
This is all they have to show for the
/ nj pht fhar hny x.lal AL
when they are about TO surrender the power which
they have SO long welded and to hand these bro
ken and PROSTATE institutions, TO be rebuilt and
established in manner worthy Of the country and of
the age they begin TO cry out to push the reductions
vigorously" Sir, have frequently heard in this Hall
and elsewhere, of late years, many predictions Of
speedy hostilities with England. Alarms have from
time - time peryaded the country on this account ;
and have heard many gentlemen display excessive
patriotism in denouncing the wrongs which we have
received from that powerful nation. For myself sir
have no apprehension of, and desire for, hostili
ties with Great Britain. know we have received
injuries and am deeply sensible we, have been kept
out OF our just rights by most unfounded pretensons
All these matters still rest in negotiation and, the
President assures US, are in favorable train Other
counsels to prevail and indulge the fullest
conviction that rights will be asserted and our
just claims indicated with abilityand spirit which
must lead to favorable results But of those who think
otherwise, if they do not wish it, and have expended
their patriotic usons in inyecves upon supposed
1
put their own country in proper posture of defence
i How many of them are willing now to vote the
sary TO place the Navy in an attitude of only
tolerable respectabiIity Observe sir what misera
bly, inadequate force has lately been ordered to the
East Indies where have many mill ons of commerce
aoat at time too, when the peace of that whole he
misphere is in imminent per-the smallest and poor
est rgatc in the Navy and small soop of war only;
and why is this, except from this financial policy of
pushing reductions vigorously 2" Indeed, such was
the embarrassment of the Treasury, that the vessels
insufficient they are delayed near three weeks,
| as | am told, for the want of means The circum-
stances of this furnish another illustration Of the
allacy Of the assertion which the honorable member
from New York (Mr Barnard) combatted by many
proofs that 'a demands upon the Treasury had been
promptly met " and another illustration, too, of the
energy and prompude which characterize the pro-
ceedings ofthe Navy Department.
! have understood from very good authority that
in the preparation for this cruise the purser of the
frgate had laid in supplies TO the amount Of thirty
thousand dollars and that he wanted twenty thousand
more to carry with him for the purposes of the cruise
/ He had been requested by the Navy Department TO
delay drawing for this amount long possible, in
consequence of the inability of the Treasury TO fur
nish the funds. He accordingly delayed until the
vessels ready for sea, and then drew for fifty
thousand dollars, five thousand only forwarded.
The merchants who had furnished the supplies be-
came uneasy, and resored to legal process to obtain
/ payment The purser arrested and committed to
| Jail from which he released only upon the
surance of Commodore Downes that the vessel should
not sail until the affair adjusted. The Depart
ment finally furnished the money and, after conside
rable delay, the frigate sailed its cruise. These
| facts not within my own knowledge; but have
received them from gentleman in the Navy who had
agency in procuring the release of the purser,
and who was acquainted with all the circumstances.
should not repeat them here if | had not full conf
dence in their correctness This is but illustration
of the effects of the policy recommended by the Secre
tary, of pushing reductions vigorously" Sir, | do
not desire to see unnecessary extravagant appro-
priations nor, above ALL wasteu expenditures of what
has been appropriated That is the great evil of which
we have had hitherto much reason to complain
il Tho C