The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-02
p @ S T S G RIP T.
washington.
Correspondence Of the Herald

Washington.
Correspondence Of the Herald
WASHINGTON, Feb. %. 1872.
Senate Proceedings-Naval Promotions-Ths
Cilley Duel-The PipeIaycrs.
In the Senate. this morning, a communication was
read from Mr.. PIERCE, resgning his seat Senator
from New Hampshire.
After the presentation Of petitions and reports from
committees, tr
Mr.. KING introduced on L ave, resolution autho-
rising and requiring the Postmaster General TO audit
and settle the accounts of George Whitman, con-
tractor for carrying the mail between New Orleans
and Mobile; which was read twice, and, after a
few explanatory remarks by Mr.. X. was. by order,
enQrossed, read third time, and passed.
Mr.. MAxouM said he felt himself under some obi
CATION 10 call up the resolution which was laid on
the table at his instance touching the investigation
of the affairs Of the New York Custom House. On
his motion the following resolution submitted by Mr.
PIERcE, was taken up and read, viz.
Resoed That the Secretary ofhe Treasury be direct
ed to communicate to the Senate copy Of any commits.
son other authority issued for the purpose Of
eating the affairs OF the New York custom house. and the
law under which the same issued Also copies of all
missions that he furnish the names Of the commission
the times when they respectively entered upon their
duties, and where said duties were performed and how
also state the fact whether the commissioners first ap
pointed made report, either verbally in writing,
and So why has not been made, and the reasons Set
forth BY said any, and which of them
for the appointment Of anew cemmission that he also
report in detail the expenses with copies OF the vouch
ers) that have directly Indirectly arisen in the exc
cuton Of said commission, the names Of all parties en-
plsyed and how employed, and the allowance made to
EACH including ell items of incidental expenses and
from what fund such expenses we're paid. Also the
number and names Of witnesses examined by the com.
mssioner whether the COMM ssion st continues and
hoft boC
and who are employed by them And also to
report copies Of all letters made to
from the Treasury Dep artment on file there in re
gard any affecting the course Of proceed
ing by said commissioners or the acts alleged to have
been done by them or any Of the persons in their en-
Mr.. MASaUM submitted an amendment to come
in at the end, which was read as follows
ss IN
vice to be nvestigated7 Whether including both
the late and present Of that branch Of the
public service, and all the orders upon the subject
Whetherany order communication, other intimaton
eountermanding thorough investigation Of the present
way giving or indicating direction of the
proposed, has been given 10 said commissioners or 10
any Of them and to furnish the Senate with such
orders correspondence and the report letters or CON-
munications, from said Commissioners any
Of them to the President Secretary Of the Treasury
and the replies orders consequent thereon to the said
commissioners either of them touching in regard to
said investigation or the object oft"
Mr. WoopDuaY stated he had conversed with the
mover of the resolution before he left the city. and
he had expressed himself IN favor of the amendment
of the Senator from North Carolina.
The amendment and the resolution as amended,
were agreed to. rsat.s
The Senate took up for consideration the resolu-
ton heretofore submitted by Mr.. MzR RICK joint
rule Of the two Houses, providing that no amend
.ment which proposes to appropriate money not call
cd for be-, l.xv hall ho
adopted in either House as an amendment to gene
raj appropriation bills and before completing action
on it. the morning hour.expired.
The orders of the day brought up Mr.. CLAY's reso-
Iutions to amend the Constitution, and Mr. CALHOUN
spoke in opposition until the hour Of adjournment.
Mr.. Cars resolutions relating to the tariff and
matters and things in general, are to come up to-
morrow.
A number of naval nominations were sent to the
Senate to-day-thirtytwo commanders to be cap
tains thirty five ieutenants to be commanders, forty
two passed minshipmen to be ieutenanta. This
seems large promotions; but we understand that the
demand for the service. particularly for ieutenans,
will not be supplied, even by this addition. The
officers of the latter class, with hardly exception,
are now duty, and more are required for the ships
about to be put in commission. The general feel
ing in Congress is favorable to the navy; but the re-
CONNIE ndations Of Mr.. Upshur seem to have start
led some of the members, and fears entertained
that they cannot be carried into effect. 1t is to be
hoped that no nggard notions Of economy will be
permitted to hwar the patriotic purposes of the ad-
minisra,ion in this matter The people do not view
the navy with the jealous eye of parsimony. They
are willing TO pay for a maritime force, adequate
alike to the protection of our commerce and the
honor of the nation. The second commercial coun.
try in the world, our navy is Insignificant and
centemptible in point OF size, when compared
with that of England or France. We have
Just force enough to invite aggression, without
the power TO repel it. The views and sug-
gestions Of the intelligent and able head of the De-
partment have been misconceived and misrepre.
sented He asks for nothing but what the interests
of the country imperiously demand, and if the mea.
mres recommended shall be defeated, or postponed
by portion in Congress with view to discredit
the administration of President Tyler, the people
will know whom to hold responsible.
Mr.. Wise's temperate, manly, and able letter in
the .lntelligencer Of this morning respe citing the
Ciley duel, is almost universally regarded here as
perfectly conclusive to the character of his cor
duct in that unhappy affair. II is impossible to see
how any man of ordinary candor and fairness can
doubt that it was judicious, discreet and humane
throughout Mr.. Wise was guilIles-free from faint
or stain ;.neither was Mr.. Clay to blame uness for
not exering directly and energetic ally his ac-
influence over Mr.. Graves to prevent
the duel. But the truth is, both Mr.. Wise and Mr..
Clay expected The affair to have been arrested by
the civil authorities through the fundamentally of
Webb. And so it might have been but for the unpar-
alleled and pig headed stupidity Of the man. Webb,
either desired the fight to ofthat he might ac-
qure notcriety by bength subjec, Of duel without
The risk ofbeing shot, or he stufed himself in wild
goose chase after the daeIlng party to unexpected
and impossible places, when the smallest exercise
Of sagacity would have put the police their track