The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-30
CONGRESS-.

In the Senate, Friday the bill to authorize the
construction at Washington, of depot for charts
and instruments of the navy of the United States
read third time and passed.
The bill regulating enlistments in the naval SER
vice of the United States and the marine corps COM
ing up for consideration
Mr.. CALHOUN inquired whether, under this bill
negroes could be enlisted.
Mr.. BAYARD replied in the affirmative; but he
presumed that the Government we're not going to or
der the enlistment of negroes.
Mr.. CALHOUN said that they all remembered the
case of Lieutenant Hooe; and therefore he wished
to make exception in this bill, that negroes
muattoes should be engaged except for the purpose
of servants and stewards
+. Mr.. BAYARD, who reported the bill, suggested to
the Senator from South Carolina the form Of phrase
ology; but he did not wish to be understood ac-
cepting of the amendment. However, he desired
that the Senate should vote upon it.
Mr. CALHOUN said that from what had trans
pired in the case of Lieutenant Hooe, the fact was
obvious that it was wrong to bring negroes into the
service of the United States Those who sustain the
honor and glory of the country should not be made up
with that degraded race.
MIR. BAYARD remarked that the case to which
thu Senator had alluded was of testimony alto
gher and might be regulated either by statute or by
regulations of the Department.
Mr.. TAPPAN could see no reason for adopting
the amendment The employment of negroes in the
public service had never proved injurious. Then,
why not leave the matter it had stood heretofore
Our national vessels might be in position where
white seamen could not be procured, and necessity
might require the employment of blacks. But he
conceived that negroes and mulattoes would not be
engaged, if it could be avoided.
Mr.. PHELPS had his fears that the incorporation
Of the amendment in the bill might prove detrimen
hl to the public service. During the late war, the
class now proposed to be excluded from the navy,
was of great service He would mention one instance
In 1874 when Macdonnough fitted out his fleet on
Lake Champlain, he found it extremely difficult to
procure white seamen and was obliged to employ CO.
lored and the occasion of his splendid victory,
the greater portion of the sailors under his command
were black. If war should again occur, it would
doubtless be necessary in fitting out our fleets to re-
sort to the course pursued at that time in this part-
GUAR and he had sort of doubt that the result of
different from what it was, if the employment Of mot
ley and speckled crews had been prohibited. We
were indebted for this victory to the practice
of introducing negroes on board of our armed
ships He thought that, if the amendment
should prevail, it would injure the service,
without producing a corresponding benefit
1t was doubtless true that the Department would
prefer white persons; but if they could not be pro-
cured, he could see reason why the practice OF
the Government, as it had been from the beginning
should not be continued and he saw no reason why
the service should suffer from the prejudices of
portion of the people of our country If there should
be any difficulty as to the competency of the colored
sailors for witnesses, it would be subject to be set
tied by the Department or by Congress; and it had
no connection with the amendment which was now
before the Senate.
Mr.. CALHOUN said that in some portions OF the
country negroes prohibited from certain employ
ments-whte laborers being preferred; and should
nothing be done to prevent blacks rem entering the
Navy the service would, for the greater part, be
placed in their hands. The Navy should not only be
plexon, and having the interest of their country at
heart.
Mr.. ARCHER remarked that it appeared to him
that this was small NATTER and he trusted that it
would not be magnifed into great one. small
number Of blacks only would be excluded by the
amendment; and for that reason, as well as with a
view to indulge the Senator from South Carolina he
would give to il his support
Mr.. BENTON expressed the opinion that the
arms of the United States, by Ian and water ought
to be borne by the white race.
MIR. YOUNG said that if there was necessity for
employing cnlored persons in the navy, let them be
hired as was The in the western country, where
there was labor to perform.
Mr. BAYARD felt satisfied that no further enlist
ments of negroes in the naval service would take
place, except in cases of emergency
Mr.. SMITH, Of Connecticut, remarked that this
amendment insulting to two or three OF the nor
thern States and especially to of them which had
passed law making it penal offence to draw a dis
tincton between the condition of the blacks and
whites.
Mr. CALHOUN repeated his call for the yeas and
nays.
Mr.. BAYARD hoped that they would not be in
sisted on and that the subject would not be increased
to one of vital Importance.
Mr. CLAYTON observed that, since we
have been nation, negroes and mulattoes have been
enlisted in the navy; during the Revolutionary
and the late war, large number of this class were IN
the service of the U nted States. There was great
difficulty, at times, in procuring real sailors; and IN adj
diion to the incident related by the Senator from VT
he would state that shortly after the battle between
the Frolic and the Wasp, Captain Jones, of the Wasp
informed him that great proportion OF his sailors
were negroes, and that he had not better fighting
men on board of his ship. Then, why alter law on
this subject which has so long existed Why change
it? If they wanted food for powder, there was none
better than negroes and mulattoes. Negroes were
GOOD sailors and had as much health and strength