The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-03
10
ss,IOO,sO4 SO
T. l.. SMITH, Register
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Registers Office, June 2, 1912
CUTTING DOWN THE NAVY.

| CUTTING DOWN THE NAVY.
| In almost every paper we open, we find ex-
pressons of indignation at the conduct of the
House of Representatives, in cutting down the
estimates for the Navy. Several of these arti-
Giles which we intended to insert, were necessa-
rily excluded yesterday; to-day we supply the
o mission, and, in conformity with the intention
which we have mentioned, we will transfer to
our columns all the articles on this subject
which we shall find in our exchanges.
/ II the opinions expressed by our cotempora-
ries, in almost every section Of the country, be
correct, it appears that Congress, in session Of
six months, has done but little and much of
that little it has not done we'll From the Civil
Appropriation bill, the contingencies have been
temporarily elected that their constituent de-
tails may be submitted to more elaborate scru-
tiny than the industry Of Congress could find
time 10 devote TO them in five months. In the
meantime the mechanics and other employees
OF the Departments who are paid out of the
contingent appropriations, must wait, perhaps,
until August, for the money justly due to them
on the first Of February The protracted sleep
of the contingent appropriations, is, we under
stand, subject of loud complaint among the
citizenssof Washington, and constitutes one
item of the little not done well.
In the Navy Appropriation BILL the estimates
sent from the Department, have been reduced
million Of dollars. OF the policy, expediency,
and economy Of this act of apparent retrench-
ment, the full expression Of opinion which APP
pears in the papers, in almost every section of
the country, would preclude the necessity of
any comment Of ours, were we even inclined
to obtrude ourselves between the me nbers of
Congress and their constituents. The interests
of the Navy are at least as well understood at
distance as they are in Washington. That
they are so, we need no other proof than the
intimate knowledge Of the subject, and the
vigor OF argument, exhibited in the articles
transferred to our columns from distant papers.
If the retrenchment which has been applied to
the Navy, be deemed injudcous by the consli-
tuency Of the country, and present indlca-
tons manifest the unpopularity Of the measure,
those members, who have been its most active
advocates and ardent supporters will suffer the
penalty incident to Representative delinquency
If this retrenchment, is alleged, is not only ex-
pedient but necessary, the case must be made
clear to the People. To this tribunal Of ultimate
, resort we leave the decision Of the case
! The Army bill is yet TO undergo the same
I ordeal, but lis fate is not yet decided in the
, House of Representatives. We forbear any
remarks on the subject, till we how it escapes
from the trial.
The neglect of the Apporionment bill in the
e early part of the session, forms another item
: in the catalogue of faults which have brought
Z upon the present Congress the disapprobation
S of the People. When taken up it was discus.
:. sed with due diligence-but that whichsthc
r country thought should have been done early in
5 the winter, is yet under consideration at the be-
0 ginning OF summer
Much yet remains to be done. In fact the
a only important measures requiring the mighty
5 exertions of legislative wisdom yet sleep in the
n Committee of the Whole. The middle O
e july, which has witnessed the final adjourn
y ment of the longest sessions, is not far distant
j. Will not Congress be made sensible of tie dis
$ satisfaction of the People at their datory pro
L ceedngs-be stimulated to do that quickly which
e remains to be done-and strive to do il in man
II ner more in accordance with the wishes Of til,
/ People?