Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-21
rwENrY-sRvENrH CONGRESS-.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Correspondence of Tho B.nisDore Pairot.
wAmneros. June ~, 1872.
UNITED STATES SENATE.

UNITED STATES SENATE.
NAVAL BILL.
Mr. ARCHER, Of Virginia, introduced bill max
ing provision tos the reorganization OF the Ma
Wy OF tho United States. The bill was twice
read.
On motion of MIR EVANS, the Senate proceed
ell to the consideration of the special order
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL:
The amendment pending at the adjournment las
evening being the amendment oil MIR Evans e
strike out from the clause relating TO the payment
OF officers and seamen, s335,ooo, and insert $780,
600.
This amendment led to protracted debate, in
which Messrs. williams Evans, Woodbury., Hun
tington, Crittenden, Buchanan, Bayard, Archer
Cuthbert Benton, and others participated; when the
question taken by yeas and nays and decided
IN the affirmative as follows:
Yras-Messr.. Archer. Barrow, Bates, Bayard.
Bsrrieu Choate layton Conrad, Gratis Critic nden,
Evans. Graham, Huntington. Kerr, Mcrrck, Miller,
Phelps Preston, Rivcs, Simmons, Smith, OF Indiana,
TalImadge, Woodbridge-23.
NArs-Messrs. Allen, Bagby, Benton, Buchanan,
Fulton, King, Linn, McRoberts, Mangum, Sewer.
Smith, OF Conn, Sturgeon, Tsppan. Walker, Will
COZ, Williams, Woodbury., Wright, foung-i9.
MIR WALKER then moved the following amend
mont:
"Thot no part Of this or any existing nppropr-
ntion shall be applied to the payment Of those sp
pointed beyond the number now in service"
MIR w. said there not n Senator that voted
against the provso in the Senate who did not admit
the necessity OF limiting Executive discretion in the
matter.
MIR SEWER said the only objection he had TO
the amendment was, that while the b, permitted
great abuses far captains and ieutenants were
concerned, they sought to check It whore boys were
concerned.
Mr. CRITTENDEN would like to modify the
amendment, IL the Senator from Mississippi would
admit t. by inserting something like the following
Provided That until otherwise ordered by Con.
gress the officers Of the navy shall not be increased
beyond the number in the respective grade that may
exist nj tho end OF the present session Of Congress
MIR WALKER did not think the modification
would reach the evil; he would, therefore, prefer
that the question shoudb lie first taken on his amend
mcn,.
Messrs. BUCHANAN, SEWER and KING ex-
pressed their wish that the modification should b,
received.
Mr. WALKER consented to withdraw his amend
ment, reserving TO himself the right to offer his
amendment IN cnse that oil The senator from Men,
lucky should fail.
Alter some further debate the amendment OF MIR.
Crittenden was so modified to add, "nor any
midshipmen be appointed beyond the number now
IN service"
MIR ARCHER and Mr. HUNTINGTON adj
dressed the Senate against the adoption Of the
rnendment contending that the same in effect
that which had been struck out on the prior day.
MIR CRlTTENDEN replied, sustaining his
men1menL
When the question was taken on its adoption,
and decided in the affirmative, as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Bagby, Benton, Buc-
hanan, Crafts, Crtienden Cuthbert, Fulton, Ora
ham, Henderson, King, Linn, McRoberis, Mangum
Morehead. Sewer, Smith, OF Conn.,, Smith, OF Ind,
Sturgeon, Tappau, Walker, White, Wilcox, Viii
hams, Woodbury., Wright, Ioung-27.
NAYS-Nlessrs. Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard,
Berrien, Choate, Clayton, Conrad. Evans, Hunting
ton, Kerr, Merrick, Miller, Preston, Rives, Tall
madge. Woodbridge-l7.
MIR SEWER then moved TO add after the amend
ment Of MIR Crittenden, sand all vacancies of mid
shipmen shall be selected from States, Territories
and the District Of Columbia which at the time have
not their due proportion service, having regard e
federal numbers provided suitable applications have
been made"
MIR SEVER said all the midshipmen bad been APP
pointed from Virginia and Maryland and this Dis
trct, which had more than hall of all the num-
Der IN service. lie was for puttihg stop to this
He had been trying to have midshipman from hi
State, but without success.
This led TO debate, IN which Messrs LINN MER
RICK, ARCHER, and others participated; wheI
the question was taken and decided in the aflrma
live.
Mr. EVANS said he had desired to offer anothe
amendment 10 the bill, which was, to add half I
million 10 the appropriation Of two million for III,
increase and equipment of the navy, that wa,
the subject on which they had oil late had so many
petitions. From the course OF debate on the bill
however. he could plainly perceive that there would
be no chance Of carrying II, and therefore lac woul,
i9rbear 10 present H.
Nc BUCHANAN said there one other a
mendment which he desired to offer, to come in tn
I7th line relatng 10 the repairs of the navy var,
at Philadelphia, after the word dollars viz: "anC
for the purpose OF preparing for a marine railway
or floating dock, the President Of the United
States may deem most advisable, $4,000"
Mr. b. spoke in favor Of this amendment setting
forth that the vessels built there bore the best evil
dence of the skill of their mechanics. He dwell
also on the advantages TO be derived from the
struction OF marine railway in such position, as
we'll to the shipping interests as TO the admirable
and skilrul mechanics Of Pennsylvania.
The question taken the adoption Of
the amendment, and decided in the negative: Aye,
10, noes 10.
The bill was then reported TO the Senate nnC
the several amendments concurred in, when IN,
amendments ordered to be engrossed and the
bill read third time.
The bill Tor the relief OF Charles III. Anterior
was read a third time and passed.
After which, the amendments 10 the naval APP
preparation bill having been reported correctly
engrossed the bill read third time and passed
Ga motion of Mr. SEWER, the Senate proceeded
TO the consideration OF Executive business and after
time spent therein, adjourned OF about s
o'clock, p. NJ.