The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-03
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
Hom the NJ Y. Express.
THE NAVY

There is a general expression of disapprobaiion and
regret at the course which the House has seen nj 10
adopt in reference to the Army and Navy appropria
tons This regret is felt the more deeply as Respects
the Navy--a branch OF The service whicn every one
regards with deep and lively interest," and which under
IN, auspices of the present able and interchangeable Sec
rotary, we had hoped to see placed upon that high
footing which the interests and honor OF the country
imperaiively demand. There was hardly paper In
the MON but aIpauded the able suggestions and en-
arged views o. Judge Upshur al The opening Of Con-
gres and the prospect OF necessary reforms and more
liberal policy al. coated in that admirable report was
hailed every where and by all parties with satisiac-
lion. The interests OF the navy were there presented
in their true light and the Importance OF extending TO
the service the fostering hand of government with a
Lberai.y commensurate with the demands and growth
of the counlry, were SO orciby argued that Il was
hardly be supposed Congress would be wanting in
disposition 10 afford the necessary means 10 carry
out their views We believe in all sincerity, that the
House has grossly msrepresented public opinion 10
striking out the million Of do lars from the navy pili
They have thus given blow to the prosperity Of the
service, which, if concurIed in by the Senate VIII Do
productive of much evil and that OF no temporary
character Ii is not merely the temporary lnconven-
elce of inadequate provision for the year. OF wh en- we
complaints is merely that by this Withholding OF
supplies tha workshops are closed and the timbeis
left to rot upon the stocks, IN which Consists all the
evil All this may be remedied in future by a more
liberal appropriation But this is service which Pc
culiarly requires that there should be instability or
Inconsistency legislation step like this touches the
feelings and interests Of the whole corps of officers at
tached to the navy, the effects Of which extend lar
forward, and the consequences OF mistake here II
will be found difficult to remedy. The course taken
by the House is peculiarly unfortunate one at the
present moment All the officers recently appointed,
and ia fact all the junior officers, wi thus find them
selves virtually cut off fiom any prospect Of promo
ton for many years; the expectations and hopes with
which they entered the service will undergo cruel
disappointment and under sense Of the injustice
with which they will have been treated by their coun-
try, it will be difficult for them to infuse into their ac-
tive duties that ardent, buoyant spirit which animates
the bosoms Of men who feel that they serving a
country that will not be unmindiul of them This is
fact hich should not be lightly regarded by those
who desire to our gallant navy what 1t ought to
be, and what It most assuredly would be, under a
policy of legislation and control liberal and just
TO all
Our growing commerce, too, requires GROWING
navy. Into whatever seas our enterprising MER-
cHANTMEN carry the name and the flag of our coun-
try, there too, our MEN-oF-wAR should occasionally
be But il is needless to multiply arguments
the Importance the necessity, indeed, of efficient
navy to this country. There are thousands of unan-
swerable arguments, and they too obvious to
need repetition
1t will readily be admitted by all that in the pre-
sent condition of national finances, economy should
be studied in all the departments of government but
we can hardly suppose that the necessities OF the
Treasury such to demand the large reduction
contended for in the army and navy estimates. 1t is
urged, indeed as reason for the proposed " re-
trenchment,' that abuse, improvdence, and waste
have characterized the expenditures in the nava
service for many years But surely these abuses may
be corrected without diminishing the strength i'm
pairing the efficiency Of the navy.
While we thus very much doubt the wisdom Of
the House in the course it has taken in this natter
and which we hope and trust will be met with more
enlightened view in the Senate it may be matter Of
question whether the House were altogether actua
ted by wrong view Of the wants of the navy alone
Upon this point we quote the Baltimore Ameri
can;
IL the honorable members of the House who vo
ted for the extraordinary curtament have been in
huenced thereto by conscientious motives Of duty
they will be inwardly fortified against any expires
sion of disapprobaton which their unexpected
course may call forth. Nor, in such case, would W,
be dispo,cd ~ si,o uttot auOo any. The right o
such independent action, upon such principle, W,
would award to others as promptly as we woult
claim it for ourselves. If, however the action o
the House has proceeded from desire to embarras
the Administration, or from unwillingness to co
operate with the Executive in measures suggeste,
by it, without regard to the real utility of such sugges
TORS the disapprobation which such wanton pertina
city must provoke, will fall with emphatic weigh
upon the heads of those who most deserve itn