The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-12

nation and support of Navy exercises upon the
fortunes of the aborng classes 1t is only exercise
necessary TO examine the structure and equip
ment of single ship. The carpenter, the
blacksmith, the weaver, the rope-maker, the
painter, all have their respective shares of bene
fit, to say nothing OF the land owner, who fur
nishes the timbers, the iron master, that sup
plies the iron, the founder, that casts the guns,
! the powder-maker, that furnishes the powder,
and host of subordinate artisans. Some per
sons have objected to the amount asked for by
the Secretary for the restoration of this arm OF
the service, which has literally fallen into decay.
Who is to Judge of the sum required for the
object, if il be not the head of the Department,
| and what possible interest can he have In mis-
stating or exaggerating2 We have always
thought that the great object of having an Exc
cutive Department is, that the persons ntrusted
with its administration might have better OPP
portunity of knowing what was necessary TO be
done, and let the Legislative branch know what
provision is to be made. If, as it is its province
to do, in examining into the items, Congress
shall find any thing put down at too high an es-
innate, the error should be corrected, but il is
confidently believed, that not marline-spike is
asked for which is not necessary, and this point
being ascertained, the next and only thing to be
done is, TO supply the means. The simple ques-
ton to be decided by Congress is, whether we
shall have Navy or not. If the national com
merce is TO be protected, and our shores are to
be defended, there must be no chafierng about
the dollars and cents required for the OBJ
ject, inasmuch as TO say that we cannot afford
to do IL, is to say that we not able to exist
as an independent Government.
word about the proposed change in the or
sanization of the Department, and, as inciden-
tai to it, the formation of board of officers,
consisting Of two from each rank to draught
rules for the government and regulation of
the service. This board, if we understand the
| matter, is only to be appointed for short time
and for specific object, which object being eff
fecled, the duties Of the board will be at an end.
The selection Of officers from each rank is pecu-
liary desirable, inasmuch as it nsures repre-
sentation of the wants of every grade, from the
mdshlpman to the post captain The existing
rules have always peen unpopular, because they
were supposed to have been framed by senior
officers, who were thought, perhaps erroneous
y, TO have had aeaning in favor Of the higher, to
the injury of the lower ranks. We do not al
lege that this has been actually the case, but
the mere suspicion that it is so, is of itself
sufficient to destroy the efficiency of the
rules. 1t is believed that the Secretary Of
the Navy has at present the authority
TO call around him the officers, and to
constitute board for the purpose but
if it be his desire, he says it is, that
Congress shall give the weight of its sane
ton to the proceeding, why should it not be
done? Whatever may be the differences Of
opinion entertained by the People, in regard TO
the measures proposed by the Administration,
it is believed that so far as the Navy is con
cerned there is but one voice. No matter to
what party men belong, they all agree in think
ing that the Navy is to be cherished as the great
palladium of our national safety. 1t is to the
Navy that the merchant looks for protection
when he sends forth his all to foreign lands, and
it is to the Navy that all classes of society turn
their eyes, as the bulwark which is to keep from
them the horrors of invasion. Such being the
case, can any sum Of money, however great
that may be necessary to the object, be regard
ed as misapplied2 Certainly not, and it must
be borne in mind that whatever sums may be
required nop for re-modelling the department,
and placing the service on proper footing, the
present application Of it is TO prevent immense
future erpense Let the thing have good
start, and but little will be required to keep it up,
whereas every day delay makes the evil great
err, and it will require corresponding increase
of expense to effect a cure. In forming their
opinions on this matter, it would be well for
members Of Congress to visit the Department
and commune with the Secretary, whose urgent
duties confine him TO his post, and who, we
know, will be most happy TO furnish every in
formation as to what is needed. For this
purpose, .fuH and free personal interconl-
nsunication is absolutely indispensable, as
it cannot be effected by correspondence There
are a thousand things that suggest themselves
in conversation, that cannot be thought of at
any other time. Besides, see how the matter
works. A resolution is passed by Congress,
. calling for certain information. The Secretary
goes to work to comply with the requisition, but
days and sometimes 1ceeks must eapse before
the details can be collected and put in form to be
reported and during all this time the clerks are
kept from their current business which, conse-
quenty, is neglected Now if the thing were
done by conversation with the Head of the De
partment, all difficulty and delay would be obvi-
ated Results are what Congress wants, and
an intelligent mind will pick up in one hours
talk with the Secretary, more than all the clerks
could furnish in detailed form in half year.
We have said that we know it to be the wish