Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-10
REMARKs OF MR. MASON,
OF OHIO,
O. tAs bH making appropriations for tA' narsi ser
vice Cor the year is4a.

uo,., n, R,rRs.ssrArIvEs, May rs, lSi2.
Tn. House being in COMMITTEE Of the Whole on
IN. stat, Of the Union, and having under eons'dera
ton item No. I OF the bill making appropriations
for the naval service for the year ls42 IN the o'
lowing words, viz.
"For psy Of oommls.oned warrant anu P''"
AMI scams q, %, laS.s asa ~
which u.m MIR MsRIwErHER had moved 70
nv striking out that sum, and inserting sS''''V'o
AZ, MASON. OF Ohio, said that Il was always
,,i,h unfeigued reluctance that he auenP'eo W Z"
v.re IN the debates Of that BODY, anu ne 'eN 20 20
t;coiarlv unwilling TO intrude hlmseu on u'e w
OF the committee at that timei oul Us "" Hy IA
be.n reported from the Commi"eo OF WY auN
Ne Of which he .sas a member, ana as pro-
n,s.J "A considerable increase IN inc a"oun' W
re,d;,ures for this branch OF the puohe set'Se, o
vond the estimates, or appropriations " 49,
yc.,s he felt constrained, by sense OF puoho guy,
yea',, w - .on,,o,ents he entertained in regard
20 IN. ,uesion of increasing our naval
ns recommended by the President ana , -
the commencement Of the presen. sessio" "
e,e.s In presenting bill TO the douse "hien p'o
go. in conformity with the estimates su"'n''eu
- Conrre,s by the Treasury Department, 70
;oc,.,s. the usual sum heretofore apProptla'eo 10,
IN, nnyal service, the committee OF way anu
Means. il may fairly be supposed, "es' !" so"e
deeree Influenced by the consideration 'ha' JUS
,,ce 10 n new Administration seemed 10 require
,h., the measures Of public policy wh'eh nao
been deliberately adopted and recommenueu "
the Executive 10 the consideration OF congress
and the country, ought whe'hsf na' -,
received the appreciation Of inc couhtns1e ~
NOT 10 be submitted TO the Judgment OF INC
Uonso And il was upon this principle Mr. Al.
s,idI that he had been in favor oil reporting 'he o
20 the House. Notwithstanding It proposei mueh
larger appropriations than had oeen customary
granted for this branch of the puolc service. re
did not therefore feel himself, preeudeo, oy inc
L. h.d ken rs n member OF the COulHhNtes
from questioning the policy oil a large anu SuuuVn
increase of our naval establishment; ana especaiy
when he considered il in reference 10 inc
stale of the Treasury and the diapldated conuIton
of our finances. Mr. NJ. thought i could scarcely
no necessary for him TO say that he had ever oeeh
n fast friend TO the navy. II had H'efally iovsh.
itself into favor and, by series oil tue most o''
achievements had won the confidence OF the nation
lie hoped never to see its popularity dechne, OF w.
growth and efficiency impaired And nothing, IN
his opinion, would be so likely TO produce mat
result as the iniudicious efforts OF mssud ien1s
10 increase il beyond the admitted wants OF 'hs
country in time OF peace. -, ,
,ent Of war biishment, the cost of maintaining
would be felt as burden; and whenever II becomes
10 be felt as aburden, it will, he feared, &c viewed
MS an object OF jealousy, and public opinion VIII men
demand reduction. 80.
On the contrary, gradual increase OF this arm oil
our national defence, corresponding with the growth
of the country and the increasing wants OF trade
and commerce, could never be seriously felt asa
burden and il would therefore continue to oe cher-
jshed as the pride and ornament of the nation. MIR.
NJ. said he was unwilling, without very eosent rea.
sons arising out Of foreign relations, TO depart
suddenly from line of policy that had received the
sanction Of the country and the appreciation OF all
parties.
In time of unexampled pecuniary distress, and
with an exhausted Treasury, the Executive had
commenced, whether wisely or not was question
that might safely be referred TO the decision OF the
country tho enlargement OF our naval establishment
and had recommended the policy prosecuting It IIl
the naval force of the United States should be equal
10 one half OF that OF Great Britain.
TIC illustrate the progress Of increase, the fol
lowing statements have been compiled from ofrcial
sources; which, il not exempt from error IN every
particular, will it is believed, be found TO approx
mate very nearly to the truth:
Amount Of estimates for the general service Of the navy
FOR the year lS2 exclusive Of the sum required Tor the
Marine Corps and In addition 10 balances Of former az
preparations $685..
Amount estimated for the Marine Corps 5O<,<92
Balance Of former appropriations remaining on
hand the lat January, lSi2, and applicable 10 -.
the service Of thatyear &9oo-o9i
Making aggregate Of available means pro- .