The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-06-29
From the Washington Globe.
THE NAVY.

From the Washington Globe.
THE NAVY.
This portion the public service has been the
subject of much aninadverson in Congress du-
ring the past week The extraordinary appro-
priations demanded by the Secretary for naval
expenditure. takenin conneXon with the sudden
increase of officers, have aroused the attention
of ofCongress to what always.ought to nave oeeh
matter Of the deepest concern. This great arm
of national defence ought always to be the pccu-
liar care of the national councils; because it Is
through it, principally, that the General Legisla-
ture must perform its great Office Of protection to
the Union The Safes control, to asgreat ex-
tent much Of the military force of the Union
that which must always be its principal strength
on shore-the militia. Dut. the navy is the Pc
culiar power through which thesaFederal Gov
eminent manests its grand attribute every
where, in giving security to our commerce in
peace, as well as in war-in protecting our Cit
les from conaagration, andLour shores from nva-
sion. In TRUTH the nayyissasmore efficient Or
gan even in the diploglac8g the General 60
: vernment. Our Governnlentis seenabroad most
gimposingly in its naval eqnipmenE and for all
these reasons and because IL is a force WHICH
threatens no danger to the liberties of the coun-
try nor Tyranny even 10 individual citizens, it
has ever been favorite with the Americanspeo-
pie. 1t was, therefore, anyiouslya fostered by
the late Democratic Administrations The pay
in the service was raised few years since, great
lyabove that Of the British navy and the Demo-
cratic party took pride, in2ths way, TO give proof
to the navy and to the world that it appreciated
the gallantry which had so signally trumphcd
over the naval prowcss which claims the seas as
its right by conquest. The Democratic Admin
istration then in power not only approved, but
urged, this national liberality. The Globe ad-
vocated the measure in advance of the action
Congress; and the increased pay, so far from be-
ing grudged by the people, was nailed as an hon.
sorable tribute to those who deserved more than
money from their country.
The late manifestations in Congress show that
the popular sense will not, with all its partiality
for the navy, tolerate a system which would
make it a sort of retreat for sinecurists. The
great multiplication of officers recently-the
swarm of midshipmen just fastened upon il, with
out prospect of employment for those already
schooled for the service-has excited apprehen-
sion that it was to be turned into source of po-
ltical patronage; and thousands of loiterers,
wearing the insignia of the navy, thrown upon
the country,sto serve only as the partisans ol
those who gave them pay without employment
Such a corps of.idlers might serve to sing ho-
sannas to their patrons, but could notssfai to
bring into dsrespute that hardly, adventurous
navy, whose brave exploits had crowned it with
renoWn. ss4 --G SF
The American people, ever active and indus
trious, cannotsbeart to feel that they provide for
luxurious Incidence out of their hard earnings.
They take the highest qualification insseeing
our old mmodores-whose bravery in bat
tie, skill in tactics, invention, and steamships,
. and exactness in Discipline, have covered our
flag with glory-enioying, in their old age, ease,
aff1uence, and dignity. They are willing to emp
ty their purses TO see hard career of glorious
patriotism closed in the midst of comforts and
honors, but they cannot bear to see the young
and healthy wasting their lives in riot or indo.
lence, at the public expense; and this must in
evtaby be the case, when multitudes are
brought into service where there is employment
e only for few.
Tie Deaabcratic Administrations acted upon
: the system of allowing the veterans to take sta
: tions on shore, where their experience and char:
acter would be most available in the preparation
Of our ships, and the youngest officers, who were
to command them, to fulfil their destiny. 1t
was great object with both the late Admins
tratons to provide distant and useful service for
our marine, that it might be constantly engaged
in the exercise of those faculties which must be
calledto protect the nation in time of war
Hence the expedition wassfitted out. Hence the
chastisement of the Malays. Hence our trea.
ties with remote, and, until then, unvisited ma.
tions, by our warlike ship [rhis was the true
mode of keeping up the character and populari.
ty of the navy. Mr.. Bayard who distinguished
himself, during the late debate, aby the zeal he
expressed ihts behalf, paid an honorable tribute
to his political opponents. When replying to
Mr.. Woodbury., he said that his administration
as Secretary had been both wise and efficient
Mr.: Archer paid him asstill higher compliment
when he said that Mr.. Woodbury. had better
knowledge of the service than thessmepnbers on
ther side of the chamber. This exferteah hom.
age to the information, wisdom, and efHciency Of
the individual who led the way insthe@policy Of
= the late Administration, by their opponents and