Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-28

ants; OF which number ca we're on leave, waiting
orders; and how many Of them were on shore the
tables did not tell. The passed mdshipmen pro
NOTED to leutensnts received 81, 500 pay, and IN
isil 20 passed midshipmen were thus promoteo'
mourning the expense IN one single year oil SloSsSo
This only single item OF this system OF IN ow-
ing the country such vast expenses, and requ".
ing from the Secretary OF the Navy such increased
estimates.
What had led 10 this sudden and enormous in E
crease Of the nsvyf Il arose from the fact that the
President had heen unfortunate IN the materials OF
his Cabinet. He had appointed as his naval Sec >
rotary a visionary theorist. who knew practically
nothing about the matter-a man OF books. and ia~,
and politics. And he had graveiy recommended to
this nation the increase Of its navy, TIL shonld
reach half the size OF that of England! Now the
British navy contained 565 vessels OF war-a migh>
ty maritime force, which spread over every sea,
plundering the weak, oyerawing the timid, and car
rying violence and oppression to the ex,remites OF
the world; and, while It bore down and tramped on
those who were unable to make tffectual resistance,
like the Hndoos and the Chinese, preached every
where the doctrines OF Tree tradel The imaginative
Secretary had been struck with magnificent n
spectacle, and he for swelling up our navy OF
65 vessels until it contained some $50 or 800 ships
Of war. Hence this food OF new appointments
hence 90 leuenants in one year, and the raising oil
all midshpmen who had served five years.
After dwelling with much indignation on such
exlravagant departures from former usage, MIR q.
said this new impulse must be checked, or the in
teresls Of the navy would be paralyzed and the
navy ruined. II an attempt was made TO carry out
the magnificent projects OF the new Secretary,
whether for the sake of the glory OF having so
grand naval establishment, or for purposes oil
plumber and conquest, gentlemen might rely on II
the People never would submit TO pay the cost oil
il. They would cheeTfully shoulder any necessary
burden render the navy competent TO protect our
commerce, but beyond that they never would con-
sent TO 90.
oFt fxxn VS. s
requisite for this legitimate purpose, the 100000 in
the House bill, or the $500, 900 IN the Senate:
amendment On this MIR G.. confessed himself to
be in the dark All he could see was, that the
Seeretary's plan would involve vast expenditure.
In making the remarks he had, however, on the
plans Of this officer, he did not wish 10 he under
stood as the personal enemy Of Mr. UPshur. HS
thought il was misfortune that the President hac
not selected pracrcal man, and not mere theorist
He thought the situation OF President Tyler called
for pity rather than censure. As 10 the other mem
beTs Of his Cabinet, they were not connected witt
the navy, and he had nothing 10 say IN regard TO
them: but when the conduct of any high public
functionary was under consideration, he should
ever speak Of him and his measures as he nigh
| think they deserved.
This new.fansled doctrine in regard TO a mag
nifeent navy had in another Objectionable feature
| il fixed on the establishment the children OF thu
| rich; IN which remark he referred 10 the system o
appre ntceshp. He denied that the enlistment o
boys into the naval service created any such rea-
ton as that of apprentice; 1t authorized no inden
lures; the boys enlisted were not bound out 10 thu
Government; they were enlisted precisely as othe
seamen were. The argument OF the gentlemen
| from Virginia (Mr wise) was IN this respect utter
~ falacious. MIR G. avcrred that, by the terms o
| the law, no apprenticeship was created and no IL
| dentures entered into.
Mr. WISE denied that such was the meaning @
| the act.
Mir GORDON said he had the law, and woul
produce It.
Dir WISE. What is the title of the ac,1
MrGORDON. What is the tI,e1 Does the gen
tlemhn really take me for very green horn a
| not TO know that the title IS Psrt OF the law7
MIR WISE was understood to say that he ha
before referred TO the LIST section of the net.
Mr. GORDON. Well. | will read the first sec
ton. Here he quoted the lew He insisted thai
though required the OF the parent or guard
ian before boy could enlist, this was wholly
d iefent thing ffom the same requirement IN th
! case Of an ordinary apprentice. The lad entere
into the public &C of his country, and not int
that Of private individual. i, was public enlist
ment, not a private contract. Were not all boys,
these United States, and under this free Governmer
politically eqIal7 BY ens,ins 10 serve their eour
Try upon the high seas, did they forfeit the right
common to than with oil other sons Of America
ciuzensl The genilemar's doctrine was, that the
forfeited their natursl right TO promotion; but IN
Mr. q. strenuousy denied. II there was any dit
ference as to rights between them and other hoy
It ought rather 10 be in their favor. Certainly n,
against them. The gentleman ffom Virginia migl
attempt 10 mystiiy the subject by sophstrv, but b
never could show that these lads were not Just
much entitled 10 all the honoTs OF promotion as az
Mr G. said that in endeavouring 70 reform ii
abuses IN the navy nc - S, on inc contrary, oy h
himself practically its bIiterest enemy. There wa
in truth, not eff -ient an enemy TO il in ell N
country Mr. G. went for putting veto on h
schemes, by refusing the enormous sum aske
for
During the days of expansion of the currency
when the bank balloon was inflated to its very ri
| es point, when money was plenty aud every Thin
dear, the navy could get along with sc 900 GOA
but BOW that the balloon had coils esed when none,
was scarce and prices low, and no buyers, the new
Secretary demanded $4,000, 0Oc, and That in th,
ready rhlno, the hard constitutional currency!
de asked il the committee were prepared 10 Q,
Tor such systen7 Who would vote for it, un' ca
1t might be the corporars euard7 Mr. G.. was nc
| enemy TO President Tyler; he hoped he might 81
~ell--mght use the VETO, la laush,l and recon-,
mend himself TO the democracy by dismissing MOI
only the remnant Of his old Cabinet, bu, pretty much
all his new. [Roars Of laughter
Mr. u. was not going TO enter upon the genera
subject Of the navy-he was not competent 10 4
subject Of that kind-he was a man from tie in'e
rog, and had no Knowledge OF maritime affairs; ye
he did not doubt the world would give him credr
for making much better Secretary Of the Navy
than the present incumbent, though he knew moth.
ing at al Of the subject A taught Mr. c. had
long considered this Secretary an inefficient ma H.
bu, 1t seemed he could show efficiency enough
sometimes. Here MIR G.. referred to the case OF
Captain Levy, who had, some years ago, tried the
experiment Of substituting shame as the punish.
ment far saucy boy, instead OF tying him up and
hOgging of the skin Of his back ll the decks ran
with his blood (Which was the old me,hoJ3 com.
plant had been made, butthe matter had been pass
ed over. But this new Secretary had dug w thu,
case, which had already been once inquired into.
and, on the finding Of court martial, the officer had
been cashieTed. He was for returning TO all tine
Ilgors Of the British service. lie predicted that the
President never could get on without q change in
the head Of the Navy Department. We must sub
stitute practical business Cabinet and common
men, instead Of mere book learning and new fang
splendid theories.
Mr. WISE here rose, but yielded the floor for .
momsn, 10
Mr. FILLMORE, who appealed to him to S. fer
the vote 10 DC taken this evening on the pending
question.
Mr WISE hos'aiei; said he wished 10 speak
10 the question Of navy pay.
(Crss Of "go on. Wissn)
Mr. FlLLMORE said that, unless this bill could
be disposed Of 10 nisht, he should feel il his duy n
move Tor It's pos'pOnement, and resume the t1r'ff
tomorrow. II gentlemen were friendly IN the Lill.
ihe'r better course would be to suffer the question
TO be taken.
Mr. WISE said he was certainly friendly 10 the
bin; yet he could not consent to such eourse The
House would bear him witness that. tboUob pisosd
Al the head Of the Naval Committee, he had tbu.
lar entered as little into The discus ion Of naval If
fairs as any one gentleman on the floor lie feit
DESTROYS Of making a foil and satisfactory answer
to oil the complaints which had been advanced,