The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-07


safety, the development Of our resources, and
the encouragement of the feeling of nationality
without which, Improvements, however great,
must be deprived Of half Of their value
BY the measures suggested, the American
farmer, merchant, manufacturer, aud in a
word. all of the producing classes, will be
furnished with the means Of support, and in
this way their interests will be at once identified
with the honor and prosperity Of our nstlu-
tons. Here we may be permitted 10 remark,
that OF all protective systems that can be adopt
ed, the one that is least open TO objection is that
by which the means Of the Government are
made use OF among the working classes, thus
affordng stimulus to enterprise, and, at the
same time, giving back TO those who contribute
TO the expenses of the Government as a COM
| pensaion for the services they may render, the
very money furnished by themselves. In ma
| king the recommendations embraced in the re-
port OF the Secretary Of the Navy, the Admin
istration has performed what may, in these
times Of retrenchment be considered as dan
gerous experiment, but when rightly considered,
these suggestions are dictated by the only true
economy, and, if adopted, as we most sincerely
hope they will be, by the legislative branch of
the Government, will go TO enrich, instead Of
impoverishing, the people. The landed propr-
etor, who furnishes the ship timber, the iron
master, who supplies the iron, the ship builder
who constructs the vessels, and the people, who
furnish all Of them with the necessaries of life,
will be the gamers, inasmuch as there will be
furnished 10 them ready home market for
| whatever they may have TO offer. BY such ex-
| penditures no nation can ever be impoverished,
and those who see their own interests will be
| ready to sustain with zeal, rulers whose views
of public policy induce them wisely to make use
of the high stations in which they are placed,
| for the distribution of the blessings of plenty
and contentment throughout the land.
| Among the reforms suggested is re.organi-
cation of the Navy Department, by which unity
of action, regular subordination and direct ac-
countabty, will be procured, and thus econo-
my, in the expenditure of the treasure of the
country, be promoted Under the existing sys-
TEN there must arise much loss of time and mo-
ney in carrying on the public service, whereas
under the plan laid before Congress by the Sc
cretary, but not yet acted on, although much
time has already elapsed, the business Of the
Department, by being distributed among dfe
rent bureaux, the heads Of which shall be held
respectively accountable for what is placed un-
der their charge, will be carried on with prompt
ness, certainty and ease to all concerned There
are other branches Of reform which now await
the tardy action of Congress, and it is hoped
that when they shall settle the important CUES
ton about the hire Of one or t,co clerks, more
or leSs, and other matters of similar weight.
they will take time to consider subjects which
involve hundreds Of thousands of dollars, d.
rectly and indirectly, the safety of thousands
of lives, and American property TO the amount
of hundreds of millions. The conclusion of the
measures, is so truly admirable, that we must
be permitted to subjoin it:
g" In the administration of this Department, it will
ever be object of great solicitude with to prac-
tice prudent economy in all things But have not
sought to save the public money, by simply declining
to apply it to its most valuable public uses Beev-
ing it to be object of the first Importance to place
| our Navy upon the most efficient establishment
have not expected to effect that object at any small
cosG nc SAVING winch cAposes the country, In
defenceless condition, to hostile attacks will not be
recommended by me. The spirit whichpauses to cal
cuate the cost of measures rendered necessary for
the support of the honor and glory of country,
will never, it hoped, display itself in this Depart
ment. / have felt it to be my duty to place the al
tentative fairly and fully before the country. An
efficient Navy cannot be built and supported without
very great expense but this expense is more than
repaid, in time of peace, by the services which
such Navy render. In war, it will be worth
to US all the value which we place on the safety of
people, and on the well-earned glory Of naval
flag 1t is enough that necessity for this expenditure
can be shown the amount of it will be a secondary
consideration with people who truly love their
country and properly value its institutions"