The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-19
BY THE SOUTHERN MAIL.
Washington.
Correspondence Of the Herald.l

lCorrespondence OF the Herad.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1884,
This has been grand and exciting gala day in
Washington+-or rather on beard the Princeton.
Captain Stockton gave his opening fete board of
her to a select party, composed of the following
officers of the governlnent--and ats various ramif-
cations-and other gentlemen Of distinction
The President John Tyler; Secretary Of the Treasury,
Secretary Of war William wilkins; Postmaster General
Wicklfe; Private Secretary to the President, John Ty
Senators Crittenden, Bayard. Dayton, Bresse, Hen
derson, Fairfield, Borrow.
Military Committee of the House Harrolson HarliL
COMMITTEES Naval Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives-Pamenter Barringer, Simpson, Peyton Seymour
Marsh.
Navy Oficers-Gommodores Warrington, Morgan.
shubrick Captains Aulck and Bolton Commander
wheels and constructor Of the Union and Mr. Bartlett,
u s NJ Hydrogrsphcal Bureau.
and their aids 3Msjor symngton and Captain schaum.
burg
Assistant Postmaster Generals Tyson and skinner;
two sons Of Captain stockton John B. Jones Of the Ma
dsonian Francis Blair the Globe; S. B. of the New
York Herald, Matthew ST. Clair Clarke r. s. Coke ss-
muel Rush, w. Stevens, M. cirund and many others
1t will be quite out of the question Tor me to do
anything like justice. to this winter excursion
through the ice of the Potomac 1t was partly
grand, partly beautiful, and altogether curious, ex-
and would paint you coup d'GI OF the scene
the Princeton now sitting like swan upon the
Potomac, now ploughing her way through a nine
coach and horses-wi.h no sail set, and no, motive
power visibe-now passing Alexandria and receiv-
ing nine tremendous cheers from the multitudes
upon the wharves, and then manning her yards,
and returning the same. Or if / were poet,
would in my Imagination call up the Aborlgines,
from their graves upon the banks of this noble
river, to come and be amazed at such sight as
they would this day have seeE-a noble vessel,
To- noyph IN tran a w
rors, with all their canoes swung aloft besides
without sail-without an oar-without paddle
wheel-without noise-stlll with mighty, irres!st-
IDLE power, ploughing her onward way through ice
thick and strong enough to bear up their nation
And when Captain Stockton, like Columbus ofod,
when he visited this new world, should appear and
how would they fall down and worship him for a
God!
The Captain says-aud il is theme for the poet,
and the philosopher tooJ"I The; tune mas sr been
any thing but now, (,n'aatis :. NUT 1ndts)
those are Counted fools who don't believe every
thing" He says if the President will appoint him
to negotiate the Oregon boundary, he will send on
to New York and tell Minister Pakenham that if
he expects this country to surrender 10 the Brtsha
single thimbe full of our soil, he may pack up his
he wishesto settle any small bills about the frens
(orts, &c. suppose) which they have put UP over
a, the mouth Of the Oregon, why that is another
affair, and he has no objection to negotiate about
| cabbage gardens.
II Is needless to say Captain Stockton's senti-
ments met with cordial acceptation from oil, but
with great enthusiasm from the western .r members
big 225 Founders he calls the Oregon and the other
the Peacemaker, and as Secretary Gimer SAID to,
day. the art of war is rapidly becoming the art OF
peace' He could not help Growing over his
brother (novus honso) Wilkins, Secretary OF War,
| who he thought would have to accomplish some
| rare inventions and improvements in the military
pari passu with the Navy He most alphabetically
claimed this days triumph for the Navy The
Secretary of War replied that he could not deny
that he this day lowed him one" but It should be
his own fault If the debt was OF long standing.
| Captain Stockton was in his element, and on 1t
too, in fact. He felt that it was the proudest day
OF his life The Navy triurphed. The art Of
naval warfare: attested BY the Princeton y ds,
hitherto known In that art, and SO admitted to-day
| by all who witnessed the experiments, and saw
the operations of the Princeton and her guns. The
Captain says, and there is far more sense than
folly in it-that the best thing this government
could have done was to burn the PRINCETON.
| AS matters now stand the British Government, in
six months time could initiate perhaps even inn
the N Pc Of
all, upon the same plan as the Princeton. Had she
been burnt as as privately tired, discrimination
would have been more difficult, IT not impossible.
Had the secret been kept, as 1t ought to have been
by this government refer particularly to the Cap
tain's improvements in gunnery-therc would have
| been a reasonable excuse for not increasing our
| navy until war threatened. But now the sscrets
are disclosed, contrary. to all sound PRINCIPLES Of
national policy, there is no alternative but tor this
government to proceed at once to the construction
OF suitable number OF Princeton steam fri
no doubt but that the British channel within twelve
months will swarm with " Prncetons."
The great difficulty was, this government, like
that same Walter the Doubter, would never allow
hn fharo uty4tfl
in Capt. Stockton's "great talking -" Bu', thanks
to Lord Bacon's inductve philosophy, which Ser
ator Evans much admires, the Princeton - one
in naval h0 and ID. e a Hi IS
event The Captain first argued the question w IN
his targets and convinced them to their sorrow; he
has now come 10 Washington t., sISue the same
question with the government OF the United Statee,
and the opposing party are likely to experience mo-
rally the fate OF his targets. The conviction was
thorough and general to-day, not only on the part
of the Executive and his Cabinet, and such mem.
bers Of Congress as were present, bus .lso on The
part Of the high Representatives both OF the army
and the navy that Captain Stockton has effected ar
important revolution in the art of naval warfare.
from the description !, tie excursion which intended Il
give. The Princonlay off Greenieafs Point The party
morning wss not pleasant but the weather. cleared eff
and the air became clear and brseing
Here are, all aboard Senators, Represt &c
nerals Commodorcs Captains, Lieutenants and nvife
czens-and here comes the President and suite 'star
hoard fro ""Port fire !" And starboard and larboard g
the ponderous Aas the President lands upon the deck
while the drum rolls and marines present arms"star
board fires and "Port fire 20 continues to resound thr0uel
the trumpet the manly voice Of Lieutenant Hunt It'd
the timorous legislators ghted their proximt.
to cannon though pointed them look on with aston
ishmen the GOODNESS with which all TBS is done ~
hose whose march Is on tile mountain wave-whos,
home is the deeP" and, yet DOUBLING whether thcs
monster guns amdships were fired, ever can NC
/ we hear the order-"Peacr Make,-Fire' And, bechin
forth lis thirty pounds ofpowder, h half the nois
dsagreeabe ofthe 49s carries for miles I'M
the distinct intelligence that Stockton and his Peace Ma
ker given the President salute gilmore actual 20 &c
and dignity than before given to the head Of TIL
what Il is generally supposedo IT, that not ono Of tn
If party who stood ten feet from II knew limit ha'
}, been fred at all
Tho flag Of the Admiral of the Blue flies at the main
/ the COMMANDMENT Chief is anoat. and where he Shout