Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-05-25

as follows
"Provd.d no potion Of the said SUN be applied TO tn
In the grades Dat the service the first da
OF January 1872; and provided further that al persons
August 1912. and who at tho time Of their appoint
men able seamen OF thehp class shall be io'th~h dsraed
Mr. s. Every indistincly heard) understood say
that the object OF his amendment very gross
abuse IN the appointment contrary to law of whose
services were not equirdan abuse by the present
cumbent OF the Department Of his immediate predecessor
but 10 great measure of the previous Secretary, Mr. Hen
shaw Although, when he (Mr. H had first been rejected
by the Senate Mr. thought was rash and uncaIed for;
still, upon further examination, he had been led the
that just upon that ground and he thought
was this fact that had in degree determined the
ton Of the Senate in the matter Congress in 1912 had
determined that the number Of midshipmen large
and law was passed regulating it accordingly. Some fifty
OF sixty young gentlemen had been appointed acting mid
shpmen, under the Of masters mates after the pas
sage of this law only in direct violation of its spirit
but as he contended of its letter ALSO He took pleasure
stating that the present Secretary involved in this
matter at ALL and in SAYING upon the authority of this Off
Ger, that he was opposed to it.
MI. HOLMES was opposed, he said, to any Limitation upon
the number o. men to be employed in the navy We could
get the ateie of navy any time but with reference to
| the personnel it was far different
We had better at this moment let the navy alone.
AT this moment France had in the Gulf of Mexico fleet of
no small consideration England had extensive fleet part
OF the time in Jamaica, where she had very fine navy yard
and part Of the time at Havana And what the preence
OF this great congregation Of fleets Why the bockadDg
Nicaragua Nicaragua did not require blockade Great
Britain could at moment enforce any requirements upon
her. Yet, with these foreign fleets thus increasing and
threatening upon the gentleman from Massachusetts Mr
PARMENTER) talked first of Limitation Of the personnel OF
the navy and the other gentleman (Mr JonssoSl whisper
ca 10 the House the bland and soothing expressions peace
we mad undertaken to make reaty-a treaty Of
ton OF vast country, equal in to France II was
destined to be ours; it would be ours.
Think you (said Mr.. that Great Britain, after the de-
caraton she had given land France and Italy had taken
ct1 wont nj the
mens OF our fleets upon the Gulf watched with
es-tha they create disquetude Great Britain stood
IN relation to that territory Russia stood in relation
English provinces of India Afghansan had been Rus
STA, SO to Great Britain the Texas territory Mr. H
went at some length into illustration of this analogy but
no connexion OF his remarks could be caught by the Report
err When again doubtfuy heard he remarking that il
would be very short-sghed policy When Great Britain
with eagle perception, pryng into every movement
and when the latest intelligence thereof being despatched
to connect with every which took its departure
our shores, were we going to play chids play Let
make this nation respectable let protect the North in
shipping interests the West in her commerce or her agrc
ture, or her agriculture depended upon her commerce.
last not least, this great Southern institution which, as
political institution essential not only 10 the existence
Of the South but TO any power and any influence she might
have in this Confederacy Was great national question
like this TO be lost sight Of while they talking about the
army and navyabout expenditure of five millions OF dol
lars He rdiculed the boosted expansive philanthropy of
England as the proessed basis OF her desire for the abolition
OF slavery In Texas charged her with desire keep open
territory adjacent to US by of smuggling and said
that her policy to destroy the planting interests the
SOUTH that she might raise in the granary Of India tn
resources which we supplied; that she might bring
mediate cultivation her tobacco. rice, cotton, &c
ant. =, uSeftnr vcssrr-,gsra -
employed much larger number of marines than in the
rican servicee believed two or three times the number
ALSO that the force which the American and the British
ships rated different, the American ships being
much heavier at the same rate.
In reference Mr. HoLMEss remarks, he observed that
this proposition diminish the force Of the navy
This the whole number which required by the
mate Of the Department. The only object Of the amend
require them conform TO The law, according
their The appropriation for pay and sub
sstence would pay for than 500 men, but the diff
fculty that unless they limited the number Of men, they
liable 10 be placed in precisely the predicament they
in at the commencement Of the session. Through tie
Importantly Of the officers Of the navy greater force would
be employed than necessary and followed that tie
Department would run in debt This simple reguli-
ton proposition reduce the naval force and keep
the expenditure of the several appropriations Also
lutey necessary !, within the bounds Of law.
Mr. HAMLIN said he should endeavor so TO direct his
upon this amendment and upon all the amendments
relating this matter check what he considered gross
and extravagant expenditures Of the public money The
port the Committee Naval Affairs he said presented no
thing but improviden expenditures Of money and alarm
ing increase Of officers they sucked up money and like
the horse-eech, their cry continually, "give gve
Referring the report he cited the facts, that while there
were 81 captains service, there " on leave wag
ORDERS" in other words at home doing nothing 20 that
Of commanders there IS service and 81 waiting
officers He had not single word of reproach against
officer who trod the deck Of ships the soil of this
Union but il against the principle Of increase Of the
CALLING Of the counyo the increase of what he be
eved and of the consequent unnecessary
aon that he protested He alluded the increase that
had taken place within the last three years in nearly all the
ranks Of ofcers-the number of commanders having in
creased from SIS in 1910 81 in 1s43, Of euenants from
9 in 1910 1874 in ls43 and other grades having in
creased in similar ratio He also read from this document
an account Of items Of exravagan and improper
pendcs for the navy aud declared his intention to vote with
cheeruness for the amendment and reform to this
extent, although he would prefer greater one.
Mr. HALE said he DESTROYS Of moving an amend
ment but there already amendment TO amend
pending, not now in order 1t was read, how
ever for information.
Mr. H. introduced his remarks by relating conversation
in which gentleman, learning that bill from the Re.
uenchment Committee bore hard The post captains Of the
navy predicted that it would pass because the influence
which proposed reduce their allowances 1t had once
been poverba saying in the navy that here is no law
for post captains but such had the state Of the navy be-
come late years. that there seemed to be no law Tor
any officer The navy for the last fifteen months had
been practically without law.
Mr. H. complained Of the thousand abuses which prevail
ed and cited the claim Of officer command
ing little squadron the coast OF Florida who, after the
most expenditures for liquors and Injuries OF all
sorts presented demand for seven thousand dollars
extra compensation the commander of foreign squadron
We had more than twice the number OF officers who were
needed for the actual service Of the country all OF whom
were paid higher Of compensation than given by
any other Government Great favoism also prevailed and
TO an extent which caused shameful depedatons the
Treasury Mr. H. hoped, in fact that this whole bill, with
all It's allowances would be laid ase and the bill from the
/ ~ -.