The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-12-21

RoaANcE or HrsroRY w mentioned short
time hsclS, the controversy wasng between
Commodore Stew ari arc the Hoa. Ah-ri o;astin.
We then remarked that "the parties WHO ought to
be the best acquainted with the matter, are dianlstr'-
caly opposed to each other" We notice con-
unuation OF this controversy in ore OF the morning
papers.
Mr., Gallalin, in reply 10 letter addressed 10 him
by Mr.. Coles states in substance, that che has
recollection OF any such matter, VIZ: the measure
intended by President Madison, of not suffering
the navy 10 80 TO sea, for fear OF becoming prey
to the British rgates" To this letter. and the rea-
soning il contains, 10 show that no such measure
was in contemplation, Com. Stewart makes long
and difiIse reply, and undertakes, he says, TO
prove TO the world that are not mistaken that
we have not been some thirty years connecting
piece of romance,'&c. One Of the arguments of
Mr. q. it was not difficult 10 overthrow, and the
Commodore has here brought his guns TO bear with
some Effect, though there is too much powder and
s,noke--we mean he is 100 dlffuse aud wandering.
Mr.. Galatln, referring to law of Congress, max
ing large appropriation for the navy, triumphan,ly
concludes "that cannot be supposed that Congress
intended TO lock up the navy, when 1t appropriated
go large amount for service" The Commo-
dore almost annhates the ex-Secretary on this ar
gumen, which, ii reduced 10 plain language, Is in
effect as follows: ''ihat because tonsress created
a navy therefore the executive never at an after
period, conceived the idea OF keeping II in port"-a
manifest and palpable non sequit.u
The Commodore, after dsposing OF this point,
though rather 100 verbosey, goes Oh to speak Of Mr.
Galatlns alleged proposition to employ our ships OF
war in the defence OF The port OF New York, which,
1t appears, that gentleman no longer recollects and
refers the batteries sufficient defences. Here
the Commodore becomes animated, and takes a
wide and critical survey of all the then existing de-
fences of the city. In commenting upon the eligible
site OF Barn Island, Tor powerful battery, he be-
comes quite poeilca, and says-(we copy kteratim
ct uerbatlnl:)
" Place ship under fire, on reaching that spot,
Like tho trigate Huzar, she will soon 20 to pot
Mr. Galatin, il appears. had said in his letter, that
" IL impossible not To infer that the Secretary
of the Navy himself the principal obstacle to the
active employment Of the public ships" This seems
like sort OF concession that, after all, obsta
Gle lnterposed 10 their active employment, and
this is the glst of the controversy. The Commo-
dore, however, does not take advantage Of tins help
10 his side OF the question; indeed 1t evident that
he arrange his guns better than his ideas, and
fight better tnan he can write. This assertion is
answered by long an0 tedious correspondence, in
troduced upon the present correspondence, with
long and windy arguments, ad nanseom
We have gwen the pith. After all, the case .still
somewhat obscure, and the controversy on hand
threatens TO make the darkness darker still while
the force OF former remark remains triumphant.
/" Is not history romance y