Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-10-25

Consutuon Capt Hull tins Essex capt rofte ana several
smaller vessesSren, Vixen Wasp, Nautilus, and Enter
pseo the usual annual support Of which nearly two mil
hons required Three hundred thousand dollars only
appropriated for repairing and fitting out The other po
tons Of the navy. A44 3g
The report OF the Naval Committee Of the House Of Repre-
sentaiiyes of lsl2 prior TO the declaration Of war; Of
which the Hon LASGDos CHEyKs chairman is quoted
evidence that Congress had not abandoned the Navy
efficient of protection and defence on the sea-" II
me- the action Of Congress that report proves
any thing all proves that Congress had abandoned the
Navy efficient arm in the then contemplated and
rcposed confidence in it eectua important against
the naval power Of England Had Congress adopted that
port, meager its provisions were and appropriated the
money build the ten fgaes, and to purchase the timber
recommended, well for constructing the dock for repair
ing vessels OF war; would have been evidence that
Congress meant to sustain the Navy had that body gone
further and adopted the suggestions of the Secretary Of the
Navyn 1871 it would have furnished emphatic evidence
the President and his Cabinet its constituents and the
on that the Navy not only 10 be sustained by Congress-
but that II TO be used in the most effective way for the
prosecution Of the the ocean, to vndcate the honor
and to preserve the interests of the nation while battling for
the rights Of sailors But their almost total disregard Of
the Committees report, and Of the Secretays opinions and
recommendations furnishes strong pesumpve evidence that
they expected nothing from the Navy Indeed after
ships had achieved by their powess the splendid vcto
es the reluctance of Congress sanction the bill providing
for four 74s only speaks language too strong to be msun
esood In contradiction of the suggestions in reference TO the
appropriations recommended in that report.
On the Both November 1912, bill providing, amongst
other vessels for four seventy four gups passed the SEN
by large majority in the House Of Representatives it
met with great opposition and the seventy fonrs stricken
out by majority Of three votes On this occasion Mr. John
c. Calhoun, (who boarded at the same house did, when
he returned from the House OF Representatives, suggested the
idea of putting Congress better humor with the Navy
This suggestion promptly acted on and ball and party
given board the Constellation, then lying off Green
leafs Point. All appeared highly grah6ed Mr. Calhoun
took advantage of this and called for reconsideration which
carried and that portion of the bill relating the
y-fours einserted and finally carried by majority of
SIX Perhaps Mr. Ingerson will credit also with
want Of those ships for the purpose Of plumber seto
for the 3d. $780, hree years pay the expense of the ball
True this would have been strange bride for poor navy
captain, who wanted bread and fortune
The Federas Representatives opposed to the war;
far strenuous and liberal in their appropriations for ships
than the advocates Of the and they contributed
sustain the Navy until the and lakes
became so frequent that some persons began to fancy
not becoming moral and religious people to rejoice in
their riciorfes"
thing from the Navy auxiliary in the prosecution of the
and, they exercised instructive power, the de-
csons Of the President and Cabinet risk the ships
sea- may have been in accordance with the Of that body
This being determined on the next question was, " how
shall dispose Of the vessels already commission, for
which appropriations have been made for the year Con-
gress had made provision but left the whole subject to the
Presidents discretion either send them lay them
up Looking back the events OF the Revolutionary war;
and to the avidy with which the British seized New York
and its waters, and with what pernacy they held during
the whole war; il natural that the President and his Ca
bnet should feel anxiety for the safety Of that great
commercial emporium and they readily embraced propo
son Of Mr. Galan, the Secretary of the Treasury,
poy ships in the defence Of that port say Mr. Gala
TINS proposition because Mr. Paul Hamilton the Secretary
of the Navy told Commodore Bainbrdge and myself that he
CHR G. made the suggestion which, however, does him
dscredt counsellor of the President patriot
for appeared them the only mode in which ships of
could be usefuy, and at the time, safely
poyed Considering the facility Of approach the weak
Of its offences and the superior inducements enemy
for striking New York. should have thought Mr. Gallatn
entitled to credit for suggesting protective force in that quar-
ter Indeed il has surprised me that the enemy did not at
tack New York instead of wasting their naval and military
strength in predatory and petty efforts of Lesown Sonng
ton Norfolk and the Of the Chesapeake the great
prejudice of their chivalry and character
In June, 1912, the United States entered a with
Great Britain All will admit mar, that longer submission
insult and injury eternal shono and that had
alternative but Without the Of striking efficiently
England her colonies by Congress made its appro-
paons for the land srce for the purpose of attacking and
subdung the Canadas hope that their acquisition would
be harbnger of peace And these views Of the Gov
strkngy evidenced in the translation OF
from the ships the seaboard the lakes the excessive
ornaments Lake Ontario, and the turning of the whole
military and fiscal of the country the northern
frontier The anxiety Of the Government obtain possess
on OF these provinces out of desire to have something
which might be yielded England equivalent for the
abandonment Of her system Of awless bockades and still
awess mpessmen and thereby he enabled establish
the foundations Of permanent and satisfactory peace And
the Government induced increase their efforts in that
direction under the belief that the Canadians would joyfuy
throw off their British allegiance the extended
invitation TO them and hence the silly proclamation and adj
Of General Hull, which forms poignant page OF
history But that people betrayed desire for tempo
a annexation, and the views and expectations of the Gov
eminent entirely thwarted notwithstanding the
\ pendtures and ornaments TO enforce them.
On the 9Th June, 1912, setting from Philadelphia
Washington in the stage, Unexpectedly joined by Com
modore Banbrdgr, whom supposed at his command the
Chsrestown Boston Navy ard but he also on his
way TO Washington. We arrived nj Baltimore the same
night and there learned for He first time If the decka-
ration Of by Congress The prerious day. The next
day proceeded the Of Government On the 2lst
Of June made official call the Secretary Of the Navy
On entering the room Of the Chief Clerk Mr. Charles W.
Gosborough he from the desk which he engag
ed, with paper his hand and expressed great qualification
arrival in Washington opportune moment say.
ing that declared and that he wished read the
paper he holding before to the Secretary
read with attention. but extreme modification, and hand
ing 10 Banbdge observed, "Ths blasts all hopes for the
Navy. Banbridges when excited remarkable,
and this occasion, all when his Indignation
aroused, with vehemence which peded his utterance,
he exclaimed " Dnfo unfo-y0u wiH ruin the NaUy1 such
be IL destiny This paper contained the orders which had
just been drawn for Commodore Rodgers 10 ape the a-
4 ters If Neso York 10Th his nar0i force
We then entered the Secretays room, and received
4 by him with much kindness Of Mr.. HAMrLTos
observed that declared and that he glad
there asst had been decided by the President and the Ca
bne 10y up vessels Of the habo Of New York
that Mr. Gaan had suggested that they would be
the enemy that the guns be taken from side
al. The