The New York herald., 1845-02-01
TWENTY-EI CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION.
In Senate,


WASHINGTON, Thursday, Jan. 80.
Prayer by the Rev Mr.. Tsstin. Journal
The Clerk of the House reported. and delivered
to the Senate the following House bills passed yes
The annual bill of fappropriationsf for the payment
Of Revolutionary and other pensions.
The annual appropriation bill for the subsistence
Of the Post Office Department.
The annual bill of appropriations for the Fortif-
cations of the United States
Severally read twice and referred
:. Mr.. Dickinson, fiom citizens of Skaneateles, N.
\ Y,presented remonsrance against the anne alton
Of Texas BY MI. Benton, from citizens of ALE gheny
county, Md, memorial recommending the twelve
months notice required for the suspen nsion of the
by the United States and Great Britain, pursuant to
provision OF the treaty of 1927 and for the pro-
lection OF our citizens In the aforesaid Territory.
BY Mr.. Morehesd, memorial from members Of
the bar of Hamilton county, Ohio, asking that the
United States Courts may be removed from Coium-
bus in said State TO Cincinnati. BY Mr.. White,
from the Board Of Managers of the Baptist Ameri-
can Indian missionary Association, praying Con-
gress further to extend the ameliorating Influences
CT protection, support, defence, civilization, and
enlightenment of the Indian tribes under the care
OF the government Petitions severay referred.
Baptist memorial ordered to be printed.
Mr.. ATcHIsoN reported bill for the relief Of
Seth nj. Leavenworth.
resolution was adopted that when the Senate
adjourned 1t should adjourn over to Monday next.
The bill amendatory of the laws relating TO
United States Cousols being bill comforting upon
commanders OF United States ships the power 10
act as consuls In behalf of American seamep, in
all such foreign ports where NO resident consul
may be established-was takenup, conside RED, and
ordered to engrossment for its final re aiding.
The bill relating 10 Revenue Cutters, and Steanl-
ers In the Revenue Service, was ordered TO third
reading. IWhen read In detail, we shall notice
its provisions
ASSISTANT SURGEONS AND PURsERs.
On motion OF Mr.. BAYARD, the bill providing
for the appointment OF some fifteen assistant sur
al
service, was taken up.
An amendment Of the Committee was read.
providing that none of the officers aforesaid, shall
be less than twenty-one, nor more than thirty.five
years of age; and that no Chaplain shall be APP
pointed to the service whose age shall exceed
thirty years.
Mr.. CRIrTENDEN said, that this was a most ano-
malous sort of an arrangement Here it was pro-
vlded thd, no man should be appointed chaplain
whose age exceeded thirty years. Now. he would
have thought it preferable to exclude men who
were less than thirty years Of age. But here the
position is reversed. No man shall be appointed
chaplain in the navy, who is over thirty years OF
age. Mr.. c., too, was surprised at this silent sort
of mode OF acting upon a bill appointing come
twenty seven or thirty additional officers in the
navy. Mr. G. hoped the gentleman would be able
TO give some explanation. Meantime he should
move TO lay the bull on the table.
Mr.. BAyARD Il hope not, sir
The CHAIR.-Does the Senator Withdraw the
motion
Mr.. CRITTENpEN.-Certainly, sir, if the honorable
Senator will give US a sort of an explanation.
Mr.. BAYARD said that this bill for the appoint
ment OF these additional surgeons and pursers, was
not adopted by the committee reporting ii from
mere caprice, but from a sober consideration Of
he requirements OF the service. The President
and the Secretary Of the Navy had recommended
these additional appointments tor the effective or
sanlzation OF the Navy and the Board of the
service upon this subject had recommended that
no chaplain should be appointed whose age ex-
ceeded thirty years Heretofore many OF the
~han nta auai m the Navv hut Iffle brtfe than
pc nsIouers upon the government The service re-
lured young, active, hardy, and vigorous men, In
every capacity. In the election OF me mbers 10
his Senate il was an advantage to require them to
De of less than thirty years of age. Clergymen
did not improve by age and grow better and better
ike a cask OF Madeira wine /; but they grew worse
with the inhrmltles ot years, and (Onderdonk tor
sxampe,) were unfit, at all events, for serving in
he Navy. On the other hand, the older and the
more experienced the surgeon, the better, in most
Eases. Mr.. B. read various extracts in support OF
lis views from the Medical Bureau and the Secre.
AIRY OF the Navy.
Mr.. CRrrTRNDEN eaid the Senator had made a
ort OF an explanation; but he was not satisfied with
such an explanation Mr. G. mc.ntained, on the
other hand, that there was no necessity for these
additional appointments proposed. Ia lS43 there
we're sixty-nine surgeons In the navy. Have we
ever, at time, sxynlne vessels AT sea, or halt
that numberl IL had been said that the Oregon had
10 60 out without surgeon, or with private gen.
llenan as such, because there was none disengaged
whose services were at the command OF the Sc
cretary Now, il was plain that sxty-nne surgeons
were enough for all the vessels in commission, and
all the naval Stations and that sixty pursers
were asufficlent for the present organization and
orce of the navy. Enough-more than enough
or sea service and for naval stations all together.
Mr.. Crttenden contended for the superiority OF old
men for chapains, in preference Of young men,
who were more likely to contract the frolcksome
habits OF sailors, than to iniuse Into their minds
anything like religious discipline. He also opposed
he proposed preliminary examination OF the body
)f the candidate for chaplain by some doctor, as
you would examine common foot soldier, to see
hat he were sound in wind and limb. The liberal
education required was also an invdious distinc-
ION to which Mr. C. was entirely opposed.
On motioa of Mr.. MERRicK, the bill was laid
upon the table, with view OF resuming the Post
Office bill.
Mr. SIMMONS from the committee on printing, to
which had been referred the question Of printing
) 900 copies of the Report OF The Commissioner OF
the Patent Office, reported with an amendment