The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-13

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Mckay, again resolved itself into COMMITTEES Of
the Whole on the state Of the Union, (Mr HAMLN,
OF Maine, In the chairl and resumed the considera-
ton of the said bill
MI WHITE gave notice of an amendment which
he wished TO offer when in order
MI HENLEY slgnlhed his intention TO direct
MS remarks to aa item which was not Immediately
under considerations but upon which they would
soon be called to act. The system of navy-yards
was coming TO be very expensive branch Of the
government; and in addition il was undermining. in
very great degree, the mechanical skill and labor of
the country. lie should direct his remarks partcu-
ary TO the appropriation proposed for the construc-
ton of the navy-yard al Memphis. When the APP
! preparation for this yard was first made, it was
called western measure. As western man, he
protested against II as a western measure; and he
wished 10 show 10 the committee and the country,
that they Of the West asked no such thing as a
western measure. Under the law now in force the
Secretary of the Navy, had decided (and he be-
eyed, had decided correctly that he obliged TO
direct that the vessels be built at the navy-yaTds of
the general government. In consequence of this,
! you cut of individual enterpnse-our mechanics
and shIpwrlghis in the western country, who have
their ship-yards, their lumber, hands Implements,
capital, and everything necessary for the building
the best vessels that be built in the world 25
or 80 per cent. less than the government can build
Tor at It's navy yards after 1t has expended millions
for the construction of these navy-yards. As a
western man, he protested against this a west
ern measure. lie called attention to the fact that
Pittsburgh and thence to New Orleans, and from
New Orleans up the Mississippi rver-everywhere
on our large navgable rivers or finland seas' were
! mechanics, Notwithstanding men with all
the means and faculties Of building the largest ships
and who wanted fair opportunity for competition
for them; and yet 1t proposed to cut them all of
| and put this work into the supervision of few
men selected al your yards government fa2orites
and receiving large salaries from the public treasury
Mr.. DARRAGH addressed an inquiry to Mr..
H., of which nothing wa heard by the reporter, but
in reply to which
Mr.. HENLEY said yes" that is the decision
Of the Secretary of the Navy; and it was that that
called my attention TO the subject. He had not OBJ
Iected he admitted, to the building navy. yard at
Memphis, until he found it was cutting off the me.
chanIcs Of the West, IN violation Of one cherished
principles of democracy-from all opportunity OF
competition for these contracts.
lie intended at the proper time to move TO strike
out this appropriation for Memphis. We had ex-
pended $4,000 there only; that was nothing in
, comparison with what could be saved; we could
save that IN one month by building vessels at private
enterprise, at private ship-yards. There was now
here committee from the district he represented
from city Of some 5000 or 1000 inhabitants
where a number of master shipbuilders-
where they were building the largest and best YES
sells on the western waters-perhaps he ought not
to say BEST for they claimed anywhere in the West
that they could not be beat-but where they were
building the largest and the first quality Of vessels
% per cent cheaper than they could be built any
where, except in the West and where they were
5 now building for the East, who came around there
to get their boats built because they could furnish
| better materials, and labor and provisions were
cheaper than anywhere else. Every gentleman
knew that contracts could be executed at much less
expense by private agencies than the labor
could be procured for if done under the direction oil
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government to let out at contract everything it could
Navy-yards at some points, and TO certain point ht
admitted might be necessary. He would not attack
the whole SYSTEM but so far as his constituents anC
!. the whole West concerned he protested
v against The building nayy-yard at Memphis anC
he called the attention of gentlemen who represented
the mechanics Of the West to this subject. They
only desired fair play, and not to be cut off from
bids for contracts, they now, under the con
strncuon OF the secretary, which, no doubt wa
n 'ght.
n In reply TO an inquiry Of Mr.. THURMAN, which
was lost to the reporter, Mr.. H. said when Thu
subject OF navy-yards was disposed of, he proposed
n to follow up this move by passing law autho!izn.
the Secretary OF the Navy to let this work out a
contract that the government might have the advan
tage of the industry, skill cheapness of materials
and everything which they of the West had to Of
fer.
i Mr.. DARRAGH said if this construction of tn
: the navy, and wlth view to the promotion of tn
great interests OF the country, he should go for tn
repeal of this law. He was satisfied that individual
= skill and enterprise you'd do the work not only a
d less expense, but in better manner than it wa
possible for government to have it done at the navy
yards He gave his views as to the importance
the navy-yard at Memphis, and referred to the fac
tiles afforded at Pittsburg, especially for the
strucon of iron steamers, which were so stTong
: recommended by variety of considerations by tn
e gentleman from Georgia, Mr.. KING, in his report
and which were now receiving so much attentio
n generally.
In conclusion, he gave notice Of, and briefly ex
!, planned an amendment which he should offer, whe
In order, appropratlng for the completion of marin
hospitals previously commenced at Pittsburg and a
!. other points.
1. Mr. STANTON, in reply to the attacks made o
> the navy-yard a, Memphis, said that some two G
n three years ago, on full consideration of tn
l. subject in this House, and in the other branch
J, Congress, 1t was determined to establish nav,
yard IN the western country, and doubtless the ger
i, tleman from Indiana would have been satisfied wit
the decision, provided Jacksonville or some otht
! point in his State had been selected
i. Mr.. HENLEY (Mr. S. yielding, discaimed bein
l. influenced In this matter by mere local advantages
J. and observed that sometimes gentlemen as the oil
4, saying was, measure other peoples corn by the
a. own half.bushel."
A. Mr.. STANTON was very happy to hear ths
b, he had labored under erroneous impression o
y this point and he urged that the gentlemen bein
T governed by general considerations of the publ
/ good as he professod to be-ought to acquesce i
the decision of Congress, thus deliberately made
I, at least if an attempt to be made to chang
the decision it should be done by law to that eec
# and not be attempted in appropriation BILL the OF
ect of which was to carry out laws already existing
4, He did not conceive that this was the prope
time to go into discussion of the general uuestio
> whether all the naval establishments of the countr
should be cut down, but he would consider it a NOR
v proper occasion when some direct proposition wa
made in proper form. If the establishment at Mem
phis was to be continued, and not to be cut dow
entirely, and fthe West to participate at all il
the expenditures of this government for the pun
: pose of erecting and maintaining navy, this appro
pratlon was necessary, and must be continued j
= this bill. He referred to some indication which h
! had received from Mr.. Mckay of his intention t
: move to reduce the appropriation for Memphis, an
said if the chairman of the Committee Of Wav
and Means considered such reduction necessary, i
the exigency of the country this msment his con