The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-02-07
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE
.Number Too. g.

Salaries of Custom House Oficers--False Rumors-
wrong Construction put upon the Motives OF
Gentlemen who visit Mr. Caihoun-The Ten
Steamer Bill-Tcxas Officers added to the Ameri-
can Navy-lnjustice thereof-Order and Elo-
quence in the House of Representatives, alias the
Bear Garden
WASHINGTON, Feb, 5, 1876.
Dear SIR "A Bill for the regulation Of sala-
ries and for Custom House officers, was discuss
ed befnre the Senate To- day. by Messrs. Davis,
DIX and otheIs-it was passed. This bill regu-
lated the income of these officers to the maximum
Of the law passed in lS4l. After the passage of
this bill the Senate went into secret session.
rnmor has been afloat that the negotiations
had been renewed by the British Government on
Oregon but To day Mr.. Ingersoll, the Chairman
of the Committee stated. that 50 far az he had
been informed, none had been offered-as the
rumor was untrue. Much stress is often laid on
the visits of the different members of the Cabinet
visiting Mr. Calhoun-and, thereupon, many
rumors and surmises follow these visits are moth
ing more than return and extension of the usual
courteses between private gentlemen, and mean
politically, nothing.
The ten steamer bill still hangs on before the
Senate, and it is doubtful about the passage of
the bill-s0me think 1t too small for war, and too
large for peace the addition of these ten steamers
merely would fill up the loss 10 the Navy of the
line of battle ship Washington, several frigates,
slOops, schOoners, &C., in all amounting to about
twelve vessels,
bill is before the Senate for the purpose of ad-
ding the Texas Navy to that of The United States,
and taking into our Navy the officers of the Texan
Navy-the vessels of the Texan Navy are no
'Ohere, the officers emery where. Il would be, in
my opinion, manifest injustice to the officers of
the Navy of the United States, to place among
them those who once belonged to the Navy Of
Texas. II appears to he remarkable fact that
all the officers Of the Texan Navy are Captains
as the subordinates resigned, many Of the Com.
manders in the United States Navy disine uished
themselves during the late war-and some of the
Capans-most of the Lieutenants fought gal
lantIy through the piTatical war 10 the West In
dies in 1921, y, g, and a; on the other hand,
most of the Texan officers were compelled to leave
The United States Navy for variety of causes
such as incapacty, drunkenness, &C., SC. Would
it add dignity or credit to the Navy to return
these men to it, particularly over the heads Of
those who have been faithful TO the flag of their
country, and have distinguished themselves in the
Constitution, United States, Essex, and on the
Lakes Erie and Champlan?
In the House the Oregon question is still pend
ing. 1t is admitted by every one, that during
the presest session, more order and decorum has
existed than atany former period-and the talents
and eIoquence displayed on both sides of the
House, has never been egualled--l must confess,
from the little opportunity have had, in listening
to the debates of the House, it is true.
Yours truly, JUSTlNIAN.