Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-24
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2l--M continuation.
NAVAL rxrENsI0M

NAVAL EXTENSION.
The following is the remainder Of the debate which took
place in relation to the fixing Of day which consider
the bill proposing to make addition the Navy Of
steamers
Mr. ALLEN make few remarks in reply 10 the
Senator from Indiana. He all offended with his
remaksregardng them merely the effect of strong
element But his friend from Indiana had unfortunately al
together overlooked the fact that the safety the Oregon
territory perled by making the distinct un-
connected He wanted additional strength to the Oregon
question by connecting with others He knew that in all
human pobabiy-nay, he would say was impossbethe
question of appropriation would not affect Oregon He want
ed them 90 together because he wanted the Oregon
ton succeed Before they voted that appropriation, they
should have in view great object accomplish and that
object ought be the extension Of their territory the shores
Of the Pacific. With that object in view, they should
the appropriation not that must necessarily supennduce
Of war, but that NIGH do His friend from Indiana
had forgot his mr. A. 81 statement that he opposed
the appropriation but wanted to be fixed for that day
which the Oregon notice up The Oregon notice the
Senator would hardly characterize barren measure
He thought had quite substance in it any other
because il would have all the effect of the law of the land
So with the bill extending the jurisdiction Of the laws of the
United States the Oregon territory. These
not distractions they substantial and those which
he meant to promote by the appropriation; for that he
thought would mainly depend the passage of these
IA TO the question Of peace to be viewed in the
ordinary way. There mghtbe there might not One
thing he on this question there could be
Of But what construction the British Government might
put it question for their consideration, and upon
which Senators might very properly entertain very opposite
opinions The Senator them he would say, did him wrong
in saying he did not want the appropriation. He
did want it and he wanted also to give the notice. and
extend the laws Of the United States the whole territory
Of the United States had always been of advantage the
country to put the seaboard in state of defence it had al
ways been of advantage exhaust the treasury by proper
pendures He wanted to take advantage OF the feeling
vaent throughout the land the Oregon question. All he
wanted was that before they began making appropriations
they should contemplate those measures He had been forced
to speak candidy There was no difference between the
Senator and himself but in the mode Of doing the thing He
Mr wanted to do it to pass those the
Senator from Indiana wanted to do in such To-
exclude them.
Mr.. WESTCOTT said he thanked his honorable friend
from Indiana for his views the question He thought he
could follow him in the he had marked for himself
in those remarks With the Senator from Ohio he could
agree The honorable Senator from Ohio said that he want
ed the two questions, the question appropriation for the
defence Of the seaboard and the Oregon question: discussed
together rather that the Oregon question should be settled
first That his candid explanation to the Senate With
equal candor, he Mr W. would tell the Senator that his
vote for any that would probably lead to would
not be given till he this bill pass both Houses Of Congress-
and the country put Of defence The honorable
Senator from Indiana had urged all the arguments in favor Of
this bill necessary to be advanced on this ne
would not reiterate hem In reply to the candid avowal of
the Senator from Ohio that he would for this bill till
the Oregon notice had passed. he would with equal candor
clare that he desired the subject of the defence of the Atlantic
and Gulf be first settled and he would for
the notice (avowedly as it to be proba
bly, leading war; until that placed in proper
state Of defence by the passage of this BILL and the erection
necessary Notifications .
The difference between them which question should
be decided first made important by the avowa
Of the Senator from Ohio and induced him (Mr w adj
here firmly his opinion that this bill should be passed
at an early day.
Mr. YUEE did not wish to see the favorable action Of the
Senate the bill eoparded by any unnecessary connexon
Of with other measures the result of which yet alto
geher Problemacal He begged those gentlemen who
xl Il
display of their becose propenses for Great Britain, and
not to allow them to interfere with this little domestic
He protested against the application Of the principle of
terly inactivity to this He did dis
the question of Of notice He left that entirely for
the mastery spirits of that body But he did desire that the
favorable attention of the Senaethat the favorable and hear
consideration Of the Senate might be given this
not measurement connected with the Oregon
simply stood upon merits as do
nestle connected with the interests and security Of
the country. Gentlemen mistaken when they supposed
that the bill provided for appropriation of five six mil
hons II provided simply for augmentation Of the steam
marine of the country at expense Of millions Of
dollars and although advisable for him advert
proceedings which took place in committee he begged
to the honorable chairman of the Naval Committee
reply much he had thought proper aude to- that
Mr. Y for his part at least governed in his advo
racy OF this bill by regard to principles Of economy He
mad taken pains to examine the naval statistics Of the
country for the last ten twenty years. and to his
constituent he had found by tables prepared from official
ports that in list of all the vessels built for the navy within
the last twenty years. and in another list Of all vessels built
within the last ten years. the of repairs actually amounted
10 within few hundred thousand dollars of sum equal to
the original expenditure for their construction To his
he had found that within three years after the
completion of vesss of war; the OF 900 the
original had been expended for reparsrepas rendered
necessary consequence of the defective although
CANT which the vessel had been built under the
sent bad system at the public yards by the liability of the
materials decay
Now, the bill proposed points, addressing themselves
only to the economical puopensies Of gentlemen which were
he trusted, quite strong their warke propensies
proposed that these vessels should be built by contract
der that the mechanics Of the country who help sustain the
public defenees should have fair chance Of entering into
cesu competition for the execution Of this department of
public work and in order that the may be as reasonable
good materials and good workmanship will allow BY such
system millions would be annually saved instead of being
squandered under the system, which actually
premium TO sovenly and lazy execution of the work Again
II proposed by the bill add class of vessels to the
navy which could be put into service not just ccum
stances demanded But he would favorable con-
sderaon of the BILL that the necessity Of the
called for the proposed increase Of the navy The navy
was true large enough and costly enough it did
consist Of that material which the present necessities of the
country required Located he himself was, Immediately
on the Gulf and important point he had for the
last three four years. felt bound interest himself in the
subject Of the deences Of that important upon the
security Of which depended the safety of the whole rich val
ley OF the mississippi and vast portion of the South, APP
proachab was from the bordering islands of other
hons But what had been done the defence of that
sea While millions millions had been expended north
Of the capes OF the Chesapeake the seaboad south Of
that point had been almost altogether neglected And
when ne spoke of that not Mt all with any sectional
feeling, any views Of sectional interest but mainly
the IF fha