The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-10

4
dy much greater than was necessary. His object
was " increase the efficiency Of the navy regards
ed the defence Of the gulf and other portions OF the
coast where the waters were shallow and that, as
| he had just said, without increasing the eypsndi-
lures OF the government, or that particular appro.
priation which applied 10 the maintenance Of the
naval service. He therefore wished time in which 10
consider the details of the BILL for the purpose Of so
| directing the naval appropriations 10 meet the
ends which he had stated. He could see no neoes-
siy for hasty action, hasy construction Of these
vessels. He thought that by making correction
OF the present expenditures for the navy all the pur-
poses Of the friends Of the bill might be attained
without increasing the appropriation. In reference
to the second section Of the bill, he could see 20
necessity for giving TO At Immediate consideration.
| The discretionary power was Just well in the
hands of Congress as Of the Executive; and, in
deed, he presumed that the Executive would not be
dsposed TO exercise any such discretion while Con-
gress was in session. the contemplation Of the bill
being TO afford him an opportunity Of Immediately
meeting any contingency tina. might arise during
the recess Of Congress. No reason, therefore, ex-
listed for anything like has,y action on the bill
whilst there every reason for the postponement
OF further aod more deliberate consideration Of it,
when the deliberations OF Congress would not be
disturbed by the agitations which at present arose
out OF the existing state OF our political relations
with foreign countries. He hoped, therefore, that
the further consideration Of the bill would be post
poned. He thought that the first Monday in May
was perhaps, later day than was necessary but he
was willing even 10 agree to that rather than now
proceed 10 final action on The measure
i Mr.. DICKINSON remarked that the bill had al
ready received pretty elaborate discussion. The
chairman Of the committee by whom y had been re-
| ported was unayoidably absent, lie thought II
would do no great mischief 10 allow the bill TO be
PASSED informally, or 10 lie laid on the table for
the present. He submitted that il would be some
what uncivil TO postpone il in the absence Of the
| chairman Of the committee. lie trusted that Il
would be permitted 10 lie the table, unless some
other senator wished to address the Senate on the
| subject.
Here there were cries Of question" Question"
j when
Mr.. J. NJ. CLAYTON rose, and stated that the
Secretary of the Navy had no, yet had Time to fur
nish the Information desired by him in resolution
which he had the honor TO offer the other day. He
presumed that the answer Of the honorable secre-
| larry would be given tomorrow, and an it would be
expected to cast some light the subject, he would
himself then offer some remarks the bill. He
would therefore desire an adjournment.
| Mr.. MANGUM again rose, and said that TO pre-
vent any Interpretation, he would state more ex-
plicy his objection To the bill being passed over
| He was opposed To going into any measure for the
augmentation OF the navy in the absence Of any ur-
gent necessity and desired that the sense Of the Sem
ate might now be taken on the postponement Of !
the bill! TIL time when it could be taken up de-
libemtely. Some represented the bill as q peace
measure. IL was introduced in war speech. Now |
he believed that large majority of the body were
opposed to the course Of the late negotiation with
England, and especially that course developed in The
correspondence last laid before the Senate, as he
thought the spirit in which that negotiation had been
conducted not satisfactory TO anything approach
ing to a ery Of that body and he desired to see
the sense OF the Senate expressed by the vote on
thi, question. He would at any time unite with his |
| friend from Delaware in maintaining the peace es-
adjustment Of the country. But he belieyed-and |
he spoke for himself only-that a system Of
drlusion, if not of disguise, hal been kept up
for the purpose Of fretiing, Of irritating, Of ex-
citing, and even Of depressing the public mind,
when the men at the head Of the government
had really no more idea Of getting into a war
than he had Of encouraging a war. And he
took the responsibility Of saying that such was the
estimate that he had at hat placed upon the ability
with which that thing had teen conducted and upon
the spirit which, SO far ms he could Judge from the
diplomacy, he'd thus far characterized it, that IL he
had confidence in the sagacity and statesman.
ship of those who had the control Of this question
he should feel much easier than he did. The bill
before them had Teen introduced by the chairman
Of the committee in speech indicating that il WINS
necessary 10 make these arrangements with a view to
the position in which stood with regard to great
| foreign power. 1t had been very properly met, as
1t appeared to him, by the senator from Missouri |
Mr.. BENTON, who remarked that il il was designed
| rs q war-measure q measure looking TO war |
il was but as drop in the bucket. He was unwil-
ling that the public mind should be kept in n fever
sh and agitated state, when in his heart he believed
that those who conducted the agating process
looked more to the gratitude which they anticipated
TO follow their adjustment-whioh he had doubt
they did hope 10 be able to effect-the adj ustment
| of all these dificues-rsther than any wants and |
necessities the part Of the navy at this instant
In the present state Of the public mind he did not |
think that they ought to be discussing this little |
measure. II things in the condition which |
the papers laid before them exhbited-and certain
ly all must admit that in view Of thcse papers
they stood in much more fearful condition than |
they had hitherto apprehended-they ought not to
be wasting time in the discussion of such meas |
ure as that. Yet he did not doubt--he had |
not a particle Of doubt that The measures which |
bad contributed to bring them into that con- |
dion never were designed that the men having |
control OF the public affairs, intended to avoid dis
nrbng the commerce and business of the country.
But what had been the fhctsi They had commenced |
early in the session with these measures, when not
man of wisdom, in his judgment, in the whole |
country, had ever supposed that should get into
war for this piece of territory ut of the ends
Of the earth Yet such has been the excitement,
created in the public mind that no man can Law his |
head his pillow, and feel that the country is in
safe hands-or that we in safe position, he
would rather say. However he was perfectly will.
ing that this thing should lie on table for the present
and he hoped that it would never be taken IN until
more light be shed on the position in which the
country stood. ...
Mr. BAGBY had merely few words to saw, He
hadexpressed at some length the other day his opinion
as to the merits of the bill, and he would not have
troubled the Senate again on the subject, had il not
been for the extraordinary remarks which had fall
en- from the senator from North Caro- ina. But for
that, he would have allowed the bill to 60 to its fate
without opening his mouth. With respect to the
bill, whether regarded war measure or as
peace measure he did not at all differ with the sena-
tor. 1t was entirely too large for peace measure,
AZ war measure, il was entirely too small. But
there he thought. son1ethiny due--eanecialv
and emphatcaly due--to those intrusfe1 at present
with the administration Of the public affairs OF the
country; and so far from agreeing with the senator
from North Carolina in regard to the disclosures
made by the last correspondence which had taken
place between this government and the British min
ls,er resident here, he (Mr, B approved Of it, as
he did of the whole Of the admin ,tration in
this negotiation from beginning to end. What had
been developed by the last correspondence brought
to light within the Hast few days. Compromises,