The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-30

In Senate, January %, l5i6-On the naval defences
OF the country, and in reply TO Mr.. BENTON, Of
Missouri.
MIR. DICKINSON said, at an early day in the
session, the senator from Michigan, Mr.. CAs,] in
tfodueed resolutions inqurlng Into the state OF the
public defsnces; and, although the resolutions we're
at first resisted lius reflection seemed to change
opposition to support; and, updu full debate, and
under call Of the yeas and nays, the resolutions
ceived the unanimous vote Of the Senate.
That part Of the inquiry which related to mari
time defence, was appropriately referred To the
Committee on Naval Affairs, of which he hsd the
honor TO be a member, and the bill before the Sen
ate was the result Of their labors. He had not in
tended to detain the Senate By any remarks, and it
was entirely unnecessary, after the clear and mirute
yindcaiion had received at the hands of the hon.
orable chairman, MIR. FnarirLD He fell bound
however, to notice, aud without delay, some of the
very extraordinary positions Of the senator from
Missouri, Mr. BEsros,l TO which he shoud main
~ confne himself. ..a
That honorable senator (ssid Mr.. d. had pro-
cecded to denominate the bin war measure, which
was the first official baptism it had receiyed, and
then to frghien the Senate from its proprlety by
parading, in its most imposing form, the vast
capcpses to which the country must be subjected
by its passage He held il to be immaterial
whether it was dcnominated war or peace
measure, for it was necessarily neither; and he
should only inquire whether il was just and proper;
j j
cordingly. He would assure that honorable senator
that he would open no ledger account between ma
tional honor one slde and pounds, shilings, and
pence, on the other; and, while he would resist at
all times, upon all occasions, and under all circum-
Stances any and every useless and extravagant APP
preparation, where the honor and interests of the
nation were concerned, he would not inquire
whether it would cost a large or small amount
one million more-to. vndicate and preserve
them. The argument Of the senator, (said Mr.. D. J
that the bill should not receive the favorable
sderation of the Senate, because Of the expense it
would occasion, without regard to its necessity or
utility, might be applied, with equal proportion
ate force to all the transactions of life and indi-
yiduals be admonished to deny themselves food
and raiment by reason iof the enOr,nity of the
pense. If such paltry consideration should
control, and every enterprise be abandoned which it
would require money to carry out, there would be
sorry advance in human progress; for probably,
upon strict computation of outlay, and its interest
account it would be found that the whole business
of the world from its foundation, had scarcely paid
its prosecution and superintendent. r. .
That SENATOR too, has reminded us (said Mr.. D.
that a great and powerful party, few years since,
was oyerthrown because of the cry Of extravaganza
charged by its adversaries they insisting that the
government could be administered for thirteen mil
lions, while greater sum expended. The SEN
ator was doubtless correct in his historical remns-
cence but he (Mr. d. would beg leave to recall
another, and to inquire of the honorable senator
whether he had any recollection of a great and pow
erul party which once lowered high in its pride and
holiness, but was overthrown for opposing the de-
fences Of the country, and for not resisting in be-
coming tone and spirit foreign insoence and
aggression. Yes, Mr.. President, this party
which once stood firm and secure in its fancied
Notwithstanding out its giant to heaven like
the sturdy mountain oak, and defying the fury Of
the thunder-gust-was scared, blasted, and pros
trated by the omnipotence Of opinion, and nought
was left of its ancient and imposing grandeur but it's
fossil remains. It's members, like the rebeous de-
scendants of Israel, had been dispersed throughout
the earth but, unlike that fated race, so emphatic
was the sentence of their condemnation, that they
despared of being restored to their political Jerusa-
lem or of beholding the advent Of their Messiah.
But wherever one of this ancient and honorable fra
tcrnity can be found like the sea-shel torn from its
native bed he still is muttering of the ocean and
the Storm n6m ."..
The senator from Missouri, admitted we had
now what he was pleased to term peace establish
ment; the results OF plan which had been pursued
for thirty years, from which the is unwil-
ling to depart for any existing reasons. The pro-
posed divergence from the path beaten by the foot
prints Of thirty years. he regards improvient and
wasteful, and the contingent authority conferred by
this bill upon the President, to call into service the
whole maritime power of the nation, in case of high
necessity he denounces as unprecedented and enor-
NOUS Sir (said MIR. d. let that honorable sena-
tor show that our pOsiu0n il now what " mas Deen
in all respects for the last thirty years. and his ad
monitions will not be unheodcd, or his plan tran
scended. But what within that period has been the
progress of the natonl One-third of the presen,
number of sovereign States have been added to the
onfederscy-thrce-fod tos population--its various
and diversified interests increased beyond the power
of computation, and its territory stretched from
the morning to the setting But has there been
no departure from the plan of the last thirty years
sanctioned too, and supported by the senator from
Missour--ay, and by the united voice Of the SEN
atei Then, when the grim front of boastful and
gigantic power was lowering over the northeastern
Boundary, a contingent authority WINS given to the
President to employ the whole naval and military
force Of the country; and for that purpose the sun
Of ten millions Of dollars placed at his command
| He was literally invested with the purse and tn,
sword and authorized to exhaust the one and draw
the other in his discretion, TO maintain the hono
and interests of the country. Now, when our right,
upon the northwestern boundary arc 10 jeopardy
and the same power Is evidently preparing TO asser
| and maintain her claims rather than her rights
pesceably if she can, forcibly il she must, propo
sal to confer this same contingent authority upoi
the present Executive, placing at his disposal les
than one-hslf the amount Appropriated upon form
err occasion, 10 be used only ina case Of stern
Ioessity, is a naked authority, dangerous unprece
ldentsd, and enormous But whence this chang