The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-29

infringement Of his constitutional rights. But The
strongest objeetion-and, indeed, an masquerade
| one 70 his mind-to this bill It's manifest inus.
tice to the officers Of the navy IL the gentleman
4 formerly commander OF the Texan navy be nov
made a post captain in the navy OF the United
States, tho whole number Of eommanders-ninety.
ssyen---is inevitably oyerslaughed. He knew il was
contended to be otherwise, because the apponlmsn,
| would be made not TO vacancy already existing in
| the grade Of captains, but 10 a new plaee-tO one
/ expressly made for the purpose. For one, he
was utterly unable TO perceive any difference
80 far as regards the point made, whether the
appointment be made 10 new place, or a
vacancy already existing. The oyersaughing con-
sists in placing over the heads Of the Commanders
one who is not entitled the place by regular military
i precedence. How, and when, the place made
was of no consequence. The material inquiry was
whether the person appointed was taken from The
line below the officers standing next below the place
to be filed, wha, is equivalent TO Il, taken from
out the line altogether II so, then the officer emf.
tied to the place by military precedence, would B,
superseded or oyerslaughed, and, by consequence
all under him Of the same grade. IL had been said
also, that the lieutensnts were in no way hindend
/ ia promotions by the appointment Of a commander
from the Texan navy, inasmuch, also, as a new
place is created for him. Bat LET suppose, fora
moment, that, In process Of time, II should become
necessary TO increase the number ofcommandes in
the navy the places thereby crested would OF course
cause the promotions Of some lieutsnants, and tho
1
~ for an increase be anticipated, and the places
created be also filed by persons out Of the line did
every perceive that the chances Of the pres
ent leutenants for promotion would be thereby di.
pinished' Nothing could be palmer To his sppre
hension. But there was another point 10 which he
would say a word or two. Il 10 said by the senator
from South Carolina, Mr. CALHous,l that there
| gas probably no objection 10 the persons who were
proposed 10 be provided for. He thought otherwise
The person proposed for post-csptaney, ~ he had
-
the Texan navy, and had never been legally restored.
Again: the person proposed for a commander, he
/ had understood, formerly midshipman In the
navy Of the United States. At the time appointed
for the examination Of midshpmen, for some reason
or other, he not present At asubsequent ex-
animation instead Of presenting himself, among 9th
ers, IL Is understood that he resigned and entered
the Texan service, but has never from that ume 10
the present, set his foot on board ship, although
| he may have occupied some station on shore IN con-
sexton with the navy. This Is a very intelligent
| and worthy gentleman, he believed; but, really, he
could perceive propnety, bat great injustice, in
bringing him into the navy Of the United States
and placing him the heads Of three hundred and
twenty-six lieutensnts. lfMr +. was incorrect in
these facts, he hoped the senators from Texas who
were familiar with the whole subject would correct
him. He had no desire TO do any one injustice.
| The debate further continued by Messn
BREESE and BERRlEN, who spoke against the
| bill, and Messrs SEWER and CASS in its favor
Mr.. RUSk then said, In reply TO the senator from
Georgia and others, that Il appeared to him 10 be
rather singular course Of opposition to the bill to
travel entirely out Of the record and make assault
on the officers whose admission into the navy Of the
| United States was now sought on principles which
were definite and open for examination. That was
not the place occasion either TO assail defend
these officers IL the bill passed, the President
authorized to add to the navy Of the United Suites
such officers only belonged TO the Texas navy al
the time of anne xaton; and il was for him TO inst
tute inquiries as TO whether such and such officers
belonged to that navy at that time IL therefore sp
peared TO him to be rather unfair argument
against the general principles Of the bill to turn
| round and assail these officers Both branches Of
| the Congress Of Texas had by express resolutions
| recommended that these very officers should be
placed in the navy Of the United States The con-
| vention which framed the constitution Of Texas
passed similar resolution. And the Legislature Of
Texas, which had just terminated It's session, had
made a similar recommendation IL was, then, in
his opinion, altogether out of place TO direct
the opposition to the bill entirely against these
to undertake their defence at this time. III the bill
passes they viii have opportunity to defend
themselves, and he very confident that that de-
fence would be quite satisfactory. He hazarded
nothing in saying that they would be bic satisfy
the President Of their competency and qualifications
As for "oversiaughing," as il called, he (Mr. /
r. wosld be the last man in the world to over
slaugh any officer Of the United States. But that
objection TO the bi had not the slightest force A.
well might II be said that by the creation Of the new
regiment the other day the officers of the army
were oversaughed. The incorporation of the Off
GERS of the Texan navy with that of the United
States would increase instead of diminishing the
chances of promotion TO the present officers OF the
latter. There were now ninety-seven commanders
in the United States. The additional commander
brought in by this bill would be of course the Junior
officer the list. How, then, would he interfere
with the others' Was il not likely that the captain
brought in by this BILL would by death or other
wise, vacate his Office before the whole ninety
commanders above him were promoted, and in that
case would not the chances of promotion 10 those
below him be increased, and not diminished Bot
there were strong and valid for the adms-
sion of these officers. They were well acquainted
with the coast of Mexico, and during the present re-
atons OF the United States and that republic their
services would be of the highest value and impor-
lance But he placed this bill on still higher grounds
In the joint resolution for the annexation Of Texas
this arrangement was specially provided for. The
term "navy" included, of course, the officers and
men. Texas so understood this clause in the terms
of annexation, and after the United States had re-
ceived the ships which had been ceded it was only
simple justice that the whole Of the terms should be
complied with-a fair and Just, not al all to speak
of liberal construction of the joint resolution of an
nexa'lon; and he therefore hoped that the opposition
would be Withdrawn.
REsoLuIfoN.
On motion of MIR. CASS, ....
RscLres That the Committee Foreign Relation, be
instructed to inquire into the expediecy OF providing
ouiht Tor the commissioner to the sandwich Islands
On motion of Mr.. JOHNSON, of Maryland, or 4
dered that Mr. BREEsE be the chairman of the
Committee for the District of Columbia in the place
of Mr. Haywood, resigned, and that the Pres
Ident appoint the members to ELL the vacancies.
Mr. RusK and MIR. AIHE RroS were accordingly
appointed.
So the Committee for the District of Columbia
of ~ A., n
ATTENTION. ~ -.'-'
THE TARFF.
message was received from the House of Rep
resentatves, informing the Senate tina, the House
had agreed to the Senate's amendment of the tariff
bill.
THE suB-rREAsuRr ELL. "A
The Senate then, on motion Of Mr.. LEWIS, pro-
ceeded to the consideration Of the bin for the better
organization Of the treasury and for the collection,
MA L.