The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-27

every gun required at least ten men, and every
required Two hundred and twenty dollars for his
support. So that when we vote for certain num-
Der Of guns, vote for a certain number OF men,
and ten men for every gun! H. then, we vote an
addition 10 our navy to-day OF fye hundred guns,
We vote for the addition OF five thousand men TO the
naval establishment. With this there TO be
repeal Of the limit Of enlistment The bill came for
ward as war measure; for, he asked, could any
body point TO naval peace establishment which
required twelve millions per annum, without count
ing the men TO be enlisted afterwards, swelling the
entire amount 60 $4,000 600, when the expenses OF
the whole government, according to the estimates,
were but twenty-one milllonE 1.-THE bill reported
by the senator from Maine Mr.. FAIRFIELDl should
be adopted, leaving out the proposition Of the
tor from Indiana Mr.. HAssEcAs,l we should have
this amount of thirteen Millions out OF the twenty
one millions, for naval defence. He was opposed
TO the bill, ON account OF the enormily of appro-
priation for any single arm OF national defence
more than that he was opposed 10 Il as war meas
ure. He was opposed TO IL, because he was not
willing that the American Senate should by passing
II, declare TO the American people and TO Europe,
that we had an idea Of war, and therefore deemed il
necessary TO make warlike preparations He trusted
that he had some fair perception OF what every ma
ton was bound to do for itself He had given some
proof OF this heretofore. He had voted for sppro-
priaons for udicious increase Of the navy Of the
United States, according 10 the matured policy
which was adoPted and that was, TO appropriate
about million year for gradual and regular in
crease OF the navy, and its armament, and equip
ment lie would, and he expected to vote for this
ne haa, men, IN SPECIFIC appropriations, shown that
he was not al all blind TO the proprety of defence
We could all recolect that ten years ago we had a
large surplus OF money and that various plans were
presented for dsposing OF II. He al that time pre
scented one for the permanent defence of the country
ssPproprlauns the whole amount for this purpose;
/ ~ ti.H c.
He was not unmindful Of the duty of preparing. IN
| times OF peace, FOR war; and was now ready as he
already had said, TO go on with an appropriation
for the permanent defence Of the country according
TO the matuIed policy and system on which the gov
1 eminent had acted for thirty years From the con.
elusion OF the late war, down to this time the gov
eminent had acted on this policy, duly matured and
considered. This he was ready to carry forward
but he was not willing to depart from this policy,
this system, and plunge into a measure, when
every thing around US indicated peace. III war
should come, then he would vote adequately with
no stined hand everything which the service Of the
country required. He was against increasing the
navy, beyond the limit adyerted to- in time Of peace
| IL war should come, he would be one thing, moi
halfway; he against any measure which was
questionable or debatable on its face; aud he hoped
that his position peace, would never be ques-
| iionable or debaable. We should with regard 10
this subject act clearly, distinctly and de6ntyeIy,
that the country may not be deceived. We have
not precisely naval peace establishment. Since
he had been here various bills had been brought in
for this purpose, and the question discussed In
lo4l, the senator from Virginia, mr. ARCHER I re-
ported bill for the organization Of a permanent
peace establishment. Restriction after restriction
had been prescribed by Congress. Then the whole
number was eight thousand men, and the estimates
six millions OF dollars; but the administration al
that period run up the number Of men and officers
in the twinkling Of eye, to eleven or twelve thou.
sand, at an expense of eight millions of dollars; and
plan was sent in by which the number might be
carried up to fifteen thousand by adding an additional
number oil guns to the navy; and for what purpose'
That of putting squadron, consisting of two ships
ofthe-line and eight smaller yesses-where. In
| the Mediterranean sea, and for the avowed purpose
| Of protection, when there was not the ycsee of a
pirate to be found there Subsequently, however,
the naval establishment was required 10 fall b,ck 10
eight thousand men by the expiration of the period
Of enlistment. Since that time some further eg,sla-
ton had taken place. t'This,part Of Mr. BEsIos,,
remarks was naudibe to the reporter and therefore
he cannot venture TO give IT He asked the friends
OF the navy" those called by way OF pre-emi-
nence, (though he was himself friend of the navy
what they conceived would be the consequence Of
keeping up so large naval establishment in the
| country What would be the effect of such a war
establishment when our destiny, resulting from the
laws OF God ana from geographical position, as
| consider what would be the effect of permanent
naval war establishment in time of peacei Great
Britain had no idea of such thing as that; she who
keeps up navy for the purpose of offence as well
as de 'encc. Even she had no idea Of keeping up a
war establishment IN time Of peace. The ordinary
expenses Of her navy were from Ave to six millions
sterling, or less than one-third the amount of her
war establishment And were we to have navy al
the same expense in peace in war Increased
| twice the amount Of what it was' Were we to
double, and take one jump from six millions to
twevei He was utterly opposed to it, and he wish
ed gentlemen to look to the organization of a naval
peace establishment At the close of General Jack
sons administration, four thousand men and an ex-
penditure of three or four millions for the navy
were considered extravagant. But they had
doubled since. And were we prepared to dou-
BILE and double, and carry six millions to
| twelve millions' He repeated that there was
now in the estimates from the Navy Department,
one million and fifty thousand dollars for the in.
! crease, repair, AMI armament Of the navy. He
would vote for that with pleasure. And with this
regular increase, he thought that we were going on
as fast as the country increased, and great deal
faster. The world had changed. Thirty wears
ago the West Indies and the Mediterranean were in
tested by pirates; but now the whole world was re-
duced to order, and commerce was safe everywhere
In the Mediterranean there was no more danger
than IN the chesapeake bay. And it would be far
better that our ships should remain in the Cbesn-
peake bay, that the money might be spent at home
and not abroad. If they were not to remain in the
Chesapeake bay, let them be distributed, according
to the idea Of distributing Offices, to the seaboard
towns, that every one may have his share. There
was no more necessity for squadron in the Medi-
terranean than in the Chesapeake bay to protect our
commerce: There was no necessity, in peace
point OF view,or war point Of view, for doubling
our navy, as now proposed by this bill. He would
60 against It as war measure. The motion which
he should make was, that the bill be postponed to
some day far distant in the session. Everybody
said they would not want the vessels for some time
and therefore he saw no necessity for war meas
ure to-day If gentlemen were ready for the aues-
ton ne would vote against the BILL if they were dis
posed to layit over for few MONTHS to see what
WIN turn up, ne had no objection. Mr.. B. (at the
suggestion of several senators) moved that the hi;
bePostgoned until the first Monday in May.
Mr. DICKINSON arose, but few sentences
OF his opening remarks were quite naudibe to the
reporter lie was understood, however, to COM
mence by observing that, at very early stage of
'ne session, resolutions were brought forward, and
received nearly the unanimous vote Of the Senate.
portion of the subiectmatier related to the nnv,