The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-03-03
For the New Era.
THE NAVY AND THE woRKINGME:N

Mr.. Editor IL have TO thank You for the pub
LEGATION of my first article, and have no doubt
my fellow workingmen will thank you for the in
dependent and earnest manner, in which you have
takenup the silent but rapid encroachments of the
officers of the Navy upon the rights of the civil
ians, and spoke of our wrongs; and | am sure you
will reap your reward for it is not to be disguised,
that this question, which first induced me to put
my unpractised hand to paper, TO ask for leace to
toll, is growing in Importance, and like the little
cloud is already spreading over the whole surface,
swallowing up and covering all with its dark
shroud and am glad to see that the people of all
classes are awaklng to the danger that is gather
ing head against the liberties of the country.
wish, sir, that could handle the pen with fac-
ty, bnt the broad axe and the adze are poor tools
to give flexible and supple muscles to the fingers,
and hard days work. when we get it, is but
poor preparatory school for essayists to prepare
for addressing the public but will tresspass on
your kindness once again, to make place for this,
after it has received your correction.
see by the papers from Washington, that the
Chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs the
Hon. Thomas Butler King, of Georgia, has re-
ported bill for the reorganization of the Naval
Bureaus; and letter from friend informs me,
that he has reported in favor of putting Naval OF
ficers into all of them. This great wrong must
not be permitted What are the duties these Bu
reaus have to perform? Why entirely of a civil
nature, if we except the Bureau of Ordnance and
photography, which might be filled with scien-
tfc private citizen, but which am willing should
be given to scientific officer of the Army or
Navy, and the Medical Bureau which, perhaps,
ought to be under the control of an experienced
Naval Surgeon. All the others, should be under
the direction of civilians, and Naval officers should
not be allowed to interfere with any of the affairs,
or vessels, until they are fitted for sea- 1t is their
ignorant meddling with those things, of which
they know nothing. that has brought our naval
workmen into contempt, and through them that
such enormous ums have been lavshly expended,
in trivial and useless experiments, which have
swallowed up the appropriations, made from year
to year, without benefting the country or increas
ing the Navy.
The voice of the Workingmen has been ion
long unheard and unheeded' at the seat of Govern
ment; it has been too weak to penetrate the ear
Of power, closed, as that ear has been, by the bu
lion Oh NAVY OulCeIS, VINO living IN affluence,
idIeness and luxuriauee on the salaries drawn from
the sweat Of our brows, have blocked up all the
principal avenues to office. and who are silently
taking possession Of all the approaches to Govern
ment. They have the means to be in Washing.
ton, and attend to their o,on interests, at the ex
pense of ours, while we are left at home to toll.
if perchance that blessing is left u.s. and sling onr
caps in the air, and shout for Democracy and vic.
tory, when we have succeeded in electino some
favorite to Congress, or higher station, who goes
there 10 receive the unctuous attentions, drink the
sparkling wine and do the bidding Of these favor.
tie sons Of the sea.
These things, Mr.. Editor, and my fellow work
ingmen, must no longer be. Let US at once take
our stand upon the Constitution, and determine to
be free. Let US no longer vote for men who will
not carry out, rigdy, the spirit add letter Of our
rights We are the great sub-stratum, the fopn
dation, Of society, and on depends not only the
success, but the very existence Of Government