The national whig., 1847-07-07
THE DRY DOCK
,uEsTION SETTLED


This interesting question is now before the
Secretary OF the Navy for his final decision Il
is said that he has made up his mind upon the
subject, and only awaits the return Of The Pre-
sident to promulgate his determination. The
decision, if we are informed Alright, does honor
to the head aud heart of The Secretary, sur
rounded as he is by corrupt administration.
The law says that floating dock, acith basin
and railways, shall be built at Philadelphia.
The only floating dock in existence provided
with basin and railways, being what is called
the sectional dock, he has, we understand,
positively decided that this dock shall be erect
ed al this port. The law then says that float
ing dock shall be built at Kiiery and Pensaco.
la, arith reference to basin and railways. II so
happens that the basin and railways are a con
sIituent part oil, The sectional dock and though
other plans Of floating docks may be adopted
for these pors, The palen,ees will not permit
their basin and railways 10 be used unless their
whole invention is taken. The building. there
fore, Of any floating dock, other than the sec
q
ere,,ce to the basin and railways OF the sectional
dock. would be palpable invasion OF. the sec
tonal dock patent, which the government, we
are glad 10 learn, is unwilling 10 commit. But
we learn that proposition has been made by
the enterprising proprietors Of the sectional
dock, which has pu, IN end 10 all further dis
pute in the premises, and that Mr.. Secretary
Mason has determined to accept this PROPOSE,
ion. II is, that the department shall order The
erection Of the sectional dock, with It's basin
and railways, al Pensacola, and the erection o
the floating and balance dock at kittery, with
the basin and railways OF the sectional dock
An opportunity will thus be given TO The de
partnlent by the generous course Of the palen
tees Of the sectional dock, TO test the balance
dock which, by being built acih reference TO
the basin and railways oI the sectional dock,
will be complying with The spirit as well as
the letter Of the law.
10 regard 10 the report Of the commission TO
which was referred the subec, by The Secre.
tary, we have heard some strange things
things hard to believe Of men endowed with
common perception. How that commissions
could report, in the face OF the law agains,
upon the supposiilon of neglect OF duty, or a
corrupt understanding with the paIentees ol
the balance dock The latter supposilion Is so
much at variance with probability, that we are
,,l>,, r., ~, ~
this report and this neglect Of duty may lie
either wilful, or the result Of careessness. We
suspect-we hope il is the later; because, in
that event, there will be some excuse Tor The
to the consideration Of The dry details Of me
chances There are those, however, we must
say, who are not rs charitable as we are on
The subject. il is boldly charged, in many
quarters, that corruption is al The bottom Of
the report BE tins rs j, may, we rejoice 10
learn that Mr.. Secretary Mason has taken The
responsibility Of vndicaling the law from the
violence of the commission. and, al tile same
time. of rescuing from the misrepresentation
OF charlatapism the sectional dock "a machine
which has stood the test oil science, and Of
which il is one OF The noblest results.
Mr.. Mason deserves The highest credit for
his resisting, on this occasion, the pressure OF
corruption, and for boldly asserting The supre.
macy of The law II is rarely ,ha, we have the
opportunity Of speaking well Of the function
ares of the present administration, so stepped
up TO the eyes are they in corruption; but Mr..
Mason's present example is so worthy Of all
commentator, and SO opposed to pas, pracli
ces, that we begin TO fear that he has encoun
tered The disapprobation Of the Executive: we
hope not, however, and trust that Mr.. Mason s
decision in this business is an earnest that the
administration is determined 10 mend lis ways.