New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-14
The NAVY and IL. uses.

10 many Millions which they have already paid Tor
the construction apd equipment Of tnst Navy. Ten
Millions a year we need hardly say, Is very
large sum-suiicient 70 cover the whole land from
Maine TO California with Railroads 10 short
lifetime For soch an amount the People have q
night 10 expect a large retorn-st all events, -
pnuob a. ia clearly practicable Where a signsI
and widely difased good from the Navy is plainly
attsinable, it should be most uDgrudgiDgiy be-
slowed.
The late Secretary Of the Navy, in his last An
NAL Report, stated that the following vessels Of
our Navy were then on the Pacific station, or
western coast Of California and Mexico-viz'
Ohio "a runs; Congress, a; Independence, -
Warren, 20: Fredonis, 4; ~ Mary ~ Dsie, 10
Lexington (ssore) s Southampton al unoer ths
command Of Com. 7. Ap Cstesby Jones since Ntlen
Tina the Lexington has ssiled for the United SLAVES
e.v,,g our Naval iorcs on the Pacific station. eight
vesssls rated at 256 guns, and probably mounting ~
1t least
Simultaneously with the appearance OF this
Annual Expose, official reports from California
were Published at Washington, confirming the
dubious accounts which had previously reached Us
of the extent and richness OF the Gold Region Oh
California. and the eagerness with which adven-
taren were aocking tbither from all quarters
The first swellIngs Of the mighty tide OF emlgra
ton to the region Of the Sacramento were already
sensibly felt throughout our own country, ana u
was abundantly evident that the hundreds a.
ready moving would be speedily followed by tens
al thoasapds. AT the same time it was notorious
that. while thousands would naturally rush across
the Isthmus Of Darien and the hepobIlc oi NICK
ioo % aHordng the shortest practicable routes 10
a.. Frspcisco the commercial marine oil the "a
c,fc coast was scanty indeed, and that It could
not be expected for many months TO meet the
orsssng demands upon 1t for means OF trsnsporta-
ton. Already our citizens bad begun to collect
at Panama, Mszstlsn and other Pacihc ports'
eagerly awaiting the appearance oil vesse" 70
cpnvey them 10 the Land Of Gold. 1t did seem
that here was case, if one could ever arise Tor
the paternsl interposition OF the Government III
behalf OF our adventurous and imperiied citizens'
Accordingly, the W riter hereof, directly after
the publication OF the Presidents Message and
accomplishing documents, including the Navy
Report and the California dispatches, drew the
following resolution which, the first fair oPpor-
tonity hereaiter--Dsmeiy, on the 18th oil Decem-
Der last-be submitted to the House OF Repre-
sentativcs, viz:
Rssopsd That the Secretary Of the Navy be request
I'd 10 consider and report upon the expectancy anu
frssbty of temporarily employing the whole or some
portion OF our National vessels on the Pscihc sta
non In the transportation, at moderate rates, oil Aei
can citizens and their effects from Psnsma sno ,he
Nexican pors on the Pacific 10 San Francisco In Cal
iiornis."
The presentment Of this resolution was met
with q guf Il object from the Loco Foco side
of the House, although it proposed no action, IN
volyed no expense, but simply required the proper
fanctionary to consider the expodiency OF the ae-
ton proposed No debate was contemplated, and
the passage Of the resolution would have required
less than q minute OF the time OF the House. But,
though resolutions Of inquiry not clearly objection
able usually pass without dissent, yet single OBJ
lection 10 sufficient TO carry such resolution
over-so had no choice but submission. Alter
the States had been called through, however
again rose aud asked 10 be permitted to reofer
INV resolution so modified m to make the inquiry
OF the House Committee on Naval Affairs instead
of the Secretary Of the Navy so as to render its
Immediate consideration in order, but object,
.obiect was sung out from tho Loco-Foco
benches, and the resolution thus choked down.
IAN this, DO 1t noted, took place before the sp-
pcarance Of my Mileage Expose, and when had
said or done nothing 10 or respecting the House 10
which any one took exception 1t W" snmple
expression. first, Of hostility by one side OF the
House to legislation generally, and on the part o.
many friends OF tho Navy OF the sentiment that
any employment of that Navy in works OF vulga
utility aud prosaic benehcencc is derogatory t
its dignity and indicative Of paltry and srovelns
spirit. That our National vessels should maxi
money for their commanders by the transportation
of isokssses and other vendibles from one port &
another will lust answ or, but u have 1t earn any
thing for the Nation by such uses as were contem
plated by this resolution is not to be thought OF.
True when this resolution came up IN orde
some time sfterw ard, and could no longer be thro
tied except by IN open majority vote against H.
was allowed to pass though the Noes thereo
were nearly equal to the Aycs-and that was tn
end of it. The Naval Committee never reporte
upon--yery likely, never looked at it-and 1t lie
dead in that Committees hands to this day.
Meantime, what have we seen
in the first place, American citizens by tho'
sands crowded into the petty seaports OF the Mex
can and New -Grenadian Pacific, anxiousy swai
fOr W0oko 9uu fhohshss ses<'~ W. ~ w.
ance 70 San Francisco, rendering subsistence 81
psnsivs and residence uncomfortable by their e'
cessive numbers, exhausting their means depr
wing their morals and undermining their health I
q prosracted idleness. among scenes OF novel G
posurs and temptation, far removed from the
strsining influences OF home and friends. Tn
many have already laid their bones among ssra
sen Sho might very probably, had facilities
risratieA been within their reach, have no
been alive e-a vigorous in California.
TAoussnda are ,,'ill detained at these ports loo
mn unxsously fx tho vessels that do not come,
vhenevsr enc does Ape .. paying tire most exc
Infant prices Cor comiVr,less I'D hazardous tsr
portstion. Had tho NasionS' NesAsls on that cos
been promptly ordered to rsnde' al assible fsS
niss 70 the emigration Of American ma ALT
would have been very different
Nav. more: While no American en'srer''
Gar A we have heard, hasyet been transported
c.ssornis in our National vessels, we have B
.av;ce. Of the transportation Of three or 'oar a'
Ard Mexicsns at one trip In one OF eur Na'io
v...ai. from Mexican port to San Franeise'
A. xovs ble specimenS Of the mag