The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-06
THE o MON.


abolish the navy. discharge the naval ocers and take
up the system recommended TO us lido not see the nc
cessily oi TWO systems think, the reiore, the argument
q The senator extends TOO far would require
abolish one or the other Let take the system If
tia best but, IN Gods name. let US not have two
Mr.. DUu1LAS shall be ready, when the naval
Dhi comes up, TO curtail the expenses
fast think the appropriations too large, and
no reason Tor this vast increase The navy expenses
from hse millions TO ten or twelve millions and think
every steamship that we have in the navy in time of
peace cughtto be employed in carrying mails, carrying
passeDgers extending our commerce, aording proec
lon and also yielding profitable and valuable benefits
to the community, instead of being idle with your
modores, captains, and heuenants upon shore doing
nothing. You have out OF your ninety different captains
now, not exceeding twenty in service OF your command
es, about the proportion and OF the other officers,
about the same proportion. shall be ready to
all these evils and 70 make your navy practical navy-a
useful navyone identified with the interests of the peo
pie and the interests OF the counlryidenied with
merce, the transportation OF mails, and passengers, and
all your radeso that the navy shall be identified with
the interests OF the country instead OF being separate
and distinct and useless upon the body poll
tic, as il now remains, for twenty thirty years
time. And, sir, while making these remarks, am not
unrendly to the navy. wish to make it useful and by
making useful TO make il popular with the community
1 is Tor their good well as the good OF the country
that desire and wish this reform made.
Mr.. BADGER. AS II seems TO be the general desire
that every senator shall express his opinions relation
to the question under the consideration OF the Senate
[laughterl as the yeas and nays have been ordered
and according to the customary expression here do
not wish my vote upon this question to 20 out without
the reasons for il accompanying that to the people
and to my constituents will comply with this laudable
CUSTOM and yield 10 this apparent general DESIRE ire
newed laughter, by saying very few words to the
give
But, in the first place. Mr. President allow me 10 say
that am exceedingly sorry my friend from Illinois Mr.
DoUGLAs] should have made the remark which has last
fallen from him Sir, when he spoke first, he spoke
beautifully | listened to him with grea. satisfaction,
concurfed in every sentiment he expressed and stood
n w him nana.
ing question. But when he went OF his way, he
has just done; when he left the question before the SEN
ate when he discarded the proper rule which should
govern us, OF giving close accurate and precise atten
lion to the very matters that called upon de-
eide, think he acted unfortunately for himself, and
fear unfortunately Tor the great and important interests of
the country. My friend from Illinois said that when the
navy estimates should come beiothe Senate, he stood
prepared to vote for reducing the expenditure Of that de-
friend ought not TO have committed himself upon that
subject That question has not yet been before the SEN
heard upon it, My reasons will be found to be weghy
and grave, and am extremely sorry that my friend has
placed such obstacle in the way OF giving just iniu-
and consideration these BY pedgng him.
self beforehand to vote for 30 large a reduction
Again, yield always TO my friend upon all questions
that concern the land consider him at home there,
teigence with entire lmpartaty and disposition solely
to advance the general interest and welfare of the
try and the particular and special interests OF his const
uents but when he Wanders from the land 10 the water
aughter when he transfers his powers from that oca
ton which they have heretofore been with such
signal advantage to the country, and such signal honor
himself allow me say he makes Experiment.
The Senate have selected, with great discrimination and
Popriety, five members OF this body TO take charge of
the aqueous questions connected with the public service
and expenditure. And permit me to say that think
shall much better accomplish the great purpose for which
we are established as Senate, and divided into various
committees, Ito borrow expression from the sena-
tor from Missouri, Mr.. BENToNl-each can keep him
self TO his own baiwick. Now, have made these re-
marks simply 10 beg my friend from Illinois, with whom
ha nlInnu Tr'l ard .iv
that he viii sul allow his determination remain in
solution and permit has mind TO be open argument,
to be ready at The He that this custom comes before The
consideration OF the Senate TO hear what my friend from
| Florida the chairman Of the Naval Committee, MIR.
YuLEE,l and myself will be sure to say, and which
him will be well worthy OF his attentive consider
alton and that Of the whole Senate
| But must make another remark | was sorry an
uncourieous term should have fallen from his lips for
IS the first tme since have had the honor to be
ciaie with him in this body, that have heard him
such expression. He spoke OF this navy the
OF so much glory to the country the right arm of the
tona defence, as We all know il TO be, feel II my
special duty to maintain to behe spoke OF that navy
as "excrescence" kind of wart, ugly sore,
fungus OF foreign growth, deformng the appearance and
injunng the vitality OF the body polite. hope he will
retTact that
Now, 10 return from this short but necessary dgres-
son and TO aude 10 the particular subject under the
consideration OF the Senate, if | may do so without a
violation OF orderdesrng TO bring my remarks into the
nearest possible compass and not to fatigue the Senate
with iteration and reteraon-I will only say that adopt
as my speech entirely, what my friend from Mississippi
Mr. FooTE has said, except that portion in which he
ferred TO Mississippi reputation, about which,
know nothing, wish TO be understood expressing
opinion.
| Mr. DOUGLAS / repeat what | said before, that
when the naval appropriation bill comes up, shall
be
Mr. BADGER, Tin his seat) Oh, don't [Laughterl
! MIR. DOUGLAS (continung) shall be willing to
reduce II several millions think that word "wilng
implies that my mnd will be in the best possible
hear any argument tina, the senator from North Carolina
tMr. BApOERl may advance and decide upon IT accord
TO IFS merits, which, OF course would imply that should
to very great extent, yield my judgment to his But
only intended TO convey the idea according TO the opn
ion bad formed from the slight investigation which
was enabled TO give the subject, that the naval appro
priaons had swollen up TO too enormous sum, and
that with justice 10 the service and TO the country they
might be probably reduced
Now, sir, word about this uncoureous term which
the senator from North Carolina Mr. BADSERl says that
l. for the hrst time IN my senatorial career have been
guilty Of Instead oil taking exception TO that lmputa-
ton, thank hun, and am happy II have not mad
veneny more than once and upon many occasions been
uncourteous-never intentionally, but frequently, fear
by nadvercnce limited the OF that expression.
said that did not wish 10 the navy stand forth in
time OF peace upon the government In
time OF war, know II has rendered invaluable and go
Tous service know IT is essential branch OF the
public service. am insensibe OF the honors and
aurels has and do not wish TO dispense with il in
time OF or TO be without, the means OF avang
selves OF its benefits at any time when peril may
threaten. But what | is this that during a long
period OF peace your navy remains an almost useless
expenditure upon your hands; and that il you have
steamships commanded by naval officers yet owned by
individuals under contract with the government, OF
which the government can take possession at any hour
~ IL. II