The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-26
Mr.. SEWARD. Yes. sir that is the fact

1
Mr.. SEWARD. Yes, sir that is the fact
Mr. SHIELDS. If that be the case | shall change
my course think il TO be Just
Mr. HUNTER. The senator asks whether any oil the
proceedings in relation to Lieut. Meade have been pub
lished In all iha has been published in relation 10
Commodore Jones IN these proceedings there appears
only reference TO Lieut. Meade which Is found 10 a
letter from Commodore Jones 10 the Secretary OF the
Navy in which he referred TO Lieut. Meade, aud said
" | believe he worthless dihcer" !" Lieut. Meade
now comes here and his purpose, understand is to DIS
credit Commodore Jones And he calls for information
which does not relate to himself 10 his conduct
at all but which relates to certain charges preferred
against Commodore Jenes by junior officer
Now, sir, when Lieut. Meade comes here and asks for
call for information to crimnae Commodore Jones,
then Commodore Jones will come here and ask for nfor-
nation which may enable him TO show that Lieutenant
Meade was worthless officer; and thus we have the
Senate in effect acting that which does not concern
their legislative duties. admit that we have right v
call for information in relation 10 the action OF COM
mitee but here find the Senate trying the mere issue Of
personal character and not matter which relates to
their legislative duties; and ask if il is not better and
more prudent that should abstain here. imagine il
was never necessary to have asked the Secretary oil the
Navy 10 send that letter Of Commodore Jones up here
suspect il it looked into that we should find il ORR
ginaed in no malice to Lieut.. Meade, but il merely ap-
peared ander this resolution calling for information and
now shall proceed further and try this issue Of per-
senal character?
Mr. SHIELDS. Will the honorable senator permit me
TO inquire il the papers originally published at the time
the case was under consideration
Mr. HUNTER. Yes, sir, they Were The papers that
were published had no connexlOn with Lieut. Meade, ex
cept that among the papers in relation TO the couTtma
tla held on CON- Jones, there reported letter from
Com Jones-then commandant on the Pacific station-in
which he stated that he believed Lieut.. Meade
worthless officer
Mr. GWN. can give the exact information in re-
gard to this subject The Secretary OF the Navy filed
statement, made before Com Joness statement, of the
charges brought against him. Com. Jones addressed a
confidential letter 10 the Secretary OF the Navy, CIV
ing an explanation Of these, charges Subsequently
the court-martal called, and this confidential
letter brought before that court martial; and,
among the papers called for, this confidential letter
came, and was published with them. II explanation,
Lieut. Meade charged that Com Jones failed in his du
ties in putting him in command OF the ship Edith in
San Francisco, where he had been ordered. These
tie Commodores letters him (Leu Meade and the or
ders Of the Navy Department Well sir, il was acharge
OF alsehood against Com Jones; and in this letter he
refers to Lieut. Meade as "worthless officer" Lieut.
Meade complains OF this and says he knew nothing
of il until he had left the navy, or he would have de-
manded court-martial. But he never heard OF it until
charges be investigated here as be had power to de-
mand ourt-marial after he had left the navy
MIR Badger, Twas very much struck with. and
Bile senator's from Michigan Mr. CAssl and Illinois. Mr.
SHIELDS have been in the habit, and | know the
Senate has been in the habit have been in it, Of
constantly and without question, calling for proceedings OF
martial whenever they asked for by any
tor But am persuaded, from what has taken place in
this oase that is in which the Senate should
not indulge We ought TO retrace our steps, and not
hereafter engage in making such calls without clear and
Bai, as my friend from Illinois Inir sHIrLDsl said the
stop until we end Now cir II the Ssnats Will attend
for the resolution that adopted they
will that This difficulty has arisen from the resolution
calling not merely for the proceedings before the court
MARTIAL but for other matters than the proceedings before
that court martial
Reopsd. That the Secretary OF the Navy be directed
courtln arrial recently held in Washington for The trial
Thomas Ap Caesby Jones' post captain ia the navy"
Now. imagine if the resolution had stopped there,
this difficulty would not have arisen but il goes
Together with any CORE espondenoe that may have
passed between Secretary OF the Navy and Commodore
Jones relative to his and trial. between the lst of Sep
tember, 1850, and 18Th OF January, 1851. inclusive"
Now, we bring out this correspondence between the
Secretary OF the Navy and Commodore Jones. Well, 10
OF Commodore Jones's letters he makes this mputa-
lion upon the character OF Lieutenant Meade and in con-
sequence OF proceeding and Of merely calling
for the record of the court but for the correspondence
between the Secretary of the Navy and the Commodore
and then having Il published, we have first extracted and
then published before the world this impu,aton Now
he asks the full correspondence TO be published in order
that it may appear how the state of the facts is bayng
received no knowledge OF thus charge until tbs pubca.
having begun, whether they will correct, as speedily as
they can the mistake they made and then take care how
they act hereafter
Mr.. COOPER merely rise to say tha, the explana.
ton given by the senator from Texas [Mr RUsKl TO the
resolution which has just been read by my friend from
North Carolina [Mr. BADoER] satisfies me that we
ought 10 go on now and obtain the information
der the apprehension, ia the first place. that was done
for the purpose OF adding TO the old injury
which conceive 10 have been done TO Lieutenant Meade,
who is gallant any in the navy OF the United
States
Mr. HALE I wish also TO say that the remarks OF
the senator from Texas have satisfied me Of the proprey
OF publishing this correspondence And wish further
to remark that this Is case which comes very nearly
to the category | have suggested My complaint was
that among these proceedings the complaints OF private
citizens were auded This person has resigned
his place in the navy and is private citizen, and this is
one of the precedens wish 10 established OF the
Senate interfering TO protect the reputation OF private
individual. shall therefore go for the resolution
The question being taken on the amendment, II was
agreed to.
The question then recurring on the original resolution
as amended il was adopted-ayes 23 noes not counted
UNITED STATES COURTS
Mr. HUNTER moved TO take up a bill returned from
the House of Representatives, being an act amendaory
to an to provide for the holding OF the courts OF the
United States in case oil sickness
Mr BRADBURY hoped il would not be taken up
for the that il had been suggested TO him that il
very desirable 10 extend the provisions OF that act
and make them applicable 10 the District OF Columbia.
He desired 10 bring that IN by way OF amendment.
Mr. HUNTER was willing to withdraw the motion at
the request OF the senator from Maine, az he
Der Of the Judiciary Committee.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MIR BADGER wish TO suggest, with regard TO the
special order before it is announced to the Senate that
think il weud be rather better for us, upon the whole,
not TO proceed to the consideration OF that subject to-day,
and let have understanding that we can take II up
to- morrow promptly the hour OF o'clock, and dis
pose of it, And ! think we can much better employ
ourselves dsposng OF matters OF importance and
interest in executive session that ought to have been dis