The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-26

Die senator from Florida Mr. MALLORY says that the
discipline Of the navy is beyond being injured, which
understand TO mean that Is bad that i cannot be
inade worse Now, sir, call upon you, and upon the
Senate TO notice this fact that whenever complaint is
made that The rights OF the private Iampled upon the
oehdle are dumb and there is no call It's not more
man Ten years since respectable officer OF the American
navy SAID, that II officer accused oil The worst
crimes money or friends would prevent their falling into
disgrace but when the sailors committed these crimes,
lney were hung up at The yard-afm oil the vessel
And IN the reerred 10, have been able 10
obtain the facts Calls have been repeatedly asked for
but have been ordered and suppose never will be-
And suppose II In allusion TO this fact that had
thus been hung up at the yaTd-arm without authority
the forms OF law that the senator from Florida
in the navy that bad that could moi he worse.
Now sir until we begin and look at OF lheee gross
and outrageous violations OF the rights OF private indyid
uals, am willing that the officers should fight their
battles, will not nterpose with calls by the Senate
until we begin at the beginning.
know sir, that at the last session there very
respectable memorial brought here, signed by great
bes OF citizens OF the neighbofhood representing that
more than usual punshmens had been inflicted upon pT-
vale soldiers IN The army OF the United States could
not get these proceedings printed OF that
they were nobody but soldiers or sailors, without friends
But, when you come up 10 officer. then there is great
danger 10 the discipline OF the navy and the Senate ap
pealed to- and an application is made Tor The proceedings
OF the court martial OF the army navy. When Off
Ger concerned has been granted and they have been
allowed 10 publish Just what they wanted; but when
soldiers or sailors rights aggressed and trampled
upon, nobody wants information then, wants publish
ed ii he is hung No, let him him 60 he is but
sailor, and you can hire plenty more for ten or twelve
dollars month II gentlemen will begin al the begin
ning, and take care OF the rights OF private individuals,
then It will be time enough TO come up to the officers
But till then, confess have the most perfect inder
Mr. SEWARD. have only one word to say upon
the subject. In the little experience have had in legis
aiye hfe have never voted against call for nforma
hon as to the conduct OF the public servants, whether
political personal friends, or otherwise. When we
shall have established the precedent that anybody is
beyond the reach oi an investigation upon fair claim
by any person legally authorized, then may vote
against these calls. but mol before
Mr., SHIELDS. ! agree with the senator from New
York Mr. SEwARD] as 70 the right, bu, do not per-
ceiye the object OF this call II the object is OF in
vestgaton, It is very we'll lit to be sent to some
committee for some action il, tits very well. Ii
can take any action upon IT, and when that action is
taken the intention is barely TO publish that, vote
for, il. But think it is going very far when we
call upon departments TO send US letters and documents
publishing them Ii We follow thai principle and con.
tnue il, shall occupy the time OF the Senate in
matters Of that kind than shall in matters OF legitimate
business.
Now. think where the object is to refer the subject
matter OF court-martial TO committee in order TO
examine the matter and afford redress 10 person
supposed 10 be injured it is legitimate business for the
Senate. Blu, here quarrel between two officers, and
10 expose The other, and wishes to make the
Senate the instrument for that exposure Then, sir
think II is decidedly unjust TO the service, unjust to the
officer, and unjust to the Senate OF the United States
Mr., COOPER. Mr. President, rise TO express my
accordance in the views entertained by the honorable
alor from North Carolina, Mr.. BADGER do not know
precisely the object of the amendment the resolution
but afraid that The object OF il is to afford one Of
hcer some advantage in a personal controversy over
another / know that there has been quarrel in pro-
gress between the officers named in the resolution am
apehensve that the Senate is TO be the medium through
which OF those officers will be the better able to
sail the character OF the other; and believing that, shall
vote against the amendment
MI. HUNTER. will suggest 10 the honorable SEN
ator from Pennsylvania Mr.. CoopERl that if he is go.
ing TO vote for the resolution, he will necessarily have to
vote for The amendment II il is adopted,
M BARGER On biz seat Most ,s ssrany ahd
Nr PRATT. may perhaps not properly understand
this question but as II occurs TO sir the question
What is there upon the part Of the Senate Of the
United STATES or have we any power upon the subject
that this resolution relates TO or what do? The
gentleman who asks for the papers is no longer in the
M Sp as s Be m e
receiving this information Here is gentleman that
was once in the navy Prior to his resignation in the
as il sad, without knowing OF that charge. Now
he asks that those papers shall be brought to the Senate
of the United States for other puposebecause there
can be no other legitimate Tor Their pubiica
ton 10 the world.
We have no power over the subject II is not asked
whether shall niercede in any way, have this gen.
over this charge made by officer OF the navy against
citizen OF the United States II he has injured this
individual. he has his remedies The gentleman has
signed, and therefore ceases be officer of the navy,
and can have no legal claim upon us / do moi see,
therefore, that the Senate properly the information
which is asked for by the resolution, and am that
ground opposed to the whole OF the resolution
Mr.. RUSK. As understand this matter, il proceeds
upon another ground entirely, and we not 10 take
legislative action upon the information called for II !
have understood correctly Commodore Jones tired
by courimaraL AT his instance then, the Senate cal
led for certain papers which he imagined necessary to
vindcate bis character against the charges made by the
ourtmartal In answer to that call, there came let
ter making charges against gentleman who was
Lieutenant the navy and who has since resigned; and
those implications have been published TO the world,
the signature oil Commodore Jones' This gentleman, as
understand IT, desires to have the facts out, he
is charged with heng worthless officer, and that it be
Senate for lis action. He cannot procure those letters
from the Secretary OF the Navy. ID TO me that Il,
would be than just to the individual, we have
called for information against him, and gwen II publicity,
TO give also The Information in his favor
Mr. CASS, wish 10 make but one remark. sup
pose no member OF the Senate claims the right OF
ruling the constitutional power Of The President
mander-ln-chIe do not suppose we mean oIeyew the
proceedings OF courtmartal with view Of changing
the positions OF the persons That, sir, have no
power TO do take II for granted that, in legislative pro-
ceedngs, have no right to the proceedings OF
military naval court-martal, but that we have a
right to call for those proceedings and ascertain what
regulations necessary to correct them hereafter
believe that fairly and decidedly within the scope OF
our legislative duties We not 10 suffer the records
of this Senate to be filled with the ordinations and
ready to vote Tor resolution which only requires US 10
ascertain the proper remedies; but am not willing TO
vote for resolution that requires TO go beyond our
sphere OF legislative action and TO reverse the proceedings
OF court martial.
Mr. SHIELDS. n the be as il is represented by