The daily union., 1852-01-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY IA, 1852.
SENATE.

OF the bearing and importance OF the question under con.
sideration, am aware too sir. OF the difficulty of pre-
senBg II TO the Senate with that clearness and distinct
ness which its Importance demands l would have been
glad. on former day, TO have had an opportunity
OF expressing the views which | am now about to ex-
press The time which has elapsed since this question
first brought up has given these views the appear
OF deberatioD and may have created expectations
which Icanno meet; and Il seems too, somewhat like
sharpening ones arrows Tor conflict The difficulty in
my case OF expressing the views to which have made
reference has been greatly augmented by the eloquent
address delivered here few days since by the honorable
senator from New Jersey, Mr.. SToCKToNl The posi-
lion OF that senator before The country, his well known.
clear and liberal views of social and foreign ela
tons give TO any opinions which he may choose here to
identified as he has been with gallant navy; asso-
ciated he has been with seamen on shore and
aioat participating as he has done 10 all their suferlngs,
their hardshps their rewards and their gloes native
TO the navy as may say, and ~
:" To the manner bofn,'
any opinions which he may express the subject
titled 10 peculiar consideration
hardly think that any could have listened to the
eloquent address which that senator delivered here with
out citing that the naval service has lost OF its
most eloquent defendersa regret however, qualified by
the consideration that what has been the navys loss has
been the Senate's gain. Now, say this with all sin
certy because am not insensibe TO the hardhood of
differing in opinion with that gentleman subject
peculiarly his own. nor am ! nsensible TO the view
which is taken OF this subject in certain quarters OF the
country
But. sir with whatever eoquence and confidence these
opinions may have been advanced and maintained, they
are still but mere opnons and, before surrender
Judgment to their guidance, before we give up
vcons to their direction, before surrender the expe-
rience OF thousand years this subject these opinions
must be sustained by something like past experience,
something like cool, dspassonate argument, something
like present existing facts differ, then, with the hon
orable senator from New Jersey, because believe that
Inc views which he enertans are wrong; and advance
my views because believe them 10 be right And sir,
am relieved somewhat from The embarrassment which
would otherwise feel in differing with that senator from
cOn nat hp imap hasp
honorable grade OF The naval service that he has filled
with honor and distinction every post which the country
has assigned to him; that he has been Of the navy
Tedted OF the nayy-has grown with its growth and
strengthened with its Strengths identified with all s
glory, and has occupied all positions. various they
have BEEN and that he has hed every station thus
signed 10 him under discipline supernduced by the very
punishment against which his voice is raised Then,
SIR, IT. through the course OF long life of honorable
vice. when he was IN position and had around him all
the means and appliances OF putting into practice the
theory which he advocaiesl say If, under these crcum
stances, the senator clung 10 policy against which his
voice is now raised, surely myself aud other gentlemen
who differ with him in these matters may be excused
even ii should be content longer to grope in the dark
should like to ask, as plain common.sense view Of
this question: what Is 10 be thought OF that man who,
during six days of the week, pursues certain line Of
action and then the seventh day is found preaching
against II The answer OF common sense is 10 doubt
the authority OF the doctrine when his practice fur
nshes suhclent evidence against IT. Now, would not
hazard opinions upon the subject il did think that
could advance facts which will support them because
with whatever confidence the honorable senator from
New Jersey may have advanced his opinions still. when
we do not find them sustained by facts, they fail
vince our Judgments. For twenty years | have been
more or less familiar with shipping and seamen, and the
views which advance here have been derived from OBJ
servaton and conversation with seamen OF every grade
both in and out Of the service They are not hasiy
talnly will not be hastily abandoned.
The honorable senator from New Jersey has presented
hs phase Of hs question s in The strongest possible light
arms 10 say on that subject He has done. in fact what
We might have expected from his known ability and his
known experience But say, with all due Difference to
the genteman's judgment, that he has not advanced
single opinion which be borne out by the experience
OF thousand years, or the history OF navy itself
de has not advanced single suggestion which cannot be
said in the outset OF his remarks that this is subject Of
the greatest Importance None superior 10 il that know
Of before the Senate. 1t is not the question
whether seaman shall be punished, in particular
form or another particular form sir, the vital ques
ton here is whether we shall have navy at all 1t
strikes at the very existence of the navy and the card
nal point Of difference between the honorable senator and
myself that he supposes that the existence OF the navy
and the preservation OF its time honored fame depend
the abolshment Of this usage hold directly the con-
ary, and shall presently appeal 10 the present condition
OF the navy 10 sustain the view which take,
The honorable senator gave us rapid, glowing, and
beautiful sketch of the American seaman. listened to
II with INFINITE pleasure IL is sketch which will find
ITS way, doubtless into the pages OF every naval manual
and magazine throughout the land, wherever rhetorical
excellence 10 preserved He depicted the infancy, the
"reminiscences 81 Trpol, the lakes and the Constitution,
he carried our attention along the great dda OF
our road TO naval eninence, until 1t finally rested
the waters OF the San Gabriel He depicted tie Ameri-
can seaman-be NOBLE gallant hearted iar-as wasting
away beneath the OF Africa and as freezing in the
polar regions enduring all hardsbps suffering all
wrongs; as dalying with danger with mistress as
manly bold and fearless TO as humble, dutfu and
respectful 10 woman In short, sir the seaman appears
mere as sort OF nautical Bayard, without fear and with
out feproach. All this is beautifu-and II is as true
u Is beautiful have not word 10 say against H.
am not here to take single leaf from the laurel with
which the senator from New Jersey would crown the
forever But would say that all this is ue and vet il
foreign 10 The subject admit that he is true to his
flag and true to his friend that ever since History re-
corded her first page, every great moral stride in mans
progress has been connected with ships and shipping
admit that, from the earliest dawn OF national inde.
pendence TO the present hour the navy has been foremost
in every effort to achieve and sustain It, admit what
the senator said about the conquest OF California; with
out going into detail admit that the navy drd conquer
Caifornia-hat the navy did add this golden empire TO
country.
But sir, having admitted all this--havng admitted
this gallaniry, this generosity this ankness OF charac
ter this nobility OF soul, these glorious deeds these great
successes-I say that they have been attained BY the
navy under discipline, If not supennduced by this
very usage at least consistent with this usage which
has existed for thousand years. When am re-
minded OF the naval glory OF our country--and not
word has been said that subject with which do not
cordially agreel will take plain common sense view
Of the subject ! will ask with what pfopnety we can
draw the deduction which drawn by the senator
grade OF pre- II has attained it with the exis-
ience of this usage Of thousand years And we are
now told that the continuance OF this usage moment
longer is 10 work these amentable resutsthe dcstruc