The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-23


assousd, That the Secretary of,he Navy inform the Sen
ate whether code OF rules and regulations or instruction.
for the government OF The now Ia course OF pfega
ing under his authority and il So hat he be requested
subni the this house Tor the consideration and
approval OF Congress before taking elect.
MIR. BELL. Mr. President, understand that that code
OF regulations has been sanctioned and authorized Tue
President OF the United States commander-n-chei OF
the army and savy and furthermore understand mat \
would take all the clerical force OF the department which
could be placed upon this work at least month TO make
transcript OF this CODE learn that The regulations nave
not yet been printed that they are now in the hands OF
the printer; and will be great embarrassment and IN,
convenience TO the department 10 take all their clerical
force, and put TO copying this code and could not
even then be accomplished in time TO be presented 10
Congress at the present session. for the code is very
yolumlnons Unless there is very clear ground
to make this call upon the Observation-Disclosures the honor.
able senator is satisfied that the public service and the
public interests demand that should have these rules
and regulations submitted to usl think we ought not TO
burden the clerks OF the department with making out
this transcript When il is prnledand It is now IN the
hands OF the printers for that purpose-we can have
printed copy Tor the purpose OF making any examinations
please. in order TO II Congress ought to inter-
ere, and prevent these regulations from gcing into
effect
believe there is no code of regulations for the navy
of the United States there is or The army anu mere
has never been one adopted by Congress his mas peen
source OF great Inconvenience and great
and the public service has suffered very much ~ cohse.
quence OF IT,
The constitution gives Congress power "o make rules
for the government and OF the land and naval
forces OF the United States but In the absence OIL any
action the part OF Congress, the President as com
mander-nchie OF the army and navy IS Obliged 10 make
regulations for the government OF the othcers and
the Navy Department Unless Congress speeihcally pro-
vide by law In what manner the Navy Department, lis
officers, and The various operations connected with II,
shall be regulated, there regulation. The neces-
sy OF making e TO be 80 great that the Sec
relay OF the Navy has had code prepared, and the
President has given it the sanction OF his authority as
commander in chief That code has been in state of
lpreparaon understand since The year 1880, receiving
perhaps second revision in ls45 and now the hfd ana
last revision, with great care, aad II has received now the
sanction OF the commander in chief OF the army and
navy do not think that under the circumstances there
is any necessity for requiring that the volunnous code
should be transcribed and sent 10 us.
Mr.. PRATT. Mr. President | hope the resolution
of the senator from New Hampshire will be adopted ;
and think the argument ot The senator from tennessee
is conclusive show the Senate that ought 10 be
adopted He tells us that there are now no regulations
governing the officers of the navy and that regulations
have been prepared by board OF officers with great
deal OF care, which will become the rule for all time to
come, governing the officers OF the navy. submit to
the Senate whether this code of laws for the government
of the navy should not be submitted to Congress pre-
vious TO its going into effect number OF omcers OF
the navy have spoken the subject and have COM
panedfor they have ascertaned IN some way what the
regulations are,hat they will operate inuously upon
certain classes OF officers. lhey say u operates ueui'
mentally 10 their rights.
apprehend there can be no wrong, no injury done 70
the country in requiring that these regulations which
have been prepared with much care, and which the
thinks ought TO go into immediate eec should
be first submitted TO Congress II they do interfere with
the rights of any class OF ohcersf they operate nlur-
ousy any respective ought to have the means OF
cerianing and correcting the injury rather than sune
to be committed hope, therefore, that The resolution
will be passed, that may see what these regulations
are before they 20 into effect
We are about to adjourn in few days. and II these
regulations should be put into effect after the 4h OF
March, they cannot before December next, come before
the supervision Of Congress- and whatever injury they
may do TO any class of officers will be continuing IN
Jury until that period can see no harm that VIII result
liz, h,r If he
what these regulations Ii they are right and proper
OF course will pass them and approve lhem and they
will then have the sanction OF law and do insist that
they should be passed upon by Congress- and ought moi
TO be made by dicum OF the executive department
of the government These regulations are to govern all
the officers OF the navy They are % be governed 6y the
executive department absolutely, without any appeal and
we the only power we are The only persons, who
under the constitution, have authority TO control that alb
soue power which would otherwise be exercised by the
executive department of the government
i Mr.. HALE. think with The honorable senator from
Maryland and if the Senate had any doubt about call
ing for this code the remarks OF the senator from Tennes
see should have removed that doubt will mention
other argument, however IL was IN lS42 think, thai
code OF laws prepared by direction OF one or both
houses OF Congress- be submitted TO Congress for their
appreciation before going into effect II was submitted
10 Congress, and did not meet their appreciation. Now
there is proposed TO be general law adopted by the de-
parlmen in relation to the whole navy for the govern
ment of every part OF it, The from Tennessee is
advised about til noand he says that this code is
very voluminous and IL is to govern the navy for all
be submitted Congress for supervision before il be
comes the law 10 which your whole naval force 10 be
subjected The officers want II submitted to the revision
of Congress- and think, with this ypanaon there will
not be member here who will not saythat ought 10 be
submitted TO Congress, in order that Congress may
whether the code be right wrong.
/ Mr.. BELL. Mr. President, am certain that the
ator from Maryland could not have heard my remarks
he would have indulged n the OF observation
on statements in which he did indulge. The honor
able senator from New Hampshire also misunde stood
and he thinks that now II is certain, al all events
that this Communication should be made, that Congress
may have the revision of this code. Now, stated be.
municalon during the present seesios OF Congress- with
any practicable force that could be put upon ii by the
Secretary OF the Navy OF that subject to some
qualification for ii he could withdraw the whole ceri-
cal force from their proper duties, and put them upon
this, he might be able TO furnish it in a short time but
with due regard TO the other Interests OF the service II
is possible for the Secretary OF the Navy put on
TO this Transcript sufficient amount o force TO have it
sent in 10 Congress during the present session. sug
gesed that, therefore, objection 10 the resolution
In the second place. said this code would be shortly
printed and that it now in the course OF being
printed by order OF the department IL forms very
siderable volume, believe. Therefore, for that reason
it would be very Inconvenent to take the manuscript
from the printers hands and put the whole clerical force
OF The department al work In copying order fur
nish il TO us before the adjournment That was another
practical Inconvenience which suggested
i But suggested such idea both the senators
have put into my mouth, thai, this TO be code OF
regulation for the navy Tor all time Ii is OF course tenn
porafy IN ITS nature 1t is only 10 operate until Congres
shall act Congress has the supervisory and paramount
power over the whole subject, the President, and
over The department in regard TO it, Therefore, said
or intended 10 say, that this code would be temporary in
ITS operation, and would necessarily last only until Con-
trrnA ohA.il al