The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-06


which there is upon desks, and going 10 the
expense OF printing. and swelling our documents 10 an
enormous and unnanageabie SIZE Tor when theie no
purpose necessity upon The face OF the earth. That
whole resolution sir, shall vote against and all reso.
lutons OF the kind. i know nothing OF Mr. Morgan;
know nothing OF The motives that prompted this inquiry
but the resolution itself sort oil bill OF indictment by
nsinuaion agaAt officer OF the navy, and il contains
matters which think the Senate ought not 10 investigate
at ALL great many things asked for in that reso.
luton, which make II as long the moral law and
cannot remember The whole OF IT, II IS also sort OF
bill OF indictment against the Secretary OF the Navy
resolution making inquiries in the form in which this
does presupposes that this man would use the public
property OF the country lie IN port, aud hire ships 10
transport supplies; and contains sort of insinuaiion
respecting his carrying women board, and various
other things OF that sort There is nothing at all deh
mite about II. III anything improper has been done by
this officer. or If The Secretary OF the Navy IS accused OF
being guilty of any iaches upon responsible Authority
and Information is asked for will for il but will
for long bill Of indictment Of this description
The very mischief, as SAID before. which wished to
avoid by not taking up the resolution, has upon US,
and have been tempted 10 little of the time
myself But, that may not be charged with inconsis
tency, will say nothing more,
Mr. MALLORY Mr. President, have taken the OPP
podniiy during The debate OF looking the resolution
that has been resented to the Senate AS member OF
the Naval Committee. and as am happy say, friend
OF the navy, will afford great deal oil pleasure al
all times TO facilitate any inquiry into the condition OF the
navy for am satisfied that if there be any fault
in that condition, II not the fault OF the navy
proper but II IS the neglect OF the proper authorities OF
the country 10 guard and take OF IT, Al all events
we should never shun inquiry when properly put forth.
J. Tor one seek IT. and predict here that when inquiry
does come TO be made, and when the members OF Con-
gress do understand the true condition OF the navy then
its regeneration will commence and not befor~. do not
attack the motives OF the senator from New Hampshire
IN putting forth this resolutions but have not been
blind, nor has this Senate been blind the TACT that
throughout the previous session. since have had the
pleasure OF being upon this floor al all events the mos,
bitter opponent OF the navy and everything concerning
the navy has been the honorable who has
posed this resolutions; and from time TO time whether il
be the Introduction of resolution upon this floor to
snct commissions IN the navy to ten years. or whether
be any other system which would break down the navy
and annlae H. the severes blow against the service has
come from that honorable senator | attack mans
motives but tell the honorable senator that if his efforts
had prevailed, navy would not have been fiji for any
honorable mans ambition.
Now, sir The design OF this resolution. presume, is
proper design OF inquiry. have no doubt considering
the views OF that navy which that honorable enter
tans that he seeks Tor what 10 him at least very
proper Information TO guide the action OF the Senate
have no doubt OF III but tell him that if he will look al
the resolution again he will find It to be simply
of of the distinguished officers OF
counlrya man whose reputation is dearer 10 him than
all things esea who has outved everything else
that is valuable in life but his reputation. Without any
previous charge before that tribunal which the country
uses and gives him, he is sought TO be arragned here
teoe the Senate OF the United States in the attitude OF
criminal
II is not simply resolution calling for information but
represents him here as having violated almost every order
that has ever been issued commanders in the navy
The inquiries are, how long his ship remained in port
ted States That is the first inquiry. Ii inquiries, Also
what portion OF this Ime passed by Commodore
Morgan on board OF the ship, and what portion of his
time was passed upon shore what is the expense OF
sailing and managing ship of the character Of The Inde
pendence per day and per year. whether Commodore
Morgan chartered vessel without authority, 10
port provisions and supplies from SpeZza TO Naples
whether the men thus employed were paid by Commo-
doe Morgan by the government whether he had in
sTucuons from the department. 10 PRACTISE his squadron
IN naval evoulions and fleet sailing; whether he has
taken women board OF his vessel without describing
The character OF the women whether he has had any
stuctons upon that subject and winding up with the
JURY whether Commodore Morgan has been arragned
heretofore Tor dsobedience OF the orders or OF the in
sructions which govern the navy 1t must be presup
posed by the honorable senator that Commodore Nor.
gan has done one or The other, the inquiry would
not have been p!cpoundea. The honorable knows
well as any OF US that charge of this kind brought by
hIm before the Secretary OF the Navy would have
diatey called forth communication from him 10 Com
modore Morgan, by whom full and satisfactory |
explanation OF all these matters would have been given
In times gone by II has been considered BY the
Try that thus was the last appeal for injured innocence
whenever mans reputation at stake, and he could
get no justice from the departments, then here, before
this august tribunal, he mig come, last resort
prove his innocence Now, ii has become the every
day Practice upon the complaints OF nameless persons
upon reports and idle rumofs TO aagn The reputation
OF man who has passed his life in the service and
who has nothing but his reputation. l do not propose
TO stiie inquiry because have not the slightest ques
lion that the honorable senator seeks proper inquiry
but, in view OF the fact that he has himself
upon this hoor as the peculiar enemy of the navy, will
move that The resolution be laid over until TO. morrow
morning,
The PRESIDENT The resolution is no, before the
Senate, and therefore that motion cannot be made The
question now is on taking il up for consideration.
Mr.. CASS. want TO repeat, what said before, that
there are suggestions IN the resolution which proper
subjects OF inquiry for the American Senate but the d
hculy is II IL TOO detailed and think the honorable
senator Will see that the pbraseology in portions
y conveys mputatons that would not be proper without
The knowledge OF facts Jusying them. But IT does not
DO TO say as 10 resolutions OF inquiry with respect any
circumstance before either house oil Cong that such
'mpuations upon officers ough, 10 be made. The in
curry should be made IN proper language and then let
The facts come before us.
My honorable friend from Illinois asked what we
could do II we had thus information Why, we are moi
obliged 10 resort to a court-martia We can ascertain
what the facts are we ascertain whether the laws
have been executed; We ascertain whether there
has been abuse OF the public money What can we do
hen We can pass law to remedy 1t. II necessary,
we can stop the appropriations Suppose all the ships
he navy were 10 be ordered to New York, or any other
great abuse which you might assume should be COM
niited, should we have remedy The remedy is Z
clear. We conformity with the House, hold the purse
strings. and we ought 10 hold them tsh, under those
have no imputaons 10 make against Commodore L
Morgan. believe him TO be an honorable man; and as
% the navy, my feelings are and always have BEEN ia
vorable towards H. No man esteems II higher than do
but that is no reason why should not make proper
inquiries These inquiries among the elements OF the
character and good conduct OF the navy Place beyond
he supervision of either house OF Congress and what
security would you have for il, for the army. or for
any other public Institution 'no matter who the Execu.
i've is do not refer TO Mr. Fillmore, or General Jack
ION, Mr.. Monroe anybody else. The very theory
u our government that Congress should supervise the