The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-07

~, nv ~ regard TO the construction OF ships but the
ppointnent OF officers In nay Judgment, sir there would
be less probability Of injustice being done by this process
Than Ia any Others especially you would have some
sponsibe 20 look To- Who Is responsible now IN
The nasyf Who responsible oi lhe present eohuiuon
pairing OF The yesselsi must say one word only about
Thai matter ask who is responsible Tor The failure OF
The pIneeon2 They took the name OF The most effect
i've and useful ship -oi war thai ever hoaled IN our
waters the most formidable inan-oi-waf mat was ever
pa, on commission Ia lhs county, could have
dehed the whole American navy, and gave II 10 this
abortion OF which we have heard SO much OF late. They
diseg arded her model her construction and her engine
and from being the first ship IN the country she is now
the seorn OF all seamen and all engineers.
And again, ask who is Iesponsibe' You may go
and reform the officers But while the Secretary OF The
Navy is allowed TO remain with his present hohos ana
powers, and IN perpetual ignorance The reform OF the OF
fcers will moi amount to much Sir, want TO reform
the Secretary do not alude particularly 10 the present
Secretary Bat that will be done before long Then u
he cannot or will nol reform the navy hope Congress
will take il in hand IN good earnest But SIR, once more
say that il me there is no responsibility any
where in the Navy. The other day they built dock in
Philadelphia and incurred the expense OF fitting ship in
New York. other eastern port. TO be taken 10
Philadelphia and put in the dock. When she arrived
there was found not before, but after her arrival that
there was not water enough TO permit her TO be taken
upon the dock Yet sir as far have been informed.
nobody is responsible and after this manner has the
navy Of the country been dsgraced time alter time, and
Mr.. President, my object, as one OF the Naval Com.
m,ee, has been, and is TO endeavor TO perfect the whole
naval system by beginning al the head and making every
body responsible that be made responsible, and to
insure, far possible TO the people OF the United
that may be in The navy And now, sir ask my friend,
the chairman OF the Committee on Military Affairs,
whether he will not trus, the Committee on Naval Al
fairs with this matter, and strike OF his bill that por
uon OF II which relates to the navy and marine corps
Mr., SHIELDS. Mr.. President. wish TO assure my
honorable and gallant friend the senator from New Jer
scy lMr STOCKTON, that we did not want TO interfere
IN any way with the preroga,ives OF the Naval Commit
tees but on former occasion difficulty arose in the
Senate because the Military Committee brought in one
bill and the Naval Committee brought in ano,her and
the committees then felt that would be better that
should agree upon BILL and apply to both the army
and navy, and treat both precisely alike In pursuance
Of that understanding we daaghed this bill But if the
honorable senator wishes to have charge OF that subject
and is not satisfied with this bill for one, am heartily
willing that he should take Il into bis own charge.
when The honorable senator rose ne stated mat ne did
not to discuss this bill and think he has kept his
word. do not think that he has touched the measure
before the Senate in his discussion, although he has dis
cussed the merits OF the navy TO my delight and satIsac
ton. But :here is thing, Mr.. President in which
cannot follow the honorable senator and tina, IN draw
ing contrast between The navy and army believe
both have done their duty ioerably WELL and am salts
fled that they will do their duty again when the occasion
requires ii and If, the honorable senator says, the
navy not worth any thing now, inclined 10 believe
that the reason for il is to be found, in part in the fact
that il has perhaps suffered very considerably since that
gentleman has retired from agree with him about
the appreciation that due 10 the navy and nothing would
give me more satisfaction than TO see my honorable
friend in a position that would enable him TO reform
itnot just in the position he is In now, but in posi-.
ton where he would have his power TO reform u root
and branch Bu, SO far this bill is concerned, 1t does
aim at such Thing that IL does not attempt rad
ca reformation OF The navy Ii does not contemplate The
establishment OF admiralty board and must say that
when that proposition up shall have something 10
say myself about the establishment OF such board The
boards that have generally established whether Tor
clame ands other purpose have almost all been
failures doubt not that this admiralty board would
be the biggest and complete failure OF the whole.
That is my opinion upon that subject However, that
question is not now before the Senate. When II does
hall he aIu I1sfu rhnpz
and although cannot follow the honorable senator
throughout his speech, there is thing can say; and
that is tha, so far as this bill goes speak IN relation to
the aTmy think il would be efficient and beneficial
bill and il that honorable senator takes upon himself the
responsibility the OF the 10 strike out all
pertaining TO The navy, he may do IT, and will proceed
with the bill in relation 10 the army alone. But let him
remain responsible TO the navy for i'll shall not do II
II is there and shall stand uness he to strike
out
But say that the geneman's speech not very
logical in respects He says the President has pow
10 do the thing that is contemplated here without
The passage OF this bi-without the authority OF law
like this; and yet be SAYS the law will be blessing
That is very logical II the President do with.
out the law, or without any law wha, is contemplated by
this bill the worst thing the bill do Will be TO do no
harm. II amounts 10 nothing according TO that view OF
the subject The President turn any officer out OF
the army navy is true but if be turns officer out
now-one OF those gallant and distinguished officers OF
The navy for instance whose the honorable SEN
a,or mentioned IN his speech-how does he deal with
him. He turns him out without pay, without the means
OF support be turns him out in old age, wounded and
broken down, upon the cold charities OF the world But
this bill provides support Tor these men when they are
TO be removed
However am not disposed to continue the discussion
any further to day have moved that the bull be post
poned for the purpose OF having printed and then when
the subject before dispose oil more adj
visedly
Mr. STOCKTON must be permitted TO say
word Go not intend TO take any responsibility upon
myself, nor to assume any when speak for the navy
am here as senator. and speak my convictions and
assume my responsibilities senator and as sena-
tor shall 10 strike out the navy and marine corps
assume 10 speak for no body of memo individual but
myself
The gentleman says that declare the President TO
have power now turn out officers OF the army and
navy and yet complain OF It's severity He says also that
the President has power TO turn them adri without pay
That is the power TO which alluded, and II only
shows what apprehe nded the case that the gem
tleman has not looked into this matter enough. The
the law 10 which alluded Therefore !, seems TO me
the gentleman has inaulged an his vat without having
very proper occasion foflL
There is one part OF the gentemans speech, bowey
en- which | could exactly understand, and would
like TO have him explain IT, The gentleman sand that
spoke OF the navy being IN worthless condition,
and he Immediately added that II must perhaps have ret
regarded since retired from service, IN consequence
OF my retiring from service. ! do not know exactly
whai il he said, being able 10 catch his words.
| would like TO hear bm repea, them
Mr.. SHIELDS. meant the very ghest poss bile com
plimen my honorable aud gallant irend. have dealt
In no wit W hatsoever. made attempt al being witty
stated dare saw that the navy had suffered conside
rahe since the honorable gentleman bad retired from
service Could pay him higher compliment
A