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


yr 10 eewad under easy SAIL mpaIiently waiting the
encounter See her crew, eated with the TeembfaDces
OF hundred battles in The hope the JOY the sxpeca
ton OF easy conquest Hear their shouts OF antclpa
ted rumph only checked by the certainty OF too easy
victory Now, sir, look 10 your own Constitution See
her bearing down to that fngae-lhst nyincibe fgato
with Saint Georges lmperious and arrogant ensign All
IS silent; no huryng TO or ro no confusion all ready
10 hight and TO die Tor their country Again. sir on board
he British ship all is busle, and hurry, and exuation
OF anticipated victory All is still aud silent death on
board The Constitution They could not hope for easy
VICTORY put there they speak not merely OF their
courage, bat OF their devotion 10 their country and 10 their
ag they resolved TO do die They bore down the
nsh Iga'e Without whisper being heard on her peo-
They had heard Of raking fires; they well knew their
destructive elect They had heard of the memorable
tacucs oil he Bsh navy and perceived that the Cap
tain OF the British rgale be satisfied with sia
ply taking them, but he would do il in the most approved
manner. Steadily Hull goes down, nothing daun,ed
The British frgae fires aking broadsde aud then
wore round and fired another Steadily Hull keeps his
course. By and by the first Lieutenant OF the Constitution
asked Captain Hull if he should return the fire. Hull
inquired, "Have you lost any men p No. sir" swat
awhile" said Hull Steadily he keeps his until
he gets within pistol shot, and then rounding TO, as If
for salute, with one broadslde gained the victory.
Now, sir. some of these, perhaps. amongst the
men that you propose by this bill unceremonoasly, If
you please BY The will OF the President to put upon re-
tired lis ana with them you wuuiss psshaesyv~esas q
the who from the defence OF the frigaie Chesa
Peake Would you, sir pnt men who. when the Eng
ish boarded their ship, below the same list with
"
Therefore say that the chairman OF the Military Com.
mttee has in my Judgment not we'll considered this bill
80 tar as regards The navy II we are to have re.
tired list, should have two lists We should have one
which would be for such men Hull and such men as
Morgan-lhe gentleman who before the Senate yes
erday indictment by the senator from New Hamp-
shire. He is one of the most gallant men ever knew.
and when the Constitution got foul OF the Gnerrere he
went up into The mzen rigging and having looked down,
nef guns-et US board p And this he did amidst
showers OF shot that fell around him That was the Of
fcer who was arraigned here yesterday
Sir, ask The honorable chairman OF the Committee
Military Affairs TO allow the Committee on Naval Affairs,
who perhaps have reflected on this subject much
any other members OF this body, to take OF the in
erests OF the navy Tor the presen-et them have fus
| ther trial
But must in candor say, that that committee, believe,
reorganization of the navy The navy has not only
Important but with these war resolutions and these var
speeches dinglng in our ears day after day. consider
more mpor this time than 1t has been. Il ID
now will undertake TO say. good for nothing for the
purposes of war; and would rather make motion now
to abolish the navy OF the United States than undertake
good earnest aud what we do for it, 1t has hap
pened with the navy that since its first establishment
here has never been any overhaulng Of its personnel"
but the navy has never been nteered with in that way
The government has always acted the presumption
that boy who entered the navy when he was twelve
years OF age was capable OF commanding ship and
wearing the epauets OF captain whenever he was pro-
NOTED in turn TO that rank Apply that rule to the pur
promised well in Their youth, and how many of them will
you hnd who have realized the fond expectations OF
friends when they arrived at the age of manhood!
The thing speaks for itself. The navy needs reform
ing, only because it never has been reformed, but
because most OF those persons who could get appoint
men in The navy when boys are there now The conse-
quence of this system is, all The old officers who
the service continue to hll the most important
places, fit unfit They Of high character, and have
ored but not employed where younger men would do
better. They do not belong to the school OF progress;
they be old who have not thought necessary
keep up with the constant progress of naval affairs in
the world They may be men OF high honor. Of great
courage, OF exalted worth, men who maintained the
honor and glory OF the country in the battle and the
il should be an honorable retirement The ardor, the fire
OF youth is gone they have not the thing TO excite
them TO exeruon as younger men who in the merd
ian OF life, and who by The present system are kept en-
trey without employment such their talents demand,
until they in like manner are borne down with years.
Sir. hold that thus government has nothing to do with
commiseraon or pity IN this matter OF reorganizng the
navy. We bound TO do justice to the country well
the officers hold that the nation is entitled to the
poy; and say that in the establishment of any system
which precludes the employment of the best in any
branch of the service is radically wrong and il ought to
be changed; | not by what process il comes No
appeal be made to my sympathies or feelings am
willing TO pay money to these officers, If that is all that Is
required but am not willing that they should be in the
way of Others and thus TO balance the with their
country by doing much harm good. The Executive
has have before observed, the power correct
OF the evils complained oil but he Will not do II II the
present system is continued. shall take some proper
occasion 10 recommend an entirely new organization OF
the Navy Department You generally have Secretary
of the Navy who knows nothing in the world about
val matters He broug here from his profession and
10 depend upon others for all the information he gets
and those others nowse responsible for their advice
HIS word the law II squadron to be fitted out, be-
under the direction OF The President orders the ships and
their officers without knowing anything about them.
Sir, this one-m power will not do in such estab-
lishment think that there s no living man that has
the intellectual physical power to perform the duties
of the Navy Department they ought be performed In
Justice to the country Mr. President look to the navy
the bulwak of honor it not safety; and tell you,
sir that all your famous schemes in reference to Cuba
will vanish like mist before the wind, and gentlemen
will regret the warlke speeches which they have made.
you do not look To your navy IN tine. Look at the
threatening aspect OF France and England Il has amazed
me that indifferent about the only means you
have defend your honor Suppose Europe should COM
bine against you, they would have done long ago II
there had been a monarch there worth the gold IN his
crown Every OF your ports would have been block
AIDED. They would have forbidden you to 20 on the
ocean They would have declared that, as you had as
sumed this continent 10 be your you should Leave
the ocean TO them In such how would you have
Jared twenty-five years ago. Ii very easy TO bully and
boast; but know the eject OF 80 pound shot At sea
at any rate, and know that mans heart cannot save
his head in such a Let assure senators, while
am dscourslng upon this subject, tina, speaking
to the most important subject that can now occupy the
attention of American statesmen.
Mr. President repeat that the Secretary Of the Navy
should have responsible advisers and that in all the de-
tails he should have his vote, and that is all. He 10
cabinet minister The President has the power OF appoint
ing him. would have il so. He may know all about
those duties; but would have him instructed in all