The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-09
THE MEMPHIS MAYNARD.

We noticed the fact, few days ago, that the citizens Of
Memphis had sent agent TO Washington for the pur
pose inducing Congress reconsider their action at the
session. in cedng the navyyard and its appurtenances
at that place the city of Memphis Mr. Dill, the agent
has furnished with copy of the proceedings of the
rate authorities of Memphis which will show the views
tertaned the subject by the people Of that city We in
vite the preamble and resolutions adopted unanimously
in October the attention of members of Congress:
Whereas we the mayor and aldermen Of the city of Mem
pills. view with deep regret what conceive to have been
hasy legislation in the late act Of Congress cedng the Mem
ph and apurtenances to the city OF Memphis
thereby depving the citizens of the great valley Of the
Mississippi of the benefits Of great national work and
deem this work of equal Importance to any SINH
lar work in the eastern States and that justice to the citizens
of the great valley Of the Mississippi demands its continu-
and whereas the board of and aldermen Of the
city of Memphis believe that Congress may, at its next
sion induced reconsider its cedng the Memphis
nav yard to the city of Memphis: therefore,
Resolved by said board That in act receiving said
navy yard fully dclaim the design of holding it to
use provided that Congress shall in its wisdom
tice to the South West desire rensate said yard
depot of and equipment of government vessels
the navy We shall deem IL duty in consideration
that Congress agree out their original plan of keep
ing and carrying at Memphis for the Pur
aforesaid reconvey the maynard at Memphis 10
the general government.
Reso,red That the Secretary Of the Navy be notified i'm
medaey by the mayor both by mail and telegraph of the
foregoing proceedings with the request that he suspend the
sale of the property at the Memphis maynard
advertised to take place the LIST of November next
until after the meeting Of Congress in December.
On putting the question: the above preamble and resolu
tons passed unanimously.
1t to us that upon reading the foregoing, there
are two or three reflections which must orcbly
to the minds of members of Congress that they will be in
clined TO give the subject earnest investigation
The property ceded and donated to the city OF Memphis
is estimated have the government about mil
lion Of dollars; yet without any such recommendation by
the Navy Department. and without any report in either
house showing that the work ought to be abandoned at
the close of the session and amidst the embarrassments
tending legislation at that period, amendment in
serted in the general naval appropriation bill making
gratuitous cosson the navyyad and its appurensnces
TO city of Memphis We but think, that after
former Congress had established navy-ysrd at that
place and after large appropriations for number of sue
cessve years for carrying it the question of abandon
deserved investigation than it received If we
mistaken, it is the only hayward in the South
west or West and il was established in order to meet
the charge, long made that Congress had been Ear
more liberal in appropriatng moneys for such works at
the North and East than the South and West 1t is APP
parent from the foregoing resolutions that the action of
Congress in summarly abandoning the work. is likely
TO awaken and revive this sectional feeling We not
making these suggestions because satisfied that
there ought to be navy-yard at Memphis That is a
question which had taken for granted from the fact
that the established IT there many years ago
and has regularly kept il up If the original act was
wrong, ought be shown TO be so upon thorough in
vesgaton But if such investigation should show that
the work ought to be discontinued confess ourse