Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-21

survey unknown seas place our nayafor as
do away with the necessity of such procamatons Ny
inquiry is whether the Navy of the United States is
pery distributed protect our neutrality, commerce
and national honor That the inquiry which propose
by this resolution and if it is, then it will be impe
rativey duty increase the navy and thus enable
the Executive execute his whole duty the people
the United States as well as to foreign nations.
j have attached no blame to the President. have
simply stated fact which should be recorded in the his
tory of this country that inefficient navy is
have great and grand expeditions in remote portions
the globe, away from territory, within which such
expeditions referred in the proclamation are
being fitted and there is not ship of prevent
their sailing The bec of my resolution is to get in
formation TO where the navy, inefficient il is was
distributed when these expeditions sailed from California
and wish to know what power the President has at his
command 10 execute with effect the proclamation which
he has issued? He threatens punishment against the
persons engaged in such expeditions. What power has
he bring those thus engaged before the courtfor
punish except where the crime is
what forces, military naval is there the Pacific to
execute that proclamation For what practical
is the proclamation issued when there power within
the control of the Executive on that coast to have il
respected?
1t is well known to the Senator from nino. and to
every member of this body, that since have been
the head the Committee Naval Affairs have been
for increasing the navy. 1t is known that have, in my
place. time and again, brought forward and urged upon
the Senate the necessity of approprating the amount
asked for in the estimates Of the Navy Department Here
in my place, the organ of the Committee Naval
Affairs asked last session for the building of five
six additional steamships-efwar and during this ses-
on by the unanimous approval the committee brought
forward report endorsing the recommendation of the
Secretary of the Navy to add six additional shpsofwar
to navy. have at oil times and all occasions ad-
vocated the increase of the navy and why should the
Senator refer to me- chairman Of the Naval Committee
when he Congress is to blame for inefficient navy
when he knows the fault does lie with me, but with
the other House of Congress censure one, any
branch Of the Government but state fact which cannot
i q IL
sand six hundred miles in extent is filled with an adj
venturous people, who have the privilege of gathering
the rich fruits which lie alongside them you cannot keep
down these expeditions without efficient naval force
And say, further that when the President issues pro-
camation of this nature he should ask Congress for
power enable him to that proclamation executed
1t is our duty to prevent such terrible catastrophes as
took place at Havana, where fifty American citizens were
shot down like dogs, and has recently occurred in
Mexico, where, according to the last information we
have received these fortyfve individuals who invaded
| Lower California were put to death
know perfectly well that these expeditions calcu
lated to stain upon the country and the Executive
will, when called upon, do me the justice to state that
since have been here have been urging him to
exercise the whole Of his power in supplying the def
cheney of the navy the Pacific coast by charterng
vessels prevent the sailing of such expeditions, and
protect those engaged in them from being put to death
foreign soil without trial The people of California are
in favor of lawless expeditions than citizens Of
other States with the same temptation.
| Mr.. BR0DHEAD. Mr.. President it seems to me that
we have already all the information which is called for
by this resolution The honorable Senator from Calfor-
MIA informs that he desires to know how naval
force and ships.ofwar have been employed? Why the
Secretary of the Navy has informed the report which
communicated to by the President of the United
States at the opening of the session. have obec
tion sir that the Senator from California shall make the
statement which he has given to the Senate 1t may all
be right 1t may be necessary that he should call to 1t
the attention of the Senate but it quite unnecessary
for pass this resolution for shall receive fur
ther information from the President Of the United States
when he answers the call than We possess already.
Mr.. MASON Mr. President it is very certain that
the honor of the country well its safety is deeply
interested in preventing these maraudng expeditions from
leaving shores with view to commit depredations
upon foreign Powers; but not prepared to say at
present at least that this Government is to change its
policy in the of the military force which is placed at
its disposal either by land for the purpose of pre-
venting our people from violating the laws had not
the pleasure Of hearing a that fell from the Senator from
California, but think heard enough from him to
derstand his position be this that navy is be
for the of requiring the laws to be exc
cuted against our own citizens.
Mr. GWIN The Senator will permit me to state that
what said was this: if there had been single ship-of
in the harbor of San Francisco when these exped
tions fitted out it would have been impossible for
them to have sailed; and the Government of the United
States should execute the neutrality laws by preventing
the fitting of such expeditions within har-
bors and within marine league of the coast Of the Uni
ted States did not pretend to say that the navy of the
United States could be used upon the in pursuing
| expeditions got up in the United States
Mr.. MASON. did not ascrbe any such statement to
the honorable Senator at all but understood the drift
of his remarks be that ought to increase the
for some purpose and among other reasons, because it
is shown that navy is required to prevent the citizens
of the country from violating the laws Of the country
Now, sir, deny that absolutely and positively | am
enemy increase Of the navy provided the navy
is increased for the legitimate purposes of the navy
understand the legitimate purposes of our navy, in time
Of peace to be simply to protect our commerce; and
agree in the policy of the late Administration and of the
present Administration, that when they safely and
prudently employ portion Of the navy in the navigation
foreign and the exploration Of foreign waters for
the purpose Of increasing commerce. it is legitimate
use Of it because nothing gives greater stimulant to
the products of the country than the Of CONNER
| cial exchange abroad.
Now understood the Senator from California further
to say at least gathered from what fell from him
after into the Senate chamber that he thought it
was the part of the Executive to have issued this
proclamation until he first provided there competent
| force.
Mr. GWIN No, sir; stated the fact that the cause
of this proclamation originated from the want Of proper
naval and military force to that the laws OF the United
States executed and wish the Senator to under
stand that entirely in favor of using the navy in
| the way he mentioned to promote commerce.
| Mr. MASON. have no doubt the Senator from Cali
ornia has well said that from the adventurous charac
Of the population who have gone to Pacific bor-
der, these expeditions likely to be fitted out
from that quarter than from any part of the Atlantic
coast but understood him to say further and doubt
extended seacoast where such expedition could have
been fitted out but at San Francisco.
Mr. GWtN. My reason for that remark was this: San
Francisco is city of large population. In other por-
tionsin the sparsely parts of the countryan
pedton of this sort could not have been gotten up with
Il L.. A-1L.A~