Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-24


The committee not disposed in this matter to pro-
nounce any opinion upon that at all hold that il is
mere matter of Executive regulation. The Executive
may sanction that course or he may not. propose,
therefore, in this section legsate upon that sub
ject but simply say that instead Of there being two
cadets from each Congressional district there shall be
ne and that there shall be two at large from each State
without saying upon whose recommendation they shall be
appointed understand the Senator from North Carolina
objects to that.
Mr.. BADGER. l object to it for the reason have
given think the members Of both Houses ought to be
on equal footing.
Mr.. FISH. They are both placed upon the foot
ing by the BILL II the Senator from Florida will read
the section he proposes amend it the Senator from
North Carolina will observe that both Senators and Rep
resentatves are put upon the same footing.
Mr. MALLORY. They are put upon precisely the same
footing. 1t makes no difference.
Mr. BADGER. But they are not upon the same foot
ing to the midshpmen directed to be appointed.
Mr. FISH They are as to all hereafter to be ap-
pointed.
Mr.. MALLORY will read that part Of the section
as it will stand If amended:
"The number of midshipmen and acting midhipmen in
Guiding those of the Naval Academy shall be determined as
follows, wit: shall be appointed from each Congress
onal district of the United States from each State, ten
to be appointed by the President ut large and those autho-
rzed by this act to be selected from the boys of the
These will constitute the midshpmen Of the navy and
both Houses in this respect stand alike This is the first
amendment proposed
The next amendment suggested also by the honorable
Senator from Virginia. contempates the striking out OF
the bill the retired list called the permanent furlough
list and leaves but two modes of getting rid of oicers
to place them upon the retired list and the other to
drop them from the navy entirely The third section is
made to conform thereto by striking out the words
permanently furough" and the words and Of the Off
furloughed retired those the retired list
only shall be entitled to the naval uniform" and
the words relating to such list wherever they
The third and last amendment which the honorable Sc
nator from Virginia suggesed-and understand he sug
gests now at the instance Of the Secretary of the Navy
is strike out all of the seventh section after the word
"assigned" as follows:
The duties Of cquppng the vessels and of supervising
registering, and detailing the officers and men of the naval
service and such other duties pertaining to the service the
Secretary of the Navy drect and the orders Of such
bureau shall be considered emanang from the Secretary
of the Navy and shall have full force and effect SUCH and
all the duties of said bureau shall be performed under his
thority aud supervision
And to insert the words
Such duties pertain the equipment Of vessels and de-
failing of officers and shall be by the Score
tary of the Navy"
think that is mere verbal amendment, which is Of
no Importance either way These oil the amendments
suggested by the Senator from Virginia yesterday There
which desired to offer upon the subject Of the
assmilaed rank Of the navy. It was agreed upon in
conference of the committees of the two Houses, but
unable to obtain copy of its details until this
ing. now propose it with slight alteration. The as
simulated rank will remark here has been subject of
very considerable vexaton in the navy and it Is highly
important that every officer in the service should have not
only his rank and duties, but his privileges all distinctly
legslatod upon and fixed. The amendment which pro-
pose is to add the following:
Sec 10. And further enacted That the asmiated rank
between the line and staff officers of the navy shall hereafter
be determined by the following provisions:
Surgeons purers chapans professors of mathematics,
and chief engineers of twelve years standing in their
| respective grades, shall rank with commanders.
Surgeons pursers, chapans professors Of mathematics
and chief engineers under twelve standing shall rank
with lieutenants.
g. Passed assistant surgeons shall rank with commissioned
masters.
| next after commissioned masters.
Second assistant engineers shall rank with mdshpmen,
and third assistant engineers next after midshipmen.
9. This assmated shall in confer staff
officer the right, to command.
Commanding officers Of Whatever grade shall take prece-
dence all staff officers attached to their command while
military duy under other precedence shall
be regulated by length of service heretofore set FORTH
will observe, in regard to the third provision, that
the words commissioned masters put in because it
is contemplated by the bill confer commission upon
the rank of passed midshpmen The Senator from Maine
asks me If have chapains in the assimilated rank
| The first provision reads:
"sugcon pursers chapans professors of mathematics,
chief engineers of twelve years standing their
respective grades, shall rank with commanders"
! Mr.. PRATT. l will inquire Of the Senator if the
amendment which he proposed does not conform
to the bill of the House which have printed in
newspapers with single exception pointed out by
him understand it does.
Mr.. MALLORY. l understand distinctly that it does
My design was to make it so. The exception is this
There found in the published report Of the bill of the
House provision that trials by atleast
onehird Of the members composing the court should be
of the grade of the officer arragned for trial. consider
that anomaly in military practice believe it does not
exist in any military service.
Mr.. PRATT. will further inquire of the Senator if
understood him correctly in interview, that the pri
yileges of staff officers in the army similars
Mr.. MALLORY. That is my understanding The
chairman of the Military Committee perhaps has better
information than have on the subject By the unani-
consent Of the Senate propose that the question
be taken the first three amendments which have Of
fered and separately upon that which relates to the
simulated rank.
The question taken the first three amendments,
and they agreed to; and then the last amend
ment and it was agreed to.
The bill ordered to be engrossed for third reading
TWAS read third time, and passed by vote di-
| vision: Ayes D. noes IL.
INDECENT INSANE BILL.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of the
bill making grant Of public lands to the several States
Of the Union for the benefit Of INDECENT insane persons
returned with the objections Of the President; when
Mr. TOUCEY, being entitled to the foor and adj
dressed the Senate great length sustaining the ground
| assumed by the President in his veto message.
Mr.. BELL followed in opposition, sustaining the
stitutiona power of Congress make the grant under
the precedens furnished in cases but with
concluding, gave way at somewhat late hour for
motion to 60 into Executive session.
On motion by Mr. MASON, the Senate then proceeded
to the consideration Of Executive business and after
some time spent therein the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The SPEAKER laid before the House communication
from the Clerk submitting an additional estimate Of