The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-21

shment against the engaged in such expeditions
What power has he TO bring those thus engaged before
the conrsor you cannot punish except where the
IS commled-and what forces. military or naval is there
on me fdcihc to execute that proclamation For what
practca purposes is the proclamation issued. when there
Is no power within the control OF the Executive that
coast TO baye II respected III
II IS well known the senator from Illinois, and to
every member OF this body, that ever since have been
at the head OF The Committee Naval Affairs have
been iof increasing the navy II is known that have.
IN my place. time and again. brought forward and urged
upon he oenae The necessity OF appopriang the amount
asked Tor III The estimates OF the Navy Department
Here ia my place. the organ of the Committee Ma
val Ahars asked last session for the building OF five
or:slx additional steamships Of war; and during this
session. by the unanimous approval of the committee,
brought forward report endorsing the recommendation
OF the Secretary Of the Navy to add six additional ships
of-war 10 our navy have at all times and on all oc-
casions advocated the increase OF the navy and why
should the senator refer me, chairman OF the Naval
Comfaes when he says Congress is to blame for our
inefcieAl navy, when he knows the fault does not lie
with me, but with the other house oil Congress?
censuIe one, any branch OF the government,
but state fact, which cannot be conroverted, that
long as that coast OF one thousand six hundred miles in
extent is filled up with an adventurous people, who have
the privilege OF gathering the rich fruits which lie along
side them, you cannot keep down these expeditions with
out an efficient naval force And say, further, that,
when the President issues proclamation OF this nature,
he should ask Congress 10, power to enable him to see
that proclamation executed II is our duty to prevent
such terrible calastophes as took place at Havana where
fifty American citizens shot down like dogs and
has recently occurred in Mexico, where, according
to the last information we have received these forty
five individuals who invaded Lower California were put
10 death
know perfectly well that these expeditions cacu,
lated 10 cast stain upon the connty and the Executive
will when called upon, do me the justice TO state that
ever siDce have been here have been urging him to
exercise the whole OF his power in supplying the de-
fcency OF the navy the Pacific coast, by charteng
vessels TO prevent the sailing OF such expeditions, and
protect those engaged them from being put 10 death on
foreign soil without trial The people OF California
are no more in favor OF lawless expeditions than citizens
OF other States with the same temptation,
Mr.. BRODHEAD. II seems TO me that We already
have the information which is called for by this resou
ton The honorable senator from California informs us
that he desires TO know how our naval foce aud ships
war have been employed The Secretary OF the Navy
has given the information, in his report unicated
by the President OF the United States at the opening
OF the session do not object to The senator from Cali
fornia making the statement which he bas done TO the
Senate That may all be right 1t may be necessary Tor
him call the attention Of the Senate to The facts which he
has mentioned But seems quite unnecessary for us to
pass this resolution because shall receive no infoma
ton IRON The President when he the call in ad
di,ion TO that which we already have.
MIR. MASON asked for the reading OF the resolution.
The resolution accordingly read by the Clerk.
MIR. MASON. IL is very certain that The honor OF The
country, we'll s safety from war, is deeply in.
eresled in preventing these maraudng expeditions from
leaving our shores with view OF committing depreda-
tons upon foreign powers But am not prepared 10
say at present al least that this is 10 change
It's policy in military and naval affairs, BY placing at
Disposal here by by land force Tor The pur-
pose OF preventing people from violating the laws oil
the land had not The pleasure OF hearing all that ell
from the senator IRON California; but | think heard
enough TO understand his position, which take 10 be
thishat navy is 10 be Increased Tor the purpose ot
requiring the laws to be executed against citizens.
Mr GWlN. If The senator will permit me, the state
ment | made was this that IL there had been single
shipoi- in the harbor oil San Francisco when this
expedition fitted out, it would have been impossible
for them 10 have sailed and claimed that the govern
msn oil lhe United States sh9uli It's neufaity
laws by preventing the btng oil such expedition with
In hatbors, or within a marine league o the
of the United States dad not pretend 10 say that
the navy should be used in the open pursue
petition gotten up IN the United States.
Mr.. MASON. did not refer TO that at all; but un
derstood the dr OF his remarks 10 be- that We ought 10
increase navy for some purposes and among other
reasons because shown that the navy required TO
prevent the citizens oil this country from violating the
laws OF their country deny thus absolutely and posi-
tvely am no enemy the increase o the navy, pro-
vded The navy increased for the legitimate purposes oil
the navy ! understand the legitimate purpose OF toe
navy lime oil peace 10 be SIMPLY the protection OF our
commerce. agree IN the policy of the laie adninsra
ton and OF the present administration, that whenever
they can safely and prudently employ portion OF the
navy the navigation OF foreign seas and the explora
ton of egn waters for the purpose OF increasing our
commerce, legitimate for nothing gives such
Stimulus to the productions OF country as the means
OF commercial exchange abroad. understood the
TOR from California further say-l gather il from what
fell from bis lips after came into the Senate chamber
Ina, ii not in the power OF the Executive 10 Issue
tins proclamation nn he had provided sufficient force to
MIR GWlN No, sir; the senator misunderstood me
stated the fact OF the cause OF the issuing OF this proc.
amnllon, from the want OF proper naval and military
force 10 the laws executed. want the senator
destsnd that IN favor o an increase OF the navy for
the purpose he has stated TO protect our commerce.
MIR. MASON | have no doubt OF it, The senator
from California has well said that from the adventurous
character of the citizens oil the United States upon our
Pacific border, such expedition would be more likely
TO be fitted out in that quarter than upon any other part
OF coast And understood him TO say tba, there
was no point upon the Pacific where such an expe.
diuon could have been hed out, except San francisco
Mr. GWIN. The reason OF that u.s. tha, there is the
largest amount OF population and wealth and to have
fitted up expedition in any other part OF that sparsey.
settled coast would have failed to give 1t nooriety
and would have defeated its object
Mr. MASON So understood the senator; and
certainly meant reflection upon the people OF San
Francisco but from the population there, their numbers
and wealth, such facilities would he given that that would
be The only point where such expedition could have
been formed Now, sir understand the policy Of this
county to be this To rely upon the people of the
county TO protect each other by seeing 10 the due exc
euon OF the laws OF The land Our federal government
has no police distributed through the country for the
purpose OF seeing TO the execution of the laws; and
viii say 10 the senator and 10 the Senate, that when the
time comes that we must have an armed police, upon lana
waier TO 10 the execution of the laws the days Of
liberty will be numbered. protest against such pol.
icy being avowed In this Senate, ia this country
read the proclamation oi The President this morning. and
he has done only what his predecessors have DONE from
she days Of Washington down. Having reason 10 be. i
lieve that the existing laws OF the land in danger OF
being violated by the formation Of combination Tor the
purpose OF violating the laws, he issues his proclsna-
ton, adrsng biz countfymcn OF the consequences OF
such violation. And why is il issued Eor The very
purpose oil giving notice to that portion Of the country
where such combinations likely to arise, order that
the people ttele may put them down, Who ever heard
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