Washington sentinel., 1854-03-29

he who builds for government looks to the profits.
Ship-builders are as honest as any other set Of
men; but the United States is considered in state
OF outlawry, liable 10 be plucked and robbed by
any passer-by. Too many interpolate on the Bible
prohibition, .thou shalt not steal" the words,
'except from the United States government"
[Laughterl He contended, for reasons assigned,
that il is the part Of wisdom 10 leave the question:
as 10 whether the vessels shall be built al the gov
ernment navy wards or by private contract, TO the
discretion of the Secretary OF the Navy.
Il was agreed that we should have navy, and
there never was time when we had TOO much of
a navy We have now, including all kinds
seveniy-two vessels in the navy. Thirty-fve
wears is as long as a vessel is supposed TO last.
If the navy is TO be wholly replaced every thirty
five years it would require two vessels TO be built
annually for this purpose, 10 supply the vacancy
of those which go ont Of service oy decay No
vessels have been ordered TO be built by Congress
since lS47, seven years ago. Tosuppy the decay
Of vessels fourteen ought 10 have been built
meantime. In l799 we had thirty vessels, with
five millions Of inhabitants, and now but seventy
two. with twenty-five millions OF inhabitants.
Resides these considerations, our tonnage and
commerce have very largely increased. No one
can tell where the present war IN the east will end
The sky is indeed darkened. II Is stated by the
Secretary Of the Navy that Il is not expected we
shall keep pace with England and France. but we
must have some regard 10 our position Tor, with
them, if with any, we shall be brought into COM
petition. Our home, Pacific, and other squad
rons, are all too weak, and should therefore be
strengthened He repeated the sky was, Indeed,
darkened in the east and we know not how many
nations may become involved IN the contest.
Ours is a neutral flag, and we should be strong
enough 10 prevent from the possibility of insult
If we preserve our neutrality firmly and etiec-
tively, the treasures Of China, Japan, and the
bright orient, will load our vessels and enrich our
merchants. Commerce will take shelter under
our protecting flag. The bridal-ieast of liberty
and commerce is spread. Shall we be like the
foolish virgins who put no oil in their lamps, or
shall we keep our lamps bright and burning, and
enter into the entertainment! He urged other
considerations in favor OF the passage OF the bill,
and said. among other things that the Secretary
Of the Navy and the Naval Committees of both
houses will cooperate with Congress in neces-
sary reforms. II they shall not do something for
the navy, the just expectations of the country
will be disappointed, and the duties OF Congress
not discharged.
Mr. LYON said that, representing an agricullu-
raj district he should support an amendment
which-he intended 10 offer, proposing TO construct
twelve instead of six steam frigates. We live in
strange and stirring times, at period when the
sublime philosophy Of Plato in relation 10 a model
republic is more than realized, with magnificent
extent of country peoped by its hundreds and mil
lions of inhabitants, enjoying the blessings of free
government. This measure concerns particularly
the representatives of the people. We have been
here four months with the Presidents and Secre-
tary Of the Nays recommendations before us,
and what have we seen and heard Citizens Of
the United States imprisoned in almost every por-
ton Of the world Look at the Imprisonment of
Captain Gibson in Holland, and Of Richmond in
Hungary; look al the outrages in Cuba. Not a
ship sent to relieve; and yet the chairman Of the
Naval Committee had been attempting for weeks
past, and was only successful yesterday, to induce
the House TO consider the measure now under
consideration Cnba should have been taken pos
session of, and satisfaction demanded afterwards.
(Applause) He had said this was model repub-
lie. He wanted 10 see diplomacy carried on with
vessels of war; 10 see ports filed with vessels Of
war and g you don't know how polite II makes
foreign nations" he said, towards our diplomatic
representatives" (Laughtcr) The navy was the
greatest promugator of christianity in the world,
and he wanted TO see carried out the sentiment Of
the President. g He must realize that on every
sea and on every soil in American citizenship is
an nvolable panoply for the security Of American
rights" Thus far this has been fiction; let us
have the twelve steam frigates, and we will make
it fact
He further showed the importance Of increasing
our naval force and, in conclusion, said he could
only cxclam in the words Of a Greek poet: "lf
your nation .grasps the trident of Neptune and
holds i firmly, she will rule the empire OF the
world"
Mr. FRANKLIN assigned his reasons for vot
ing to commit the Senate Nebraska bill TO the
Committee OF the Whole on the state of the
Union, and expressed himselfin opposition TO that
measure. considering that by ono of the provisos
il intervened in the subject Of slavery in the Ter
ritories. There was, he insisted. an intentional
equvocation in the bill. The rhraseology was
framed with full knowledge that the northwoud
put one construction upon il and the south ano-
ther. Thus il contained the elements Of strife and
discord Of opinion.
Mr.. BARKSDALE obtained the floor, when the
committee rose,
And the House adjourned.