The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-01

mechanics urging that the genius of American mocha
MICS shall be vindicated in the person of this man
MI. BArLY ldem( Of Va said there was not
tcie entering into ship building, but that might be given
out by contract. Not one. The only difference is.
whether the contract shall be for the entire structure
or for things in detail That is all He did not want he
failure. = .''''
Mr.. wAIsu-It was a failure because the contracts
were gwen 10 men who were not proficient in business,
and violated them.
Mr. g4YIr rePied-The gentleman could not have fur
nished him with better argument Not one good YES.
sci has been built by contract
MT Walsh's amendment rejected
Mr. GERRlT SMITH (abolitionist,) of N. r. moved an
amendment that Intoxicating liquor shall ever be kent
in such ships, to be used as beverage.
cesnan na Rnss ~ Of " objected saying was not
Mr. BAYIY, Tin his seat )-You might As well propose
the Wimot proyiso.
The CHAIRMAS-The point of order is well taken The
amendment cannot come in as armament or euupment
VoicE-Ihere's little equipment for the old fogies
and sailors without their grog"
ANOTHER VdICE-"You might as well stop their to-
bacco."
Mr. sanH-I am constrained, though with pain to take
an appeal from the decision of the chair
The question was taken, and the chair sustained
During the consideration Of amendments
Mr., FIoREScx, ldem.) of Va, sad-we have too few
favorable to building twelve steam frgaes for our COM
merce required such an increase. He was opposed to
going out o the navy of the United States to have
these vessels built The failure universally of the CON
tract system not only in ship building but in procuring
ment rendered absolutely necessary to secure ecien
cy by having these vessels built at yards The
mechanical ability now avnlanle by the Navy Depart
mcnt was equal to any in the world. lie instanc6d Mr.
Ienthall the Chief Of the Bureau of Construction; Mr.
Martin the Engineerin Chief; and Mr.. Coupland the
Consulting Engineer at the head of their class The
old captains up there sometimes denominated old
gies'-though he did not like to the word-were gal
liant gentlemen, had rendered important service and
possessed great experience. He warmly euogized the
genius OF American mechanics and closed with a refer
ence to the glorious results achieved by naval officers
and gallant tars in the war of 1872.
Mr.. WHTETER (dem Of N y. said he in favor of
the increase but he also desired that the contract sys
tenn should prevail He must confess therefore he was
utterly opposed to putting this matter of the hands
OF this House, and placing it in those of the Secretary of
the Navy.a very worthy gentleman, doubt, but at
the same time man totally unacquainted with tho
strrcton and detail Of naval affairs Was there man
in the House or in the whole country, who If he wanted
ton to lawyers As proof of the manner in which
things are managed at the Navy Department he quoted
Navy which shows that the navy exclusive Of steam
ships and one vessel the stocks at Lake Ontario
sts Of sixty vessels of all Sizes carrying guns
and of this number the Official states but seven
hundred and two guns at sea- while 1880 are lying
rustng and the ships rottng at the navy yards OF the
nine ships Of the line not at sea- three are used as re-
ceivng ships three in ordinary and three ON the
stocks Eight hundred guns are thus lying useless. Of
in srd ve e aa Sk yards five
lying useless three soops of war lying idle with sixty
tso guns one brig lying useless with four guns three
steamers in the same condition, guns Show
ing total of 12S9 guns lying rusting and the ships
rottng at our docks He in favor Of establishing
bureau 10 supentenu tne construction OF the vessels
proposed He he opposed to giving the drec-
ton to the Secretary of the Navy therefore he had
moved his amendment If it should prevail he would
vote for the bill for want of something better being
willing to increase the number to twslve steamships
hereafter.
Mr.. DEAN was opposed to the amendment. He thought
the Secretary of the Navy needed no defence from the
remarks made by his colleague, and he would not pro-
tract the debate being anxious for vote on the bill
The amendment was rejected
large number Of others offered, discussed, and
rejected
The committee rose, and reported the bill it was
originally introduced, namely providing for the con-
with propellers and properly armed and equipped
for service to be built at he navy yards
by contract the Secretary of the Navy shall deem
advisable and for altering completing and launching
the fgs.S--tee and Sabine; appropriatng 49, 900
| for these purposes.
Under the operation OF the previous question the bill
| passed, by yeas 113, to nays 43
The bill is similar to that passed by the Senate.
Adjourned till Monday.