Washington telegraph., 1855-03-28
The Memphis Navy Yard.

T
for re-establishing the Memphis Navy Yard,
it remains where the action of the last Con-
gress placed 1.-THE property of the city of
Memphis The question now arises, what
is to be done with it. Some have advoca-
ted its sale-the proceeds to be applied to
the liquidation of debt of the city now
due but recent number of .he Eagle &
Enquirer urges the city authorities to hold
on to it another year. regarding it as alto
gether probable that the next Congress will
re-establish it, on a scale commensurate with
the original intent and meaning of its first
advocates and founders. 1t appears that
Senators and Representatives in Congress
from Tennessee, Mississippi. and CUR own
State, urge the adoption of this course upon
the authorities of Memphis. and that Sena-
tor JOHNSON. of this State, Senator BELL.
and other Southern Senators, have request
ed the Secretary of the i!avy. to let things
a: the Navy Yard remain as they are, ustil
the meeting cf the next Congress, With the
hope of being able to secure It's re-establisE-
ment.
The proposition seems to US to be good
one, and will doubtless meet the views and
approval Of all who have an interest in the
establishment of Navy Yard in the valley
of the Mississippi, and the city authorities
should, in cur opinion. adopt it without hes
i;ation. Although the Yard was ceded to
Memphis, the whole South Vest have
deep interest in the matter. It was estab-
lished to meet the demands of the Govern
ment for vessels on our Southern coast; ard
as an act of justice to the people of the Mis-
sissippi valley and the great West, was ,cca-
ted at Memphis. it being the most eligible
point for the purpose. 1t was not establish
ed for the benefit of the city Of Memphis
alone, and the authorities of that place
should, to some extent, at least, he govern
ed in their action by tie wishes CT the peo-
pie outside of their corporate limits.
The Government has already expended
nearly. if not quite. million Of dollars in
the construction of that work, and it certain
II must have been regarded as Of some I'M
portance, or why was 50 great an amount of
the public funds laTis.led upon it a.? IF The
necessity for Navy Yard on the Missis-
sippi river ever did exist, that necessity still
exists, That i. did exist, the Scraps from
the Lucky Bag of Harry Bluff''-original-
IL published in the Southern Literary Mes-
senger"- Afforded such conclusive evidences,
that Congress commenced the work and
up TO the session at which it was donated to
Memphis. continued to make appropria-
tions for its completion, until the Govern
ment had expended million Of dollars up
on it.
The same views will apply to its location.
Ii, a. the time the selection was made,
Memphis was tie most eligible point, what
circumstances render a change necessary
now? Il was certainly rot located without
proper examination and consideration, and
We can see 10 cause for changing the location.
particularly after so large an amount has al
ready been expended at Memphis. The
Government, we think, should, in good faith,
complete the work; tie people of the Missis-
sippi valley have right to demand this much
at the hands Of Congress, and will do so,
successfully, we have no doubt. at its next
session. if the city authorities of Memphis
will give them the opportunity. by holding g
on to it until Congress again convenes.