The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-02-27


DEBATE on NAVY BoARDs.-A new principle
has been established and advocated on the floor
Of the senate by Messrs. Mallory and Clayton
Mr.. Mallory remarks that "the removal OF Mr.
Maury has not in any way disgrated him, and
if injustice had been done in other cases, 1t had
not been in his, and that he could show that
lieut. Maury held his present place at his own
request" Let us suppose all this was true;
that he held his present position at his own re-
quest. Leut. Maury was enainently fitted fot
this position, and the country required just
such man; and had he wooed the sea, all his
life, his valuable discoveries in science, his ar
rangements of currents, wind and and whaling
charts would not have been produced. His
theory of winds, currents, and other phenom,
ana, on which he has SO ably written, would
never have seen the light, and all the benefits
which commerce and navigation have derived
from his discoveries, would have been lost, and
for this he is to be displaced, that some ono
negatiye-a live dtohe, may be promoted over
his head. Orthat gallant old commodore Stew
art with his many victories, giving credit TO
the country and honor to himself and the flag
is to be cast aside, that some intriguing man
I of family or influence may be promoted. We
ask the ques,on-Why is it that England has
it by replying because she bonored and pro-
NOTED her distinguished men. What induce
ments do the arguments Of Clayton and NAL
lory hold out to those whom they intend to BEN
eft? Can those who are the favored Of these
gentlemen, be advocates Of this system? Must
they not expect the poisoned chalce at some
future day, TO be placed to their lips?
Com Stewart and lieut. Maury both differ
from these senators,-and We would ask, who
are better judges than this old gallant officer,
and this distinguished lieutenant? They fec!
the disgrace, and have appealed to the senate
and house of representatives to wipe it of. =
There is no doubt that many difficulties will be
thrown in the way Of the repeal of this law
On one side are arrayed against the repeal, self
interest," power political influence, intrigue, and
i, desire of the friends ofthe Immortal fifteen
to shield them from ignominy, and the just in.
dignation of an injured and disgtaced body of
are in reality the great power that rules at last
abominable principle, and yet cause justice to
those gallant and scientific men who have been
SO cruelty treated.
= Lord Nelson lost both an eye and arm; yet
his name was mighty in battle. We have great
Ter than Nelson who have neither lost arms nor
|eyes, and they stand on the, records 6f his
country disgraced. Although Messrs Mallory
and Clayton deny that any action Of the senate
can wipe this disgrace off, we must beg to diff
fer. Let the officers one and all be restored to
: their former position. and then if any charges
; rest against them on the records Of the navy
department, and if those charges are Of q late
date, let them be tried and if found guilty con-
Il - =. L. LIE.
per cent. of the navy has been for years inet-
fcent, immoral and worthless. And if fifteen
. officers in the navy decide that one half are
unfit for active service, it is more than proba.
Bile that the other half are no better. This the
: people donot believe. The papers have alrea-
y dy spoken in loud tones against the proceedings
: of the board and will continue to issue their
) "anathema maranathas'' until justice is done
g these much injured officers. We ask by what
= rule, what order was this board selected? Did
! they pass the ordeal of secret inqusition? or
were they merely selected from the navy hap.
hazard, by the honorable secretary? Of were the
y records simply examined, and their appoint
: metit to be members Of the board approved by
: the president? or have they, since their ad-
: journment, passed another careful examina-
. tom by board? All these questions suggest
; themselves, and we feel some anxiety to have
> them defnitiyely answered BY the honorable
= secretary, and the chairman of the naval COM
mitee in the senate or the presdento the board:
u N. Y. Journal Of Commerce.
: Professor Sanford, (ofN. Y. )who spoke at the
Y recent Webster banquet, at Boston, related the
n following anecdote Of John Rahdolph:-The
dates and references cannot accurately be re-
/ called, but sometime during the first years Of
:, Mr.. Webster's services in congress, Mr.. Cal
! houn was speaking upon a proposition to re-
: qure all the government dues to be paid in sill
a yer and gold He was opposed to the mea-
i sure; argued its inconvenience to the agents Of
e the government with great ability, and Incl:
: dentally asserted that in no instance had our
y government ever .resorted to such measure.
: Mr. Webster, sitting by Randolph's side, said
1t to him-"He is mistaken on that point; for
e there is post office law in the year IT, re-
+ quiring deputies to receive only silver and gold
!: in payment of postage" 'Isthere such law?'
d said Randolph, with great earnestness; .shoa
is it to me- Mr.. Webster stepped to the clerk g
desk and selected the volume Of United States
e laws which contained the enactment alluded to-,
e and opening to the very page where it was
y found, gave the book to Randolph: He studi-
5, ed it attentisely, noted the page chapter and
J section.
J. The moment Mr.. Calhoun took bis seat, Mi:
r Randolph rose, and in his shrin and harsh
tones, shouted:-'Mr. speaker, and gaining
his attention, he proceeded to say-'Nil admi-
+ rar, is one Of the beautiful and senentous
y maxims of Horace which learned in my boy
rs hood, and TO this day have been wont to be-
II lieve in its truth and to follow it in practice.
n But giveit up. 1t is no longer my rule. I
l. do wonder and am utterly astonished that Il
5 man who assumes to legislate for the country
e should be SO utterly ignorant of its existing
L laws. The gentleman mentions that the bill
J before the house introduces new provision in
u to our legislation. He does not know that it
a has ever been Incorporated into any statute by
n any congress in our countrys history, when it
; has been common usage almost from the in,
= fancy Of OUT nation. ''Macgthdef, screamed
/ the excited orator, to one of the clerks, MAC.
6 gruder, take up volume 5 of the United States
, laws, page 15o, chapter rs. section 10, and