The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-03
CONGRESSIONAL.
spEEcH OF non. MR.. BIGGs,

on the naval retiring board delivered IN the Senate Of
The United States April 30, 1856.
The senate having under csnsiderAou the resolutions
submitted by Mr. iFEasoS the 2sh Of February for The
appointment Of seeci committee 10 investigate the action
Of the late naval boArd- +. :.
Mr. BiGGS said: Mr. President have Attentrsly lis-
tened 10 te preceding debate this interesting a0d what
appears 10 be with some hs important and absorbing
question ofthe session think have listened toe with
as much nPartiaiiy any srnaio because my Judgment
Was not lnnnenced by participation ia the debate pre-
Cedlag the passage Of the las the azt Congress
not committed BY my VOTE and have 40 prrsoual ac-
qaainisnce with member Of the naval board with
one ocer OF the retired list except slight acquaintance
recently formed with or the retired comuAades 1t
seems 70 me- therefore, that have been fayoraby circm-
staRer % b. guided by The unbiased convictions Of nay
best Judgment IN arriving correct conclusion. 1
have been somewhat panei portion Of the debate
which aegeasrscd into personal crimnation and recrmi-
Eat'on ia Eic assaults and ds.eaos Of The personal char
areF Of particular ocIs Or The naFy induiged
tL perhaps win not be b+cornng 10 TO express az
opinion TO the that much older ADLER and more
experienced senator's have eonsiAsre II their duty par
sGei but with that frAnknsss and ranaoT which
ri chrraeserize my member of this grave I'D
dgniEed body express my entire disAppFobation
the course Of debate of question OF public policy which
leads INTO personalities which engender siritr stir up
the passions Of aepraved human nature open
wounds nearly healei And which remind the breach
Of forrner friendships encourages and aggvsts Ill ngs
recently ard for the first time aroused and converts the
Senate into for personal nrectire and sulogy
In the privacy Of cbinei council in executive
SION Of The Senate the fitness unftness of nominee
and perhaps ought BE- fully discussed coInpar-
alive merits Of the nominee with his predecessor removed
might not be out of place but il strikes exccug-
" indscreet and improper upon the propositions be
fore the Senate TO discuss the personal character Of any
Officer in the navy
hat result viii be attained by making these personal
issnes In deciding great question Of pabe policy
VIC to be guided by sympathy for retired otce-by the
elanor Of their Interested frendsby denunciaton Of
the executors Of Law Of the land By examination OF
this personal faults Of any officer Of the navy?
a ErnI rHrl lunFs IN rrntai Tw-
men 10 act upon the principle here las would be
indicated by the character of the discussion that this gov
hoiders be they civil, military, naval This govern
men according 70 ray rrading Of our institutions
atea for the benefit Of the people Of this coany and the
officers Lear agcrts-aecessary agents certainly and
to be treated with beraity and justice the Representa-
lives ot the States and peop Be changed regular
led controlled dismissed from the pablic service when
the great interests Of the people require it and it Is
tempt Of this cardinal feature Of republican constit-
ton when any set Of oc-hoders under this government
by deed word assume themselves the character Of
privileged class
affection, revenge the important questions upon
which called to act and admit that the nsvyiis
increase and eeency entitled favorable consd-
Grafton In doing this We should do injustice far
practicable meritorioHs officers bat rneritoous oeers
though they may BE- there CHER consideration thaa
provide for them the pnblie good requires their retire
from the public service they go they ought
without complaint marnlr and if lhey do mnrmar
duty to the public interest should in spite Of sppea
or in this city elsewhere properly rebuks such unus6-
able discomfort
And these remarks make not in spirit Of ai-parage-
bat with the highest appreciation Of the gallant and
valuable services Of the distinguished aud ehvsrous of
Of navy who haye shed such lustIe upon hs
tory and elevated the character Of our country.
Again in the execution Of Law like that of the last
session in the very nature Of things while continues
the imperfect beag be s may expect some errors to
have been committed hare not Jet confess however
been convinced by entirely satisfactory proof thai accord
iuy m pF Law has neer
There may be o. which have Information
and IL u probable there bat fee, satisfied they
ew N number. But suppose II Is conceded there are
many cases shall system policy, law be condemn
ed il the execution Of il fails 70 be perfsct7
The Secretary Of the Navy writes to the Committee o
Naval Affairs on 2sth January, 1885, In relatOn to tbs
retired officers thus
81 hare not listened with irspasnes or indifference
their appeals the department 10 which tbsy
aspk bssyr4 - ssm,r,,ss o. ,ers,iar il eooes,
that the properly eain. for action BY means
Bumsrous the judgement be controlled br regard for The
pashc service and the public good instead Of our kindly
ympsthies-"
II seems 10 be universally coscsd~d that for twenty
ysars past ueroupded complaints bad been made as d
the efficiency Of the rsoaae Of the nary Some reform
loudly called for by every successive Secretary Of hs
Navy from Secretary PAuding 1873 TO the present SEQ
retAry IN 1854 and no unpradoed man can read the re
port Of the COMMITTEES Naval Affairs without admit
ting that pressing public necessity demanded thor
ough reformation, which existing laws hsa iiIed 70
complsh.
showing the necessity of the reform needed aud intended
By the act of the last Congress The chairman q the Com
mttee Naval Afs in the House of Representatives
the last Congress INr. Booocxl stated
Here you have xtyeEht captains on The N,rJ Rezister
for 1851 tad early the t the Of captain wbs
entered The service n lsoo and has consequently been in
fy three years sEd eight months New, for how nuch
that tine DO yoa supPoe that Kcntcnsn has bceu uncmpoy
Cd he hs been thrtyhyc ycss and nine months
ploye, but drawing hs Fo1a the gov~nment tie ~s
made captain in lS2s thirty years ago Hos mach
service has be discharged since then Two years and
oush for which he has received pay captain in h'
service long ago he hs, been forty year
ard uonhs. OF that time he h9 been HnemploJ "a
twenty foar years aud month Tie made captain
IN The is7s and snee that time he has had four Jesr
here another gentleman who hss beer in the errics
-four years and month OF thai time be has beer
unemployed t~enty-tro ycars he was made esPisin "
lSss and that time be has done service Hers
IL another gentleman who has been ia the service forty
and three months Daring that time be has been sDempoy
ed twenty-five years and months. Ne made captain
in 1ss0 and how mech fe do you suppose be has been
ployed since henf Fer the term Of ten mcnths One o.
these gentlemen reported hi-ef 6epAr
and unknown the Secretary Oh said he
hare hac notbing 70 40 for long time, and hars beet
engaged regularly 10 farming bat up here annually
annually gosrtsriy 70 receive his iesveof shsenc,
who entered the service long that be ha been IL
for ferytwo and SIR months thrn he been
esopoY 81 twenty and eleven months He msd.
capssiu IN lss, and nrs that be hs. done
psrtcie of servcr pcb Cor the Inst of captains
This thing is rot confined 70 captains 1900 .s
- core down nov 70 the conmsndcrs and snd
who esssred the service bong thai he hss been IN
yesrs and Ire nonhsths cf the nswy
did service HE par was 500 commander
~ oad o 81 snS cite narnses o. other instances
thss trd but think unr~cesssrv The HOME
thx some ef rcr 10 shoiat~sy c-o~sesry Nsr