Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-13
JUDGE BUTLER,s sPEECH ON THE
NAVAL BOARD.

The speech of this distinguished gentleman
upon this subject has elected very general adj
miration. We have more than once had occa-
sion to say of his efforts, that they possess a
freshness and originality, with force andpower
of argument that never fail alike to attract and
instruct US.
We hope shortly to be able to make room
for his speech on this subject, and on the Kan
sas question, which last is one of the very
ablest we have ever read.
In connection with this subject, we give
place to the following criticism upon Judge
Buffers speech upon the action of the Naval
Board. 1t is from the Patriot and Mountaineer,
of Greenvile, South Carolina. The compli-
ment to Judge Buffers admirable speech, in
tone and sentiment" which our contemporary
has been slowly delivered Of, is calculated to
do him much less than justice. In the first
| place, we respectfully submit TO our contem-
porary, the Patriot and Mountaineer, that he
does not understand the subject Surely we
are justified in this conclusion, by his assertion
that the fault was in the law, which he charac-
terizes as "harsh and cruel" Now, we admit
the law was loosely drawn and not sufficiently
explicit in its provisions; but we deny that it
contains any language which can even be dis
toyfed into an authority to the Naval Board to
hold their sessions IN secret, to keep no JOURNAL
to hear no evidence-not to apprise the accused
of the charges against him, and to keep no
proceedings of its slaughter housed
! We deny that there is anything in the law
which contemplated the approval or disapproval
of the action Of the board by the President
and his Secretary, Uithout examination into the
reasons, the aohy and the ,oherefors of its ac-
ton. This mode of procedure was shamefnlly
usurped and the execution Of the law was sin
full and cruel. Suppose the board had report
ed instead of 20l officers for dismissal, retire
ment, and furlough, six hundred and ninety
six-al but their immaculate selves--should
the President and Secretary have confirmed
their report and left the United States without
a navy, and that, too, without q reason given
eoen to them for making such a recommends
ton? We are sorry TO see so respectable a
| journal as the Patriot and Nountaineer using
the stilletto sd artfuly against its distinguished
Senator. Our contemporary seems greatly
riled that the censure Of the President las he
terms it) produced burst Of applause in the
galleries" Now, there was twofold reason
1 for this: first, we know no public man whose
fervid eloquence on all occasions electrifes
more fully his auditory than Judge Butler.
Second, we know no theme which has more of
the elements of popular enthusiasm than that
of graceful philippe upon our laundering
President
AS to the insinuation that Judge Butler be-
longs to that class Of Senators who devote
their whole attention to some great political
measure, and will not condescend to notice
and watch over the ordinary legislation of the
country" we have simply to say the Patriot
and Mountaineer does him infinite injustice
We had as soon expect our little boy FIVE years
old to be mixed up in political intrigues as the
honorable Senator from South Carolina. He
would get his eyes cheated out of him at any
such game, and it is precisely for this simpli.
city, so rare in a public man, that we so much
admire him.
From Greenville Is. Co. Patriot and Mountaineer.
Judge Buffers Speech.
We have read, with great interest, the recent
speech of Senator Butler, on the subject Of the
| proceedings of the Naval Board, in dismissing
and cashiering certain officers of the navy. 1t
is an admirable seecb, in tone and sentiment,
i L.. n.
which the board acted, was passed by Con.
gress, and with Congress lies the blame and
censure of having passed so unjust an act. 1t
is in in vain for Judge Butler TO attempt to
throw the blame or censure on President
Pierce, for having ratified the proceedings and
! judgment Of the Naval Board. 1t is equally
vain for other Senators 10 attempt to cast
censure on the Naval Board. The censure is
with Congress. They are to blame for having
passed the law, odious and revolving to an
honorable mind-the trial and disgrace Of gal
liant officers without hearing, and in secret
! The board did their duty, and the President
did his. They acted in obedience to harsh
and cruel law. On the passage Of that law
was the proper time for Judge Buffers burst
of patriotic and heightened Indignation but
the law attracted no attention on its passage.
Senators seemed not to have understood its
purport and bearing In this way most Of our
laws are passed in Congress and in the State
Legislatures. The whole, attention of members
is devoted to some great political measure, and
they cannot eondescend TO notice and watch
over the ordinary legislation Of the country.
Surely no one could expect the President to
re-examine every case, and give each officer
hearing after the decision Of the Naval Board
was reported to him. This was not his duty,
and it is what he could not have DONE There.
fore, we think, with all due Difference to Judge
Butler, that his censure Of the President is un.
just, and uncalled for. 1t was this censure
which produced burst Of applause in the gal.
leries whilst Judge Butler was speaking.
We have rarely seen the multum in parro,
/ more striki civ illnstrnted than in The Eollorr