Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-02-20

fDcts
furnished by members of the supreme bench also by the
accomplished and learned judge the United States dc
and the who occupies the position of Ato
Legislative action based upon evidence and opinions Of
these who the peculiar guardians of the constitution of
the State and who justly supposed be best acquainted
with its letter and spirit anly entitled to
and WILL doubt receive the careful consideration Of the
Judiciary Committee. -IVashtngtOm Union.
The London Times ne American Navy Depart-
ment.
In the course of article in the London Times of
the Odd of January upon the British executive and
the mystery so carefully preserved in England with
regard to ministerial affairs, that journal takes occa
sion to contrast the brief plantations by ministers
in Parliament with the full and complete reports
emanating annually from each of The executive de-
partments of the American government and refers to
the last report from our Navy Department an ex
ample of what report should be, and especially of
what should emanate from the British Admiralty
The article is a long one, and we therefore extract
from il such portions only peculiarly interest the
American reader We quote it also at once
commentator bestowed upon the practice of our
government in exposing to the public scrutiny reg.
ular intervals the management of public affairs and
a most pleasing acknowledgment of the abb lily, in.
dustry, and deep interest in the improvement of the
navy, which have distinguished the four years SER
vice of the present head of that department-an i'm.
proVement appreciated abroad as we'll as at home
Washington Union.
In The United States it is otherwise and ci.
zen can there sit down and in the space of an hour
or two thoroughly master the state of each depart.
ment all that it has done during the past year, and
all that it proposes for the future. Thus we have
before in the annual report of the Secretary of the
Navy compendious statement, such as could de-
fly the most dligent and practised compiler to
from all the speeches and reports of the whole Brit
ish Admiralty, even aided by the Macy Lasts and the
intelligence from the ports. Here we have an &C.
count of all the squadrons their force where they
have been what more wanted, and where what
ships have been built, with what guns, of what
cabre; with discussion the comparative ad
vantages of shot and shell. Then we have the con-
dition of the crews; proposed changes; in officers
word, the whole naval history of the year, and
the ministerial pro- ecs for the session, all stated full
ly and plainly. AS far concerned, we have
the oppor unity of knowing that the Americans are
by no means neglecting their navy They are omit.
ting nothing that may bring it not only to equal,
ty, but TO superiority, the fleets of Eu.
rope They are resolved not to be beaten, and they
are not afraid to tell The value of this docu.
men is that it exhausts the sub ect. 1t processes
tell everything as far as certain reasonable limits
will allow. The reader sits down with the ConvIC,
ton that if the report has not been actually cook
ed, ii leaves him il possession of every fact of i'm
. portance"
But the report on the American navy is more
particularly suggestive of one upon At present
there is such mystery, no lore so reconcile, no
knowledge unatainabe, as the state of the British
navy. Certain Admiralty returns tell lis all the ships
in and out OF commission, and where they are or
ought TO be- But, as they say the children of thi.
!, age are the men of the future, the vessels
the stocks are the future fleet of England. So what
ships are building! How many leviathans OF the
Deep those pompous three deckers, ignaUum pecH
made for the sole purpose apparently of consuming
e men, coal and money! How many frigates fit 10
show b side the Merrimac, whether in peace in
war? How many OF those sloops- of.war, and those
gun boats, upon which the American report before
o us dwells with such fondness and complacency Z
o What Improvement have we made and adopted in
> our guns Is what Vulcan tells us in anoter
column true What has been done, or is to be done,
to render the service more attractive and the dsc'
4 pine more perfect? general report would com
!, prise all these points of information.
7 The bur!en now lies rather with the opposition CT
r the public than the minister for if the latter is not
i challenged, he is held free to be communicative
! not, he peases. 1t is fault if we let him hold
- his tongue, and he generally contrves 10 get some
n advantage over But such report we describe
and as, indeed, we have in the American example BE-
r fore u.s. throws he burden on the Admiralty when
- may be called 10 account for every omission. From
this department, then, at least we hope to hear, az
an early .dae, what We doing to meet these mag
- nifcent frigaes and their Tremendous armanent'
IS those 135-pounders. Are we only providing huge
targets to he rent and raked and sent to shvers BY
y Their nimber and more powerful assallanls or are
= we preparng the British sailor 10 fight upon more
y equal terms? What craft have we got for the next
e war in shoals and creeks What are we preparing
a What further suggestions has the First Lord OF lhe
A. Admiralty to offer This is just what have ID
the American report and but for the narrow, con-
81 tentious parliamentary PRACTICE should look io
u the same from the mouth the ipen of Sir Charles
:; Wood"
r, A GENIUS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.-Ih"
world renowned statesman, General Cass, is to be sue
30 ceeded in the United States Senate by Black G
ed publican very lily qualified for his position Inc
&, Detroit Free Press relates the following anecdoe
g him
We During the late campaign, Mr. Zacharah Chan,
of dler United States Senator elect, improved hlm;f
in stump speaking by taking lessons OF recsoN