Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-06-04
$l,5O A YEAR In ADVANCE

comma nder-in-ehef had drawn up his little arm
to cross it, and hnd the powerful currsn
bearing onward tho floating masses of leo which
threatened destruction TO whatsoever should ven
ture upon its bosom. / wish that, when this oc
curenco threatened to defeat the enterprise they
could have heard that distinguished warrior de-
mand, who will lead us on :? aud seen the men OF
Marblchoad, and Marblehead alone, stand forward
to lead the army along the perlons path to un fad
ing glories and honors in the achievements o
Trenton. Tbero sir, went tho 6shornon of Mar
blehcad, alike at home upon land and water, aIik,
ardent, patriotic, and un1nchins. whenever the,
unfurlcd the flag Of the country"
But, sir, these gallant, patriotic men, were
not less seryice;tbe in tho war of 1912, than
in the war of the Revolution. have u let
ter from that gallant old man who did such
distinguished service for his country. Com
mo lore Stewart. l addressed him note
some time since asking his opinion of the
value OF these fishermen on whom the Sena-
tor from Alabama seemed to place SO low an
estimate. That Senator said:
'fhe mere inspection of a smack and square
rugged ship will show that the former is school
on which to learn how to manage the latter. Tho
contrast Is as great rs between a log cabin and
the labyrinth cf Crete; and tho cod fisherman
would scarcely DO more ut fault in the babyrinth
than in the ship
That is the opinion of the Senator from
Alabama. | will read the opinion Of Com
modorc Stewart
Mr.. Hale. lie is "grecn." daughter }
Mr. llamlin. Commodore Stewart may bo
in green old age. God grant that many
days may yet bcspared to him for the gallant
service that he has done our common country
have also a letter from the eldest active COM
m pdore in your Navy, that propose to read
The Senator from Alabama says he has talk
ed with naval officers, who have given him
the opinion which lea Is him to this con-
clusion. wish he would give us ticir
nams. should like to SEQ that naval
officer who ever fought naval battlo with
New England fisherman, who would come in
to the Senate and dccry their patriotism
their valo~, and their scrvic IS. think the
Senator has talked with men who never saw
such service
But, sir, let me read Ills lettor, so full Of
fact, so pregnant with meaning, from that
gallant old commodore. | will not read it
al. lie goes on to describ, acts Of personal
hcroism, of individual members of his crew
who were rea ly to 60 down amid the coral
and sca-weed IN defense of common flag of
common right. [ will read only-for it is
all that is important-the conclusion which
he arrived at, ls to those men, who, accord
ing to the Senat are so lost on naval vessels.
He commanded that noble oil ship, the G III
stltutlon, through tho proweSJ of which
there has been spread and gathered more OF
glory to the Am erican Navy that any other
vessel; and he speaks of the crew of New Eng
land fishermen under his command in thi,
wise:
'Thcy all enlisted in Boston, Marblehcal
"a lem, and Portsmouth, from whence, believe
it is well known that most of tho sea .fAring men
belonging thoreto, come from the New usland
fisheries
In all my service. have mover seen OIL
board of IA ship of war
Clost in the labyrinth of Crcto says the Sen
ator from Alablina.)
-"such splendid crew for expert scamanship,
discipline, sobricty, orderly and determined bear.
ing, wull a sin ,euess of purp for glory aud
the honor OF their flag thnn that one of tho Cen
stitution. 1t may not bc inappropriatc to repeat
here, tho remark Of the first Napoleon, on board
Of the 'Bellorophon" when rev viewing her marine.
what c ,ud not be dono, with an army of sucu
mon can only surInisc what might DO dono in
ships of war, with such crews
Now. the opinion of the Senator from Ala
biml does not concur with Commodore Stew
art. Tho Senator from Alabama on such ;t,l-
thuritirs rs he has consulted, thinks they
would bs lost on Il mtu-oiwir. Tho Com
modere says, further
In conclusion, may say, in the words Of tho
sultan of Seringapattn TO the Govcrnor General
of India: how can say more, in bohalf of so no
bic a crew of New Ensindors p
have Il letter here from,your Oldest active
commodore Of the Navy,who was an o!licor ON
board this very Constitution, u noble and a
gallant nan who has d Jne gallant service for
his country, and who is entitled to its thanks
Il letter hardly less significant than that
which have read from Commodore Stewart.
What docs he say of this class of men who
are out OF place, who are not educated, who
10 not know what belong to their duties be-
cause they have only been fishermen? | ad
dressed him three interogltorss, the scope Of
which the senate will understand by the an
swers he has submi ted. lie says:
To the first, | sag without hesitation, that dur
ing the of 1912, and at all times, since have
been in the Navy, We thought ourselves fortunate
when We could obtain American fishermen
for the public sorvicc, for VIII ca VIC consider n,
class Of men better adapted
The Senator from ALBANIA told told US they
We're not lit for naval service. Commodore
Shubrick thinks otherwise. Commodore
Shubrick and Commodore Stewart have had
. little experience in this matter. Both Of
them have commanded crews of these very
men, and they know something about them,
Commodore Shubrick continues:
TO tho second say that during the war of
1872 and for some years previous, great pains were
taken to exclude Foreigners from the Navy, and
am of the opinion that particularly during the
yt tanr 4 4
That was in answer to a question as to who
constituted the naval crews at that time.
regret that the chairman of the Committee
on Naval Affairs is not present; but shall
st !te some information derived from him on
thus point. That lntcrrogatory was pro-
nounced for the very reason that | under
stand, us matter beyond all doubt, that
two-thirtls at least. probably three f,urths, OF
sci in our Navy, is constituted of foreigners
mot IL very safe class Of men to intrust the
interests OF vour country, and the integrity
1t may do in piping times Of peace, but ii
had better not be 50 then. Wise policy
elevated craftsmanship that shall rise above
the catching of IL cod, or the locality of tho
interest, would dictate that both in our com,
mercial and in our naval marine tho integri
ty OF our flag should be intrusted to Ameri
can hands, and American hearts. Sir, it il
miserable, it is a local, it is a provincir
view Of the question, that limits it down t'
that narrow point 70 the third intcrroga
tory which put to the commodore he says
80 the third, say that any policy by the Gov
ernment which will tend to provide during peac
for the exigencies of WARTS wise and none wou
be more than to nurtuc the body OF America,
seamen who are trained in the Gsheries.'
Now, sir, think these two letters are yer.
1rnnl nuthnritu clninn frnln rnlllnt oil