Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-01-26

objection to motion of any Senator on the ground of the absence of any necessity for printing these records, or because of the cost he would be listened to with that attention which the Senate is always accustomed to pay to him. I do not anticipate that trouble.
 A remark fell from the Senator from Ken lucky to the effect that perhaps this movement was intended for purposes of delay. l hope he does not include me in that imputation. l entertain an earnest desire to have this very dis agreeable matter settled 1 think the sooner we pass this resolution, and obtain possession of the information we desire to govern us in our action, the sooner we shall arrive at a consum- nation of this business. For myself, l disa- VOW altogether any intention to delay the set clement of this question, either here or else- where. have nothing more to say than that 1 hope the resolution will pass.
 Mir. DAVIS. Ishould think it very unfortu- nate indeed, to draw the original records out of the Department at this time. hope there are cases which, under the revision of the Presi dent, may call for his action by nomination to the Senate where the courts have not recom- mended such nomination. If 1t be desirable that the Senate should have the proceedings of the courts in all these cases, think they must be copied, and the originals left in the Depart ment for the revision of the President, and his action upon them. do not perceive why the Senate should call for the records, unless 1t Is for the purpose of printing them. If the com- mittee on naval affairs require information, such as is to be gathered from the record, In each case where they need that aid, it. is in their power to call for the original papers. In all other cases where the records are not needed for the use of the committee, think it far bet ter that they should remain in the Depart
 d hxyc hat ( tha records need only be sent to accompany nomin- ations which may be made, because the Presi- dent may wish to make comparison between a case which he has sumbmitted on recom- mendation of the court to the Senate and some other case which has not been submitted, be- cause not recommended by the court. For these reasons, l think to enable the President to discharge his duty properly, the originals should remain in his possession.
 MT. SLIDELL. A suggestion has just been made to me which, perhaps, may obviate all the difficulty in this case. 1 understand from one of my colleagues on the committee on naval affairs, that abstract of the record and testi- mony in all these cases has been made very carefully by the department. For all prelimi- nary purposes, that will be quite sufficient for me and, with the assent of the Senate, 1 pro- pose to amend the resolution so as to make it read:
 Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate to the Senate an abstract of the records of proceedings of the several naval courts of inquiry, organized under the act of Congress approved January 16, 1857, to amend an act entitled, "An act to promote the eff cency of the navy"
 Mir. BAYARD. As I can see, in my own judgment, much evil that may flow from the adoption of this resolution without any possible good on the action of the Senate 1 shall be necessarily compelled to vote against it. do not see how we are to constitute ourselves, in open session, tribunal for the purpose of re- vising the action of these courts of inquiry. think the whole proceeding, from the enact- ment of the original law down to the present time, has done nothing but demoralize the navy. If this testimony be submitted to the Senate, in open session, either in full or in abstract, 1 think the necessary result will be its publication It will only lead to disputes, to crimination and recriminaton, among officers of the navy; it will increase heartburnings and jealousies, and will tend to demoralze the navy far more than it is now. l am unable to perceive any possi. ble ground or reason on which we ought to call for this testimony for any beneficial purpose.- If a nomination should come before the Senate d Senator might desire that the record in that particular case should be submitted to the Sen ate though 1 should doubt the policy of the measure even then; but, certainly, can see no propriety in a general publication of what is called an abstract of this testimony. If it is to be truthful, and give proper information, it must be an entire abstract; it must omit nothing ma- terial. Here you are delegating to others the power of saying what is and hat is not rele want testimony, in each of tn csc cases think it wiser that the matter should be suffered to sleep in the departments, reserving the right to any Senator, in any individual case where he thinks it necessary for purposes of individual justice, to call, ln executive session. for the pro- ceedmgs in that case. 1 am opposel to the resolution as it stands.
 Mir. COLLAMER. I have never entered into the subject of this naval investigation, nor have 1 made any remarks in the Senate with regard to it. Very much time was occupied during the last Congress in endeavoring to put an end to the difficulties that had grown out of the execution of law of a previous session, a.d after great deal of time and labor and at- tenton to the subject, plan was devised which it was supposed would put an end to them.- Other boards were provided, and modes of car rying the question for revision before those OoaruS pointed out. They were to report to the President, and he was to examine the cases, and nominate to the Senate such officers as he thought proper for reappontment. It was hoped, at least, that this would put an end to any more investigations of particular cases of a nomiraton-like any other nomination to office -a Senator objecting to it would be at liberty, in executive session, to call for any information the department might have but that should be in executive session, and be confined to the par tcular case in hand. 1 presume we are not here to take upon ourselves a revision of the decisions of the courts of inquiry, and of the decisions of the President in all these cases. and make provision for that by call of this kind It strikes me as exceedingly i'll advised. Gentlemen may differ in opinion from me on this point; but to my mind, the movement is entirely out of place. entirely out of time, and altogether inconsistent with the views enter tained by this body at the last session. We can never put an end to these proceedings if we now lay the foundation for re-examnation of the whole matter. 1 am opposed to any call of this kind, and to any publication of the sort now indicated.
 MT. STUART. Ithink it is due to the Sen- ator from Mississippi that he should proceed with his remarks to-day; and 1 therefore move to postpone the further consideration of this subject until tomorrow.
 The motion was agreed to-
 Vessels Propelled bv a New Povver