The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-04
lsaslaess Notice.


THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE AND THE
NAVY YARDS
Commodore Kearney inimates that we preferred
a charge Of corruption against tho navyyards. The
Conmodore has simply Inexperienced US. We
give his note
M.roa I, 1852
70 DE Esiaors u aAs Uhion,
In your paper Of yestrray broad charge would seem
TO fall upon nasy-yards respectfully ask u any
cfc, Tire Navy proper Is chargesble with fInud on
cheating in any way
am. respectfully, ycur obedient servant,
Il KEARNEY,
Late Commandant u s. Navy Yard, New York
We venture 10 say that there is not public office
~ the country, in the whole world-and we might
extend this % private business affairs which is
managed with absolute perfection. There is not
great department under this OF any other govern
mert in which there arc not more on less abuses
,ractisea The policy cf Che United States towards
the Indian tribes regard, for instance, a most
frigltal abuse. II involves radical and inherent
evils affecting the life, character, and welfare of the
aboririnea aud injustice towards the people of The
U,ea States II il strikins buuder, we believe,
10 lsgali1e the existence Of two unequal races and
recognise them as cocqusi inhabitants Of the same
country. II is clearly wrong IN our Judgment, TO
ploy hundred es more consus and refuse TO pay them
anything tes their services. This kind Of manage
meutnvolvesth the utmost extravaganza under The garb
Of sie meanest economy. IL wrong 10 refuse 10
pay just claims upon the government aud il is wrong
to pay unjust claims; two conditions of the public
administration which are patented every year. II is
wrcng % throw away millions upon public buildings
ior no other object than TO make display. II is
wrong to attack the army while il is engaged in up
sight and severe service in inhospitablc aud
fortress country. II is wrong to cushion and mat
trass the members of the Legislature, to entertain
them in palaces. aud surround them 10y endless luxu
RES because it seems to convey to them the i'm.
preston that all officers of the government, are equal
ly well provided, aud viii, like disregard Of the dig
nifty and interest Of the American people 1t is
wrong TO send our little navy TO the Mediterranean
TO pass of elegant hospitality, while the
necessities Of great commerce demand its pres
ence and its offices where the rights of civilization
are not as well known and recognised Ii is wrong
10 proclaim, in pretty and well-rounded sentences,
carries over all the earth national character i'm
parted to him by his government; when in truth
the President of the United States is denied the
authority to usc the army and navy for the
purpose of exacting redress for actual and NM
provoked grievances. 1t is wrong for Congress to
undertake Investigations into past abuses in par
tisan spirit and 10 hold the present generation
ppnpeila for nrrnru mast al,
tons even down 20 the commencement of the gov
eminent. II is wrong for any member Of commit
tee Of inquiry Into abuses to elicit testimony from
one who rendered rates at which he would supply
the Navy Department at stated times with Iiveoak
timber, and Who when asked if he had expected to
furnish the timber by the first Of September (ihe
time named in the advertisement he would have
agreed to DO il at the rates proposed in his bids,
answered under oath no. sir i; say it is clearly
wrsng in any person of the committee, on such tes-
timony, to proceed TO charge the Secretary of the
Navy with neglect of duty in tho promises or to
withhold ioin him all just praise for his fidelity to
the mteresIsof the service.
We can well imagine am almost infinite variety OF
wrongs committed by Congress- and by all the de-
those who claim perfection any Of the public Offices
non have we any belief whatever in the possibility
of reaching such standard. That there are chronic
abuses in the navy and in the army that The revenue
aud POSTAL service are full Of them; that The Indian
Department and the land system are equally well
Charged with errors Affirmative and negative; that
all tle bureaus faulty; that the Judiciary some
times run into misapprehensious ;aII these things
are probable, and more tlpan probable, But we
would as soon think OF prosecuting the heirs of Gen.
Jackson for contempt TO The government OF Louis
Philippe, Of holding Alexaader Hamilton rospon-
s'ble for the of his posteily Of ndicting
the chiefs of the departments under Mr.. Buchanan S
honest administration of the shortcomings and blum
ders TO which we have referred.
We have no hesitation in saying, tlicn, to Commo-
dore Kearney, and TO all The navy yards that we be-
heye more or less abuses have crcpt into those cs-
Adjustments; and we may add that every special
service Of the Kind hbors under the chronic diff
Guilty Of surprising that its officers know moro than
anybody else. They are too often welded to old
ileas and old models. They go round the circle
oiencr than they cross IL. But al this we charge
10 the system, the rules for conducting which per
haps, we're borrowed from 9th nations and for
the enforcement, Of which Commodore Kearney il no
more responsible than he s for the partition of
Poland or the failure Of the Ocean Telegraph