Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1859-05-17
PuilRsfutatlon oIlhs s,Opposltiou Chafss
OflFfald Against the Navy Department

The following. says the Richmond En-
Qaireys authentic copy of i document on
record ~ the Navy Department Is not
only slfficiant 20 iefule The unfounded
charges from which the Opposition party
are now ehdeavoring q manufacture POI
litical capital, but i establishes the isct
that the measures taken by the De.
partment have been such As to ensure
the most rigid economy consistent with
The public service-io demonstrate fur
iber. that the REeKIEss RxrsAyAe AscE pE
Mf. FILLMoRrs ADMINISTRATORS HAS
BEEN coRkEcTED ar TIE suBsEouRET ADJ.
MtEIsTRATioS o. DEMocRATIc oFFIcERs !;
and i finally shows. that If The Opposition
choose sl III 10 insist on tile exisience OF
frauds, they must accuse gallant ioifilsrs
of5the Uniled States Navy. who have up.
held their country's flag before the enc
my and for many years discharged their
public triist. under the successive super
vision Of both Wing and Democratic Adj
ministFations. with uniarnished honor,
without . whisper against an integrity or
character, tried and Tested AS eatisfacioris
" asl the very courage And patriotism
which nerved tlIeir arms in the honr or
danger, We recommend ito every can !.
did man ii Virginia to place this oficisl
docnmentin comparison with the interest.
ed effor@ at detraction with which The
Opposition press has flooded the State !.
NAyT DEPARTMEEr. II
February IA. 1859.
Sir-I have received your letters or The
8lh and 9lh instant, with copies Or certain
testimony, and ant expression 81 the del
sire Of the Committee over which yopl
preside toreceiye from me any statement
or Information ii regard to il which I may
wish to present. i now comply with the
request; and FIRST with reference TO The
contracte for live oak timber. made under
the advertisements Of june the IA. 1855
No live oak timber had been purchased
by advertised contract for the last sixteen
years, excepting ii these instances:
ist. a contract made September 18th,
I848. for 1li 900 cubic feet.
"a. Al contract made 10 September,
1855. for the frames Of six large Slope.
oi- war. cutf 10 meulds, loIfeplace in part
that which had been taken for the six
large steam frigates built in 1856. 81
which twoElaye' since been used for The
sloops- OF. war q Lancaster" and ,.Pensa-
cola. authorized ii 1857: and the other
four can only be used FIR ships Of that class.
Sd. The want Of additional quantities
Of live oak having been repeatedly urged
BY the Bureau of Construction. The De-
pariment on The LIST 81 July. 1857. an
thorized a contract 10 be made for such
timber as would replace in part what had
been taken from the complete frames Of
ships Of the line and frigates. which the
wants Of service had made it necessary
70 break III upon. and also 10 provide
crooked timber suitable for the repairs OF
vessels ofthe larger classes. OF which the
supply was wholly Insufficient.
For several years past the repairs on.
the sloops .of-war and smaller vessels have
been very great and have gradually alb
sorbed the best and most or the ANAL sized
timber. and The want Of tia. kind of lim-
Der was every day becoming more appa-
rent. Thus. this kind OF timber being
absolutely wanted. il became advanta-
geous and economical ID purchase that
which had been refused on the existing
contracts for being below the contract
size. rather than to cut the larger and
more valuable pieces that remain Of the
old stock OF that was then coming III on
the5new contracts So great was tie want
OF this smaller timber, that II had been
used 10 considerable extent in tie Nor.
ok and Kiitery yards (in the latter 30 the
amount Of sS.s72 Al before authority
was obtained il the proper form 10 make
the purchase the officers in those yards
believing that The public interests war
ranted that course. And SO great was the
deficiency Of live oak timber in lie navy
yard At Pensacola. that there IS not now
a3stick Of that kind ID The yard which has
not been purchased since.
While this deficiency of timber in the
Navy Yards was known to exist. reliable
information was received, IN the month Of
May last. that the British government
had revived the pretended right Of
search. and that British cruisers wore ex !!
ereising il npon merchant vessels Of the
United States in tie neighborhood Of
Cuba. This information created great
excitement throughout the country. Tits
only necessary 10 refer to the warlike de-
bates in both Houses Of Congress TO an.