New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-14
XXXVIITH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.

SENATE. .WAsnNGroS, March 10, 1862.
Mr. DAVIS CUn., KY. asked that the case OF
Mr.. Powell be taken up, as the Legislature of Ken
lucky were Ia session aud would like to have the
case settled.
Mr. DAVIS subsequently, Withdrew the request.
Dir. DIXON piep., Conn., offered resolution
that the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed
TO lnqffe whai % cssay 10 be done in regard to
John DAVIS, whose distinguished bravery has been
brought 10 the notice of tie Government by the re-
port Of Commodore Dupont.
The iefolnli N was adopted
Mr. KENNEDY (Un., Md offered resolution
that The Secretary Of the Navy inform the Senne by
what law the Naval Academy was removed 10 New
port, x. L., and the reasons for such removal, and
whether such reasons still exist.
The resolution expressing the thanks OF Congress
to Cept. \. II. Foote, bis officers, ard men OF the
u estern fotilla, was taken up
The Senate sisrch -, 1862 had under considera-
ton the following joint resolution, reported by Sena-
tor Grimes from the Naval Committee:
RESOLUTION EEPKgssyR TBhNKs op coTGREss
10 Cart A. II F0Vfk OF THE T. g. NAVY AND 70 TIE o.F-
cE1s And MIN vSDsR MS coxsASD ~ TTH WESTERN no
lie re.ced b. ne Senate and House If Representation
4. O. oembd That the thanks Of Congress and OF the
Amen people Que ard hereby rendered to Capt A.
FoorE Us Navy aud to the officers and men OF fe
We-teTn foa under bis comsrd for the great gaantry
exhibited by hem in the attacks on Fors Henry and Done
f0r aer efficiency IL opening the Tennessee Cunbes-
land and Missppi Rivers t. the rursuis Of iawfol com
country IN the midst OF the ges'est difficulties and dirgsr
he further rsiorsi That the President Of the United
States be requested his resolution 10 be communi
Gated Csps foOTs and through lin g the officers aud men
under hi. communal.
Also the following, introduced by Senator Sher-
man
JOINT EEsoLUTios KrPRKssIvy or rHE THAMES or cox
GRFs, 20 LiEUTRNAST J. q. woRpRS OF TH8 u. s. NAVY,
AND To rsg OPTICIANS AND MN usDEE ms coNsAsD IN
MONITOR.
be u ,e.red 6yhe Senate ard Hone Of Rspye,sniores
oil
the THANKS OF Congress and Of the Amef people are duo
aud TO officers Of tho ioDc al gunboa Monitor
under his and for the sk aud geanry exhibited ~
late oe battle between the Monitor and the Rebel
iron clad steamer Meriimsc. - ,
lie II trrm0 ,,,oltsd That tie fredens Of the Uniei
ca;si 70 Lieu, Wodsn snd through him to the officers aud
under h. command.
MIR. GRnIEs's SPEECH.
Mr.. GRIMES, after the reading Of the above, spoke
as folows;
Mr. President: conceive il TO be my duty, and
It certainly great pleasure to me, to call the spe-
cal attention OF the Senate to tho achievements Of
the newly created naval fota on our Western
waen, and TO the gallant part borne by IFS officers
and men against armed Rebels ia Kentucky and
Tennessee. Surely, no one could more properly be
more proud OF tie deeds Of arms in that quarter
than a Senator from Iowa; yet know that what
l ever 10 inc HtVig VI iN'SA' N""-
ficts in tie West adds also to tile glory Of the army
and that tho two branches Of the service have been
and are 70 conjoned, that no rivalry ought to exist
between them, except virtuous emulation in the
performance Of patriotic duty. No examples can be
found m the hstory OF any country oil more Import
ant results at'aIed in an equal time, in an untred
field OF naval enterprise, than those we have lately
witnessed on the Ohio. Nississppi, Tennessee, aud
Cumberland Rivera; and feel assured that the cue
cesses which have thus far been achieved Will be
surpassed b. tie same forces whenever they can nd
an enemy with whom 10 cope between 'airo anu
/ New-OTleans.
/ On the 10Th day Of NAV la-t, commander John
Rodger. was ordered ly the Secretary OF the Navy
70 proceed to Cincinnati and TO purchase or CON-
mence the construction OF several gunboas for ser-
vir, ON the Western rivers. Under his auspices he
tlrec boats TAYLOR, Lexington and COneeoga were
uur. based and fitted up for war purposes Ihey
er, uut ia comuissoD, ana reached Caro-, after some
DELAY arising from the low stage O water III The OHIO
riyer ON tle ian Of August. Commander RogeTs
taking command Of the Taylor aud assigning CON-
maudeT Slenlble TO the Lexington and Lieut.. Phelps
to the Conestoga. Tie Taylor carried seven glns,
the Lexington six aud The Cohestoga four here
yas the beginning OF the Western hoiilia. We all
remember the uniavorable criticisms indulged in
when tteea throa stern wheel otoarnorH, with oeif
castings arrived at that military post Some said TIE
would he shaken 10 pieces by the ieeol Of ther own
guns: others that they would be speedily sunk
|
were alarmed by Visions Of Houss ram butting
them 10 pieces with impunity. From the day they
reached their destination to the present no Rebel
craft har shown Itself ten miles above Columbus,
and no Rebel force OF any description has harbored
on tie rivers In proximity which could be deemed
threatening to theil navigation or 10 tho two cities
of ST. Louis and Cai-o. few experimental tript
dsuelled Nil doubts OF their efficiency, and when Tie
peeue became assured that they would do Tie Work
thew were intended for, all iears ot Rebel incur
I ntha
than Missoui, were alao dispelisd. 4 band Of Jeh
Ihomp-ou's robbers did, indeed, make demonsira'
ton OF crossing the Mississippi River Ia August last
from the town OF Commerce, MissOurii but Il the
fret ulmat.on that Tie guuboaia were coming they
fed With what booty they could lay their hnnds on
piaged imvartialiy from iriends aud foes on the
Missouri shore. Tie boon OF security 10 the people
of the Northwestern States Is debt duo III no
small degree TO these wooden guuhohts; FOR how
ever numerous and brave our armies, II would have
| lcen impossible VIA them alone To have guarded
All uonis on our river line. Thus our people were
not only protected from danger oi INVASION, but
were enabled 10 give all their iae and energies ~
| incarnation for those offensive movements which
have reclaimed much important territory iiom the
domination Of the enemy.
/ On the I'd day If September, Commander Rodg-
ers. WINS detached from service IN tie West, ana
Cant A. IL. FOote was ordered to take command a.
Flag Officer. Since that tine the following NAMED
bo4ts. with iron-cad bows have been built or pre-
u.red lor ssr, lee AID added TO tie No,ii under NE
command;
/ Name ~ Isifd No Uuua c0"nd"a".
~ Ioui-................iJ......i. Lieut. iauldins
C.foud.let...............lJ... Comm snd'f NoAe.
/ piu.bur.h.............i1.. Leni. lAompson
iou.sylo...............Is.. ...., COMMANDER Dove
C.nc.n Conintnlet stembeL
sr..........'.''''''' 'N' 'i'''' 'i'''
!Iouai iit y.............lJ
! Tie Gnt engagement Of The gunboa's with ihe
enemy took place the ltA OF September a. Lucas
BEND, In tie MissIasppi River, short distance
above. and ~ iuli view o. th3 Rebel stronghold ut
/ Columbus. II this engagement the Lexington,
I . a.. Gt.v.Isi md .be Comedian Liant.