The Portland daily press., 1865-03-20
Hon. F. A. Pixies Defense of Our Navy.

d0ns +, a, FlKes Do1enSe OF Our navy.
Among the best speeches made during the
late short session OF Congress, must be count
ed that of our Representative from the Fifth
District, in reply to those who attacked the
cheney. The topic spoken to was important
and closely connected as it is with the war
now waging for our national life, its impor-
lance was very nearly of the first class. When
the resources of our people are strained, as
they now are, to furnish money and men to
carry on gigantic war like the present, by
land and sea. it is, first, important that the
means thus furnished should, by the several
departments of administration, to which they
are entrusted, be wisely and effectively used
and next, it is important, that the people
should know the fact of such wise and efficient
administration. Belief on suspicion, that
either of our war departments wastes money
or.wastes men, that it withholds effort or Wig
or where and when it ought to put forth lis
strength, breeds among the people feeling
OF discomfort and distrust which tends to de-
prive the government of its necessary resourc-
es, and cripple It's energies.
If such distrust of the administration of our
Navy Department in our present struggle, has
not taken fast hold of the national mind, it
has not been for want of public instruction
and effort in that direction. Before and since
the clamor ceased, which for times and half
time, ragged - fiercely and SO foolishly at our
emcient Secretary of the War, the Navy De-
P@r'ment was and has been an object of de-
nunc'ation' Reckless newspapers like the N.
l. neraao' anxious to find some weak point
IN Wnicn 10 attack our loyal administration
selecting the Navy Department AZ that wesalx
point, have endeavored to treat the ha.d Of
tnat department as an open and defenca,ess
target oil abuse and ridicule. He was an off,
Ger 70 Dc laughed down or clustered down.
ana the blatant, noisy forces of the na,;o,,
sook noio OF this work as favorite lob. This
ieelng had Its opponents in Congress and
among leading and able supporters of the adj
minlstration. Even the Senate Cba;rnon 81
the Naval Committee found himself out OF az.
cord with the Department, and diferins Co.
months with its supporters on the committees
was at length dropped from the place wh,os
for years he had held. In the House the ~
tack upon the Navy Department was led bv
henry Winter Davis, of Maryland, a most
thorough supporter Of the war against the re-
I Deiion, one of the ablest Republican members
VI 'ne house, and the best orator, perhaps, in
mat Dody' he criticised not merely the ac-
tual administration of the Navy Department.
but also declared the Department az organiz.
90 now for twenty years, to be organized
wrong; and called for the adoption 90 ,bo
OAs OF Admiralty system which prevails in
uElanc' He was not alone even on the Ro-
p puDncsn side of the House; and members on
'Do''e' setms than he with the administration.
seemed 70 deem it duty of the House to ex.
dence IN the Navy Department
In the discussion thus arising and ,,o,..
reply to Mr.. Davis, of Maryland M p,,-. ~
one of the Naval Committee, spoLa NJ -
before Inauguration day. Not given bv haS,.
70 long speaking, nor the House at this ill.,
'ond OF long hearing, he occupied its atten.