The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-18

Especial dispatch to The Boston Journal
WASHINGTON, May IL, looo'

WASHINGTON, May IL, iooo'
There was quite an interesting debate In
the Senate this afternoon on a feSoio'ioh ic y:
ported by Mr.. Grimes, which proposes W oi-
rect the Secretary of the Navy 10 appoint q
Board of Examiners to examine a site AT OF
near the city of Portland, State OF Maine, for
a fresh water basin for iron clad vessels OF the
II. s. Navy. and to ascertain the advantages
and cost OF the site, and report to Congress
during the present session.
This waslobjected to by Mr.. Reverdy john
son on the ground that the commission should
not be limited to examination OF a site at
Portland, and Mr.. Fessenden thus explained
the state OF the case:
There is, he said, an important public work
going on in Portland, by which the Presump-
scot river, which is near Portland, is brought
by canal directly into the harbor of Portland,
little outside OF the city. The engineer in
charge OF the work says it is perfectly practi-
cable, at very small expense, to give the gov
eminent all the room it needs for the purpose
OF laying up these iron clads in fresh water
not In fresh aud salt water but in absolutely
fresh water-that it may be done at the ex-
Pense OF some two or three hundred thousand
dollars, and any number OF acres OF land may
De covered by a little wall across the mouth,
and it will furnish all facilities Of that des-
cription. have been very anxious not to
urge the matter upon Congress, and have
brought in no bill on thesubject,or anything OF
the kind but at the very beginning OF the ses-
sion endeavored to prevail on the Secretary
OF the Navy to have this site examined and
reported upon. L could get no encourage
ment from him that he would allow anybody
to examine and make report He brought
I'D certain objections all OF which l thought
were entirely untenable. He was urged
strongly to just get the facts by a commission.
er appointed by himself, who could say wheth-
er it was fit for this purpose or not, and how
much it would cost, &c. He could have sent,
not commission, but an engineer There are
engineers in the employ of the Navy Depart
ment,) or any one OF his officers to look at it,
and there would be no difficulty about it. 1
could not prevail upon him to do it. Finally,
letter was handed to him by a gentleman,
and he made the reply, substantially, that I'M
til the question of League Island was dispos-
ed OF he would not have it examined, but up
to this time have not been able to get him to
let even the facts be known.
Mr.. Foster here left the Presidents chair,
and moved to amend the resolution by adding
New London.
Mr. Fessenden said: hope the Senate will
not do that. New London, Connecticut, has
already been examined by commission
There has been an examination and report
upon New London. The Senator will not I
much put upon this commission that they can
not make areturn at this session of Congress.
The examination at Portland can be made in
the course OF a week, but if others are put on
it nullifes the whole thing. Connecticut has
already had its commission to examine New
London and to report upon it, and the report
is here. Now [ do not intend or desire to
push this matter of Portland. l have no opin-
ion on the subject, even. There are great
many considerations that am not able to un-
derstand, probably, or to explain, still want
q report on that as well as upon New Lon
don, but do not want another for New Lon
don put on to this resolution.
Mr.. Riddle of Delaware desired to have
Newcastle examined. From the report of
the Boston Advertiser, it appears that Mr..
Riddle moved to amend by adding Newcastle,
and that the amendment was rejected.-ED.
Mr.. McDougall thought Harlem Bay, above
New York, the best place, and consequently
worthy of examination.
Mr.. Reverdy johnson presented the claims
of the Seven Rivers, near Annapolis; but Mr..
Fessenden urged the passage of the resolution
rs reported, without overlooking it with
amendments which could but defeat it.
Meanwhile the business hour had passed, and
the further consideration of the subject was
postponed until tomorrow. r5.