The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-20
THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
First Session.
ZEN ATE.


WASHINGTON, June TO- 1860.
rHE COAST pRESCxs-RKPoRr ARMY AND
OFFICERS
communication from the Secretary OF War, transfer
ring the report of the board Of army and navy officers
the subject OF coast defences was laid before tho
Senate and ordered to be printed.
The Board consists Of Rear Admirals c. H. Davis and
j. A. DahIgren; Captain James Alden, United States
Army; Brevet Major Generals r. G. Barnard, e. b. over
and B. Alexander. Secretary welles favors the
Of the investigation and further discussion Of
the questions which the invention and experience of tho
have brought for solution These inventions, he
sumcs have occasioned discussions and expert ments
abroad, and produced many publications upon the art
and implements OF offensive and defensive warfare He
suggests the reappontment of the Board by the Prcs
dent. The Board considers the three subjects OF
iron clad vessels, channel obstructions and torpe
does. Concerning the nrstnamed topic the Board
is asked to settle approximately the character and
number Of these pccessary land batteries
harbors The Board do not undertake Ana solution Of
the problem Of harbor but are agreed that upon
ironclads method OF defence must be based parcu
lary where the channels wide and tho objects TO be
protected are OF vital importance. They consider IL
doubtful whether the destructive effect of modern artl
lery has kept pace with the invuneabty OF iron clad
vessels moving at high velocity; and there Is danger
that Of such vessels might succeed pass
ing between forts and shore batteries and that therefore
system OF obstrictions may be necessary for dc.
Richmond in New York harbor and Fort Della
ware in Delaware river, which were built after
mediateiy succeeding Developments in the power of
artillery The report says furthern Is believed that
st iess. FOR naval ase ana that e1perment arc nds
pensabe TO determine the resstance Of most recent
works and the best methods Of future constructon for
neither the proracted experiments IN England against
iron targets those made by our Navy Department
throw much light upon these subjects they having been
cheney or channel obstructions secms TO be still
in dispute. While admitting that they have
proved failures as undertaken by the French, for in
stance In the roadstead OF tho island AK they credit
the failure 70 their being attempted on the spur OF the
Torpedoes were used successfully during the late war in
defence OF harbors and rivers upon our Southern coast
The most suecss. vas attained by sensitive
them Probably the mos, certain means Of exploding
magnetic magnetic siscsricity Though we have , derived
some knowledge Of torpedoes from tho rebels
can DO successfully employed In channel defences q
series OF experiments will be necessary 10 ascertain tho
material for fuses and their arrangement connection
with the battery wires and TO test various mehods OF
anchoring them tn rapid currents, exposed to ocean
The Board say the untold wealth OF our popu
lous cities, and the great national importance OF our
naval establishments. make an imperative duty Of the
government TO efecuaiy these vast interests
against destruction by hostile neet. The capture Of
but OF our important harbors would the loss
of private and public property Ear beyond the cost Of all
coat defences, and would prove serious dcir
ment 10 our military and naval power
On motion Of Mr. MORGAN rep1 OF " Y, ave hun
dred copies OF the Tax bill with senate amendments,
ordered to be printed.
Mr. FEssESDEs, trep) OF Me, gave notice that he
should ask The Senate a. one O'Clock 10 morrow 70 take
up the Tax bill
SALT LAKE. cnY ASD colrxsn RvrR RAifroAp-rRE pa.
ufic RAILROAD
Mr. WILLIAMS, (repl Of Oregon, called mp bill TO
grant lands In Of The construction Of railroad from
Salt Lake City 10 the Columbia river which was passed
Mr. HowARD, lrepl OF Mich, moved 10 postpone the
above and all PRIOR orders for the purpose o taxing u
branch Of the Pacific Railroad 20 select thor route
westward
The motion was agreed TO- and the bill was taken up
and discussed, without action until one oclocS.
ARMY APPROPRIATION Bnl-
Mr. SHnssS, trep) OF Ono then called mp the Army
Appropriation bill Hr sherman offered an amendment,
additional section, apIropraiing the following
sums for the support of the freednens Bureau:-for
salaries OF and assistant commissioners
t47 500 salaries Of clerks So sou for clothing 70 be
distributed among The freedmen, 81, 900. for com
FOR school superintendent s2i 600 repairs for school
houses, &c., $500 600 The amendment agreed TO.
Mr. WnsoS, (rep OF MAS, offered an amendment, sp
proprating SIS 600 the purchase Of nty-egh'
Of land the ate Of Port NORTON near Marshall Tenn
Mr. Cosxrss rep of Cal offered an amendment
which was agreed IN, that In tue purchase ~ army
clothing shall s,ve .he preerenee % DO
tended 20 the Panc coast mr ARTICLES required ior the
army there
Mr. wusoS offered snsDdnlent additional
section rspesng ac,s of Congress authorizing the Pres
dent 10 dismiss the officers u the army and navy and
providing that ocers of the army navy shall hero
after BE- dismissed except upon conviction by courtmar
tal THIS was adopted
Mr. NrnrH dem Of Oregon offered an amendmen;
that hereafter the super n,endcnt or the Military Acad
envy may he selected FROM any corps Of the army. This
was agreed to--yeas, ~, nays II
The provision adopted the Horse that money Ap
proprated BY this bill shall be used for paying the M
Central Railroad for the tsnspcrsiioa troops and
directing the Attorney General 20 commence su against
said company FOR the recovery Of the msney already pad
TO said company. strick en- out
Mr. Wn~Dx oferef amendment rep~ang prUvi-
forbidding the allowance of extra enlisted
men, aud extending 4 10 enlisted men 20 the nayy anf
marine corps
Mr. Wilson also offered amsndmcsi that ,he aIlos
ance to oitcrs travelling orders whfte triuvp0riA
ton kind u furnished, shall be ten osnis pcr
mile, which agtcsd 70.
The bill AZ amended wa then rssscd
FsEEDaKN'a
Mr.. WILSON moved that the Senate take up The bill 10
continue IN force tho FroetmeB's Bureau
Mr. HowARp hoped th. senate would resume the con-
sderstion ~ the Pacific Railroad bill.
Mr. Wilson's motion was disagreed 70 ~ the fcho~ng
vote -
YyIs-ue.r. Anthony Fe.end.n, Foster. Grimes. H.r-
IA Howe, Mira sood Morgan, merrill sprsg.s, TrumbuI
Nsr.-Ms.srs. Brown connss.. crsrn, Edmunas,
Guthrie, Henderson. H~ndryk., Howard, Nesmh Ny..
Poland, hAm-.y shsrmAa. se~srt Van Hiaxis, wnlsy
rHg pArrrc RanroAp
The btu In relation 70 the Pacific Railroad wn then
taken up
lengthy dscusGcs took place on this bin, lasting
from half pnss half pae -four O'clock when the
bill pssssd BY yeas -, nsys IA
The senate then, 81 ten minutes d fve o'clock T. u
sdfocrned
HOUSE OF HN1Ux1rArTvYA