The Portland daily press., 1866-06-15
Mr.. Pixies Speech on the League Island Ma.
w Yard.

MIR. Pixies Speech on the League Island Ma
w Yard.
Mr.. EDITOR: In late Press you notice
with surprise, and I think with censure, the
speech and vote of our Representative from
the 9th District, by which the action of the
House upon the cession OF League Island to
the United States for a navy-yard seems to
have been Influenced. The only ostensible
basis of your reproach seems to have been,
that Mr.. Pike recommended dispensing with
commission to examine the site at the mouth
Of the Presumpscot in Portland Harbor for
the same purpose.
A member of Congress should certainly not
neglect the local interests OF his State, his dis
trict and his town; but as a representative of
the whole people he has more important
functions than to be watching the Treasury
to see what golden streams he may turn into
the lap OF his friends or of his constituents
That patriotism would not be deemed of very
large pattern, which should prompt honorable
members, upon proposal to establish a navy
yard, a dock yard or = fort, to jump upon
their feet and shout in concert: "BuiLd It ON
Goose Creek, or Duck River, just below my
house"
1 do not pretend to any special knowledge
about the capacities of the Presumpscot river
for naval purposes, but 1 presume that, as
Mr.. Pike has been an influential member of.
during great war in which navy has been
created that has become the wonder of the
world, and as his previous speeches on naval
matters indicate that he has familiarized him
self not only with our own naval system, but
with that of Britain and France, he undOubt-
eddy spoke with ample intelligence upon the
question, and in spirit of candor, sound
judgment and disipterestedness that carried
conviction against all local preferences.
ton bof Mr.. ,Iyr,cc cs,x
ply upon the question of selling the small ma
yy-yard in Philadelphia for $1,O00,000 and
accepting the gift OF League Island, three
miles below, for the same purpose, where cree
tions as good can be made for $150,O00. He
did not wish to await the report of any COM
mission were acting on that question. Wheth-
er the government shall purchase Mr.. F. o. j.
Smiths premises and works at Preslmpscot
for dock for iron-clads is still open for con-
sideration.
But pray publish the speech, which here
with enclose. 1t is short and pithy and full of
the rapid shrewdness of its author. Its pub
LEGATION in your paper is matter of justice
after the notice it has already received. T
Mr.. Pixies speech was in type before IT'S
communication came to hand, and was printed
yesterday morning. Of Presumpscotriver nei-
ther Mr.. Pike nor anybody else knows as yet
anything more than what has been claimed for
the site by parties more or less interested. A
commission is now en- route to examine it. OF
League Island everybody knows this that the
city of Philadelphia has offered free title to
that swamp to the United States Why? The
Philadelphia Board of Trade has answered by
the publication of an elaborate and expensive
pamphlet, setting forth "The Advantages of
League Island for Naval Station, Dockyard,
and Freshoater Basin for Iron Ships, &C., &c"
The city of Philadelphia is willing to bestow
the title to League Island on the United States
in consideration of the contingent advantages
to be derived from the establishment there of a
great naval station.
The innocent looking bill which Mr.. Pixies
speech and vote helped through the House
accepts this title. Mr.. Pike disclaims all inten-
ton of meeting the expectations with which
that title was profered, but we do not believe
the implied conditions of the grant will be so
easily thrust aside. We do not ask any special
favors for Portland, but we still believe that
the House should have waited for the report
from the commission sent here by its own direc-
ton, before allowing itself to be drawn into a
quasi committal in favor of a site offered with
explicit reference to its advantages as 'tresh
scater basin for iron ships"