The New York herald., 1871-01-07
Congress- Yestcrday-Censurc OF High Naval
OHlrers.

Congress Yesterday-Censure OF High Naval
Omcers.
There was no session of the Senate yester-
day, that body having on Thursday adjourned
over till Monday. In the House the debate
on the resolutions reported by the Committee
on Foreign Affairs in relation to Paraguay was
continued, and occupied the whole day. It
will be remembered by most of our readers
that during the war in which Lopez and the
Paraguayan people fought go desperately
against Brazil and her allies, the United
States Minister, Mr.. Washburn, incurred the
suspicion and i'll will Of Lopez, growing out
of the protection extended by Mr.. Washburn
to two men, named Bliss and Masterman, the
one an American citizen and the other an
Englishman. They were accused Of being
concerned in conspiracy against the
government, and Mr.. Washburn had
given them shelter and protection, and
claimed for them that they were
attaches Of his embassy. This claim, how
ever was denied and disregarded, and the
two men were seized, imprisoned and SUBJ
jeeted to torture, in which they were made to
implicate Mr. Washburn himself in the con-
spiracy. 1t is charged that Admirals Godon
South Atlantic squadron, failed to discharge
their duties properly in sustaining the Ameri-
can Minister and giving due protection to him
and the imprisoned attaches of his embassy.
The subject was brought before the House of
Representatives and referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, which took large mass of
testimony, and reported resolutions condem-
natory of those officers of the navy. 1t was
these resolutions on which the House has been
engaged for the last two days, and which it
passed yesterday by very decided majorities.
While the action of the House, so far as 1t
eviuces determination to protect American
citizens abroad, is proper and commendable,
it is not so clear that exact justice was done
to the distinguished naval officers concerned,
whose course met with the oommendation and
approval, not only Of the Navy Department,
but also of the State Department. They GER
tainly were entitled, when grave charges were
made against them, to have those charges in
vestigated before naval board, or court OF
inquiry, where their defence could be fully
entered into. Although they were heard
before the committee, it cannot be said that
they had the fullest opportunity Of defending
themselves, and it is no slight matter to
them to have their professional and we'll
earned reputation branded by legisla-
tive censure. They may, however, thank
Mr.. Farnsworth for Offering a resolution,
which the House also adopted, instructing the
Secretary Of the Navy to institute proceedings
against them before naval court martial
This will give them an opportunity Of redeem
ing their fair fame and Of showing that they
acted within the line of their duty and of their
instructions. We cannot but think that would
have been the proper course to pursue in the
first instance, and that resolutions of censure
should have awaited the action of the court.
The real trouble originated in the jealousy
between the diplomatic service and the naval
service, and the way to guard against similar
controversies in future is to lay down clear
and specific instructions for the guidance oi
ministers and naval officers on foreign stations.
We hope that Congress will itself see to the
necessary work.