New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-15
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the Navy Department.
Mr.. Hale defended the Navy Department
from responsibility for the Tennessee, and
threw the responsibility on Congress,
which though notified by Admiral Porter
that the navy was worn out and useless,
had not made an appropriation to renew
and maintain the navy.
Mr.. Stevenson reminded Mr.. Hale that
the Tennessee was a new vessel, her trip to
San Domingo being her first voyage.
Mr.. Farnsworth was reminded by the at
tack on Admiral Porter Of the truth OF the
REMARK Of Justice DogbeIry, that ''coInpar-
isons are odious." 1t was vain for gentle
men to attempt to traduce the fame which
Admiral Porter I'd won.
Mr.. Banks: Onliis correspondence
Mr.. Farnsworth: Comparisons are Odious,
says Mr.. Justice Dogberry.
Mr.. Banks: Is that the authority Of the
gentleman from Illinoisa Laughter.]
Mr.. Farnsworth: Admiral Porter has made
a record Which will last forever, while the
records of some of the gentlemen who make
comparisons they should wish not to live
forever.
Mr.. Butler, Of Massachusetts, closed the
discussion in a speech which was very Sc
we're on Admiral Porter. Little Of what he
said, however, reached the reporters i'll An
ineligible shape as the members gathered
sound. He said he had long since learned
the wisdom of the maxim ''De mortuis nil
uisi bonum," and if Admiral Porter only
Law still in his grave, if his friends did not
resurIect him to offend the nostrils OF this
House, he lButlerl would not have said a
word about him.
He said that this was no new quarrel be
tween Hanscom and Admiral Porter. Ad
miral Porter had been young lieutenant
at the Portsmouth navy yard when Hans
com was naval constructor there. The
civilian and martinez had come in contact,
and there had been laid foundation for
his enmity that lasted lifetime. Hans
com believes from that hour that he had
been hunted by Admiral Porter i'll every
! conceivable way. Speaking Of Admiral
Porter's connection with the Navy Depart
| ment, he said that he never was officially
Secretary of the Navy. He had opce been
officially Assistant Secretary of the Navy
No member of Congress should have recog
nizcd him as Secretary. He had lef. the
place he never ought to have held.
Mr.. Banks remarked that he once wen,
to the Navy Department to ask favor
from the Secretary, who said to him Banks
why the devil don't you ask Admiral
Porter!" JLaughterl.
Mr.. Eldridge: And why the devil didn't
yon!
Mr.. Banks: He had just gone out. 1t was
not the present secretary.
Mr.. Butler rcSuming narrated the mo
tives which induced Hanscom to resign and
which had no reference to the charge made
byeWiggins rs TO the atfidavits. There was
nothing so dangerous as such things. and II
he were to produce II bundle of atfidavitS
which he had, there were some gentlemen
who had spoken on this subject who would
be hanged without a judge or jury. Laugh
teri Who was opposing Hanscom! Not
the Secretary of the Navy; not the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs; but Mr.. Porter
Admiral Porter. by the grace of the Senate
[Laughterl Admiral Porter's services
during the war would live for some time
He thought they would bc indestructble al
along the Mississippi where the guns cap
! tured by the army are marked by Porter
"Taken by the navy under the command OF
D. d. Porter And so long as white pant re
manned, SO long would Admiral Porter
deeds remain in the minds of those Who be
| lieved i'll him. but who were few. Laughter.
1t was easy to make such a record as that
| if a man would only blow his own trumpet
| loud enough, if he could make himself the
| great am of the expedition he could strike
down the great and glorious Farlagut. and
| send him to the grave with feelings that his
| country had wronged him. And that was The
| sort OF service which Admiral Porter had
| rendered his country. In conclusion, he
| begged the gentleman not to offend his nos
| trils and make him wish that he had a wash
| bowl and toothbrush to clean out his mouth
| by bringing that man porter before the
| House again. Let Porter rest in the cor
| ruption which he had made for himself.
Mr. Starkwcathcr called for the vote.
Mr.. Cox: AS Judas Iscariot is on the Re
| publican side of the House, let him speak
| ELaughter.l
The bill passed, yeas, l43; nays, 81. 1t i.
a Senate bill. and now goes to the President
for approval.