The New York herald., 1873-12-13


in some wayf" Nanghterl wish to add
emphatic commendation CT .he President and Sec
retary OF state for the calm selfrespect, good
sense and, may venture to say, Christian temper
and Christian statesmanship, unpopular as that
expression has become, which they have exhibited
in this matter. lt would have been easy TO have
plunged the country headlong into war. unpre-
pared as we were; put even II We had had the
grandest navy in the world / should have de-
manded OF the administration the same reticence
and selfrespect which IL has shown. The time has
passed when this American nation can go round
the gObes with chip on Its shoulder trying to get
up fight with every rowdy IL meets. We can be
patient, temperate and di9nfed with all the
world Nothing that General Grant ever did, from
the time he left GaIena until he passed through the
wilderness and came into the White House, does
him more honor than the patient frmness with
tied 1t to the satisfaction OF all.
Mr.. MYERS, OF Pennsylvania, supported the bill and
not only by the extraordinary event which mas
fastened the necessity for It, but the ordinary re-
report for s7a warned the country that our cruis
ing navy, unless new materials were added TO II,
would rapidly pass away. Congress responded by
some thing In the direction OF repair to the old
naval vessels. The secretary also called attention
the tact that our irOn-clad fleet needed extensive
repairs. Much OF the wood work was going to de-
Cay and many improvements were needed. During
the war our supplies OF live oak from Florida and
Georgia were stopped, and the timber we did use
was not properly seasoned Several OF the monitors
had been placed in repair, and he strongly urged
that the remainder should be ready to meet any
DUTY In reply to this some gentlemen contended
here that our navy was strong enough ana
sSs1 no rs was keE Hor to Sa T
that emergency came we an know, and IL
should prove lesson Tor the future The massacre
OF the Vlrglnius passengers naturally aroused the
Indignation OF the American people. Ii was done
in defiance OF the law OF nations and OF civilization,
nas ana SaI OF he Of ama
utterly unjustifable. Not only was the Virginius
an American vessel properly registered and
cleared, nyng the American nag, unresistlng, and
Illegally captured on the high seas beyond
the jurisdiction OF Spain, but the seizure OF
the telegram sent by our Consul, in order to
ascertain her nationality, speedily followed by the
execution OF q number OF the passengers and
crew, would of Itself have furnished q serious
rage reached us there was but one sentiment
among the American people-protection is the first
derllect to its highest obligations which fails to
vindicate the sovereignty OF It's flag. Right faith
fully and nobly did the President and the admin
istration assert our rights and proceed TO vndi-
cate our honor. The gentleman from New York
tMr. Cox says we have been pusillanimous as
am astonished at such declaration.
Every demand has been made that the President
had the right to make, and TO these demands Cas-
man as Europe in this century has produced
thought 1t no disnonor to accede. NY Judgment is
the people OF the land are satisfied that everything
has been done to maintain the national honor and
further steps will yet be taken to obtain the only
compensation for the wrong which can now be
given. When the rebellion came we almost impro-
vised a navy. Now, responding to the wishes of
the people, although Congress was not in session,
General Grant took the responsibility, and in few
snort weeks the navy is almost upon war loot
ing, ready, as the nation believes, to resent
the Navy Department and the administration.
Gentlemen have said the war cloud is passing away.
sincerely hope and believe this to be true. The
nation reunited has had enough Of war; enough OF
debt and taxation. 1t is time to turn our attention
10 the wants OF the people and their employment.
A panic, following the failures OF many OF our firm
business houses, has caused q financial crisis and
many thousands are out OF work. 1t is
not only PAGES our navy in good o Condition.
but aids to give that employment and restore that
confidence which alone is needed in country
whose material wealth and resources are as great
as ever. There Is every reason to believe the
Virginius Will be surrendered at once. but the
survivors OF those who were taken from her are
still in custody. CASTELAR, at present is master OF
the situation in Spain. yet any day may bring new
to soa MIN nnTce and fresh S necessity
American citizens in Cuba. Such protection
was called Tor and given only last May in Panama.
squadrons to secure this protection at all times.
Peace Will be best preserved and foreign complca-
cure from danger within our own borders. and it
is OF the highest Importance that our naval SER
rate in missions of civilization and humanity and
protection, but by It's very strength to ward of the
possibilities OF war.
Mr.. CRooKE, rep.l OF N. T., said In reply to Mr.
Cox's remarks, that the narbor Of New York was
not defenceless. That gentleman (Mr Cox had
been speaking of what he knew nothing about,
while he (Mr. Crooke) was talking OF that whereof
he knew. Thanks to the Secretary OF the Navy
and thanks TO the administration the harbor OF
New York to-day is impregnable to all the naval
force Of the world. II the whole Spanish navy,
strong as it was should attempt to force the har-
a warmer climate than New York is in.
(Laughterl. He knew that the harbor OF New York |
: had been Wen prepared wl.nin the last month. Il
was guarded by torpedoes; by the Roanoke, which,
when manned by thousand sailors and stationed |
IN the Narrows, could prevent the whole Spanish |
Navy from passing; by the Dictator and by the |
monitors and other means He wished the whole |
world to know and he wished the pusillanimous |
House to know that the barbor OF New York to-day |
was mpregnable to the whole naval force OF the |
world.
Mr. GARFIELD, trep) OF Ohio said he would yield !
a few minutes TO Mr.. Cox, hoping that his friend |
would liberate the House from the charge OF pusll-
lanimity and the harbor of New York from the |
cnarge OF being defenceless.
Mr.. Cox-Wnen made the remark about the |
pusillanimty of the House had In my mind the |
way 1t showed Off the other day my resolution Of !
i did not expect, when made q |
speech just now sustaining this bill, that lot OF
these Captain Bobadils fresh IRON the war, who |
want to recount their own great deeds, should
come here and make anti-war speeches. i have
made no speech for war.
Mr.. GARFIELD-And never did. naughter.)
Mr.. Cox mot noticing MIR. Garfeld's INTERRUPT
ion)-But never knew In my life single men,
Der OF Congress from Connecticut, from The Hart
ford Conven ton down, who did not begin TO have
some sort OF war spirit, against his country
on sectional matters and who had not always
covered when 1t came TO fighting for the nag
abroad.
Mr.. HAwLEY tmisapprehending Mr.. Cox's last
remark)-I want TO know who is the coward9
Mr.. Cox-l am making no personal fight upon
you. said covered not coward
Mr.. HAwLEY-I suppose you used It in a Pick
wickian sensep
Mr.. GARFIELD ito Mr.. Coxl-Do you spell it with
an "h?n
). Mr.. Cox-No; spell It 'ered;, I said
covered" / say to the gentleman from Con-
nectcut, who Is as irascible as most soldiers are,
that when he puts in my mouth a speech for war
he makes slight mistake. / said nothing OF the
kind. said that the House did not come up to
the spirit OF the people. Congress has not yet vim
dicated the nag-has not shown the old
devotion TO the nag which belonged to
other days OF the Republic. AS to the harbor
oi New York, l do not consult on such subject
with politicians. got my information from en-
gineers. believe to-day that unless our navy be
in some way strengthened, and unless our harbors
and our forts be strengthened, we are at the
mercy OF other Powers that have those great IRON
clads and this new system OF aggressive warfare
which has grown up within the last five years.
Mr.. SCHUMACHER tdem.) OF N. VI will say to
my colleague that no hostile neet could get into
the harbor OF New York and get out OF 1t again.
Mr.. ARCHER, (dem.) OF Nd, speaking OF the rel
ative force OF the Spanish and American Navy said