formed against Commodore Hull while he was in command of the Mediterranean squadron. I desire my fellow-citizens, the officers of the Government, to be rescued from such persecution. I shall not arraign the board. I do not say they are not honest—I shall cast no reflection on the chivalry of the navy. My feelings in regard to the board perhaps may be illustrated by a transaction which occurred in Augusta County, Virginia, before Judge Coulter, a gentleman of distinction, and a remarkable Democrat.
A Dutchman was sued before the judge. The Dutchman was very much opposed to the Democracy, and had used harsh and derogatory epithets concerning them. He did not know how far the denunciations which he had used against the Democrats might influence the judge in his particular case; he therefore called upon Judge Coulter, and said to him: "Judge, I want to talk to you; you know I have always been a strong Federalist, and you have been a strong Democrat, and we have always voted against one another." "Yes," said the judge; " we have—what of it? " "Oh," replied the Dutchman, "they tell bad tales on me, and it is reported that I said that all the Democrats were grand rascals; now, judge, I never said that." "Well," replied the judge, "I am glad that you did not say it." "No, I never said it, but I will tell you what I did say, and I will stand to it as long as I live—I did say that all the rascals were Democrats." [Laughter.]
Mr. President, I certainly say that, according to my apprehension, there has been a great deal of bad conduct in this matter; and it has been prompted, perhaps, by a want of knowledge as to the merits of various officers. 1 must confess that I have never been so much excited in my life, in relation to the condition of my country, as at the present time. I have never before felt that a blow so fearful, so fatal, so terrific, has been aimed at its security and efficiency as this reduction, or rather annihilation, of the navy. Sir, it has been the right arm of our strength, of which every American has been proud. It was approved by Jackson, a man of noble and chivalrous bearing. He suggested no amendment to it, except such as necessity required. Successive Presidents found no fault with it, until bureaus began to multiply and accumulate about the capital. Then the suggestion was made that the navy was inefficient, and should be reformed. This cry has been altogether since 1840—since the Mediterranean cruise under Commodore Hull—since bureaus were located in this city.
It is important that we should inquire into this matter now. It is important that we should sustain this right arm of the nation. You may compare the militia and volunteers of the country to the body, the defensible part of the nation; the army to its left arm, and the navy to its right arm. The navy is not confined in its action to our own shores, but it goes abroad, sustaining the honor of our flag upon every sea. That right arm has been crushed, and lies palsied at the side of the body-politic. It must be renovated by the repeal of this odious action. The law under which it has been disgraced is, in my opinion, unconstitutional, and even its provisions have not been executed according to their spirit.
I ask for a thorough investigation of the subject, and I desire to have a special committee appointed for that purpose, so that we may arrest this evil, and if possible arrest the downward course of the country. Sir, I feel that our situation is an important one. The nation's heart has been wounded
