DECEMBER, 1843.] Death of the Hon. John Millen. [28TH CONG. casion, if improved, will instruct us in the value of life, its purposes, its duties, and its destination; and enable us to return again to the world the purer, the better, and the wiser, from this silent and uninterrupted communion with the dead. It is not my purpose (nor indeed would it be my wish) to pronounce a studied eulogium, or to bestow unmerited applause upon the subject of the present resolutions. Eulogies upon the departed have become but equivocal evidences of merit; and indiscriminate panegyric no honor to the dead, and no benefit to the living. history of a stranger. I shall ask, therefore, | being, the object is commendable, and the ocfor the memory of Col. MILLEN, but the common and ordinary mark of respect. He was a Georgian, a native Georgian; the city of Savannah was the place of his birth and his death. I am told his parents died while he was young; that he was bred an orphan, without ancestral fame or patrimony to sustain him. His own virtuous integrity was an ample substitute for family name; his talents and industry more than an equivalent for fortune. That he was successful, you need only be told that he acquired wealth by the practice of law in the city of his nativity; that he had friends-numerous friends; his repeated election to the Col. JOHN MILLEN, born in Savannah, elected Legislature of his State, and his more recent by the citizens of Georgia to the present Conelection by the people of Georgia, to the pres-gress, died in his native city on the 15th of ent Congress, are the best testimonials. With October last, aged about forty years. the path of glory bright before him-in the noonday of life, and before he had entered upon the high and responsible duties to which he had been called by the confidence and partiality of the freemen of his State,-his friends, about the middle of October, were summoned to mourn his death. As additional evidence of regard, I offer, for the Senate's adoption, the following resolutions: Resolved, That the Senate has heard the aunouncement of the death of Col. JOHN MILLEN, member elect from the State of Georgia, with feelings of deep sensibility. Resolved, That, in testimony of respect for his memory, the members and officers of the Senate wear crape on the left arm for the space of thirty days. The resolutions were adopted; and The Senate adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY, December 15. Mr. Speaker: At the request of my colleagues on this floor, I rise to add another shade to the gloom which already pervades this House. Day after day have we here been admonished from the tomb; warning after warning have we for three days successively received, and yet it has pleased Him "in whose hand are the issues of life," that a fourth sun shall not set until it shall have furnished still another memento of the uncertainty of human existence. Finding himself in early life cast upon the world without parents and without patrimony, Colonel MILLEN with an energy which ever characterized him, and which could alone supply the place of the former and dispense with the necessity of the latter-devoted himself, with no farther preparation than a defective early education, to the laborious profession of the law. After the shortest term of preparatory study, he was admitted to the bar, and became at once an efficient member of the legal profession. He was soon distinguished among his associates by perseverance, acuteness, and eloquence; and by an extensive and lucrative practice, which almost immediately accompanied his efforts, "he succeeded (as it is said) in accumulating a property abundantly sufficient to satisfy any reasonable man." Like the sun of his own native South, he was warm and ardent in his feelings, true and unwavering in his course. His errors and infirmities, if any he had, (and none are spotless,) were but the result of his generous nature; his faults were such only as were found to have grown out of virtues, and his heaviest offences to have been grafted by human imperfections upon the best and kindest affections. He was never married. The warmest and tenderest ties were not severed in his death. He left no parents to deplore, no widow to mourn, no orphans to weep over his untimely end; but there does survive him one, and one alone, of whom it is not too much to say that in her all these dear relations were most tenderly and beautifully blended. He left a lone and single sister, who to him was these "all in one, and one in all," and who, as the grave closed over the mortal remains of a fond and It is, I perceive, a time-honored custom of doting brother, must have pronounced an this House, that the announcement of death is agonizing farewell to all her earthly kindred, ever followed by a cessation from the duties of happiness, and hopes. "May that Being that life. Whether the practice "to strike our tempers the wind to the shorn lamb " comfort colors" at each repeated triumph of the "fell her in this hour of her utmost need, and sustain destroyer" be designed as emblematic of that her now, shorn of her protection, against the day when "the wicked shall cease from troub-"wintry blasts" of a cold and heartless world. ling and the weary be at rest," or whether intended as an opportunity to listen to the solemn admonition of our own frail and transitory Col. MILLEN served for many years in the Legislature of his native State; and by his readiness in debate, as well as his effective and popu 1ST SESS.] The Sword of Washington and the Staff of Franklin. lar eloquence, he was enabled to accomplish measures which, conferring benefit on his constituents and honor on himself, will render his legislative course long a subject of grateful remembrance. At the last general election for members of Congress in Georgia-not by a district, not by a portion only of the people, but by the voice of the whole State-he was chosen one of her Representatives in the first branch of the National Legislature. Let His fellow-citizens had determined for him a change in the field of his usefulness, but an allwise and inscrutable Providence had ordered for him a still greater change-a change from an earthly to a heavenly field of labor; and instead, like his colleagues on this floor, of witnessing on this day the untried scenes of a congressional life, he is now engaged in witnessing the "untried scenes of eternity." us not, my colleagues, murmur at our loss, but rejoice in having reaped the benefit that sad lesson was intended to impart. Time, although the destroyer of life, is still the friend of humanity: although he holds in the one hand a scythe wherewith he cuts through the thread of our existence, he holds in the other an hourglass, whereby he warns us to improve the portions of duration which remain to run. And to the members of this House let the awful memorials of the dead which have re cently been crowded upon us, impress us all more sensibly than ever with solemn and suitable reflections. Let them convince us more clearly "what shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue." And above all, let them suggest, with a force never before felt, the vanity of all human attainments, compared with "that wisdom which cometh from above," "whose ways are pleasantness and whose paths are peace." It remains to us only to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased by the adoption of the usual resolutions, which I now transmit to the Chair. Resolved, That this House has received with deep sensibility the communication of the death of the Hon. JOHN MILLEN, a representative of the State of Georgia. Resolved, That the members of this House will testify their respect for the memory of the deceased by wearing crape on the left arm for thirty days. Resolved, That, as a further testimonial of respect for the memory of the deceased, this House will now adjourn. The resolutions having been adopted— SATURDAY, December 16. The Election of Chaplain. The House returned to this order of its busi [DECEMBER, 1843. Muller "Dewey - 63 - 48 - 34 14 . 11 9 3 2 93 No candidate having obtained a majority of all the votes given, there was no election. Mr. PETTIT rose and offered a resolution, as follows: Resolved, That the House will dispense with the services of a Chaplain during the present session. [Loud cries of "No, no."] Mr. P. said he wished the members of the House to pay for their own preaching and praying; and not make the people do it for them. [Cries of "Order, order."] Mr. DAVIS, of Indiana, moved to postpone the election of Chaplain, and that the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. PETTIT) might have leave to introduce his resolution, if it was not now in order. Mr. BARNARD said it was not now in order to make any motion until the pending business was disposed of; for the House was then acting under a suspension of the rules. ness, and Messrs. STRONG of New York, DOUG- The Sword of Washington and the Staff of LAS of Illinois, and HENLEY of Indiana, were appointed the tellers to take the vote. The following were the nominations: Franklin. A communication was received from the President, in which he stated that, in conse-. DECEMBER, 1843.] Transfer of Naval Appropriations. [28TH CONG. quence of some accidental omission, the resolu- | a motion that would put a stop to this proceedtion of thanks to Samuel T. Washington, Esq., ing. He was not willing that a matter of this who presented to the nation, through the House importance should be passed through without of Representatives, the sword of Washington full discussion in Committee of the Whole and the staff of Franklin, did not reach him House; and he therefore moved to refer it to until after the adjournment of Congress; and, that committee. He made this motion for the therefore, did not receive his approval and sig- reason that the House had no control over the nature, which it would otherwise promptly expenditures of the navy, without adhering to have received. He nevertheless felt himself the practice of specific appropriations; for there at liberty, and deemed it highly proper to com- was no limit of a peace establishment for the municate a copy of the resolution to Mr. Wash- navy; and the Secretary could make the exington, as was manifested by the accompanying penditures for particular objects what he copy of the letter which he addressed to him. pleased, if allowed to transfer the appropriaThe joint resolution, he stated further, together tions in this way. For example: at the last with a copy of the letter, has been deposited in session, they appropriated one million of dolthe Department of State, and could be with-lars for certain objects, on which the Secretary drawn and communicated to the House if it saw fit to require them. The following is a copy of the President's letter to Mr. Washington, referred to: WASHINGTON, April 27, 1843. "DEAR SIR: I send you a copy of a joint resolution of the two Houses of Congress, as expressive of the estimate which they place upon the present which you recently made to the United States, of the sword used by your illustrious relative, George Washington, in the military career of his early youth, and the seven years' war, and throughout the war for our national independence; and of the staff bequeathed by the patriot statesman and sage Benjamin Franklin, to the same leader of the armies of freedom in the revolutionary war-George Washington. "These precious relics have been accepted in the name of the nation, and have been deposited amongst its archives. "I avail myself of this opportunity, afforded me in the performance of this pleasing task, to tender you the assurance of my high respect and esteem. "JOHN TYLER. "TO SAMUEL T. WASHINGTON, Esq." The House then adjourned. TUESDAY, December 26. Transfer of Naval Appropriations. Mr. PARMENTER, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a bill to authorize the President of the United States to direct transfers of appropriations for the naval service under certain circumstances. This bill having been read twice, Mr. PARMENTER explained the objects of the bill, and expressed the hope that it would then be put on its passage. The object was to enable the Secretary to transfer the balances of appropriations from objects where they were not wanted, to works which had been commenced, and which had been suspended in consequence of the exhaustion of the appropriations. By this means, the Secretary would be enabled to carry on some works of importance, and to give employment to a number of mechanics who were necessarily discharged during the recess. had gone on to employ hands enough to exhaust two millions-thus setting his discretion above that of the Congress of the United States. It was in this way that he furnished an argument for additional expenditures to keep these men in employ, and threw the odium of refusing to continue them on Congress. He hoped, therefore, that this subject would be taken up and fully discussed in Committee of the Whole. It was a matter that ought not to be left to the discretion of any Secretary, but ought to be controlled by specific appropriations. He moved to refer the bill to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. Mr. PARMENTER here read an extract from the report of the Secretary of the Navy, more necessity of the transfers. He objected to the fully to show the objects of the bill, and the reference to the Committee of the Whole, because two months at least would elapse before it could be acted on; and the necessities of the service were immediate and urgent. Mr. CAVE JOHNSON said that, by making these transfers, the House would lose all control of the expenditures of the navy, and enable the Secretary of the Navy to put the country to an expense for certain objects which the House never contemplated. Mr. LEVY observed that it was not his habit to intrude any remarks of his on the House, except when the business of the Territory he represented was under consideration; but he could not refrain at the present moment from stating a fact which would clearly show the propriety of referring this subject to the Committee of the Whole, as proposed by the gentleman from Tennessee, (Mr. CAVE JOHNSON.) Out of $800,000 or $900,000 which had been appropriated for the repairs of the navy yard at Pensacola, (the only naval station south of Virginia,) there were at least $350,000 unaccounted for by the Navy Department; and why was it not accounted for? Because the Secretary, instead of applying this sum to the Pensacola yard, (for which it was appropriated,) had taken it upon himself to expend it on other yards. The simple mention of this fact was enough, he thought, to show the House the necessity of adopting the motion of the gentleman Mr. C. JOHNSON said he was about to submit from Tennessee. Mr. HALE hoped that this bill would take the direction proposed for it by the gentleman from Tennessee, (Mr. C. JOHNSON.) If there was one department of the Government that required a most searching investigation, it was that of the navy; and he hoped that no appropriations would be made for it, nor any transfer appropriations be made, as proposed by this bill, until that investigation was had. The appropriations for the naval service had swelled out from four millions (what they were in General Jackson's time) up to eight or nine millions. Nine millions, he believed, was what was asked for by the present Secretary; and this, too, in time of profound peace. It was time to put an end to these enormous appropriations, which amounted to more than were made in any year of the last war, when the navy was winning laurels from the most powerful nation on the earth. It would be well for gentlemen, who had other important interests in their care, to look at the vast amount of appropriations for the navy, and see if they could not cut them down so as to leave more for those objects. For his part, he would vote liberally for many important objects, and on which there would be something to show for the money expended, rather than see it squandered on the navy, and leaving no more of a trace behind than our ships leave behind them on the ocean. He trusted that this bill would not be touched for the present; and that the naval appropriations would be delayed until an investigation could be had. He had no doubt that a proper investigation would result in showing that the naval appropriations could advantageously be cut down at least four or five millions. Mr. PARMENTER agreed with the gentleman from New Hampshire, that, to a considerable extent, the appropriations called for by the Secretary of the Navy were too high; but that had nothing to do with the question before the House. This bill was to provide for pressing emergencies; and unless it passed speedily, the public service would suffer. If necessary, he would be willing to modify it in any way to suit gentlemen, though the bill was presented in the usual form of bills of the kind, and it was necessary in this branch of the public service to vest some discretion in the Executive; but he must object to the reference to the Committee of the Whole, as that proceeding would cause a delay of at least two months. As to the investigations recommended by the gentleman from New Hampshire, he had no objection to them, and he would be willing to go for any reduction in the naval service that might be shown to be necessary and expedient; but in the mean time these necessary expenditures must be provided for. The SPEAKER then put the question on the reference to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union; which was agreed to. [DECEMBER, 1843. WEDNESDAY, December 27. Mr. HALE offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be instructed to report to this House when the home squadron was first established by law, what have been the annual expenditures therefor, and how much of the estimated expense of the next year is intended for that purpose. Mr. HAMLIN moved to amend the resolution, by adding: And what duty has been performed by the home squadron. Mr. HALE said he would state the object of the resolution. It appeared, from the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, that there would be a deficiency of revenue to meet the expenses of the Government, of over four millions and a half of dollars. And to cover that deficiency, he proposed the profligate expedient of borrowing money. His own idea was, that they ought to reduce their expenditures, so as to bring them within their income. That was the only honest policy. And looking to find where curtailment could best be made, he perceived that the Secretary of the Navy asks for the Navy Department nearly nine millions of dollars-nearly a third of the whole revenue of the country to be expended upon the navy. The He He believed they were indebted to this Administration for the home squadron. whole sixteen vessels which composed that squadron were said to be necessary to protect the coasting trade; and though the portion of the country from which he came was deeply concerned in the coasting trade, yet he himself was convinced that many of those vessels might be dispensed with. If this information were laid before the House, they would have something tangible on which to lay their hands, in the way of retrenchment and reform. wanted this information for the purpose of pointing out to the House where an enormous expense might be cut down, without endangering any of the interests of the country. Gentlemen had talked about being prepared with a sufficient navy to meet and contend with the naval power of Great Britain; but had they any idea of the outlay which was required to support such a navy? The expense of the navy of Great Britain amounted to between eighty and a hundred millions of dollars annually. We were not in want of such a great naval establishment to make ourselves respected at home or abroad. General Jackson alone had produced an impression upon one of the oldest nations of Europe, which it would be impossible for this Administration to do with the assist ance of all the navies in the world. Let this information be laid before the House, and they would see how they might avoid the profligate expedient of continuing to borrow money without being able to pay. It was not the policy which this Government ought to pur DECEMBER, 1843.] The Home Squadron. sue-for the pay-day must come-in a time of profound peace, when every branch of industry was in successful operation; when the hand of industry was reaping an abundant reward, still to go on borrowing and incurring large expenses for a useless navy, which had already swallowed up an enormous sum. It was time to stop; it was time to show the country that they were in earnest in the matter of retrenchment; that they meant what they said; that their professions were not all idle and vague, but that they were determined to carry them into execution. He asked for this information, that they might see where the remedy was to be applied. It certainly could do no harm. Mr. Č. J. INGERSOLL spoke for a few moments in opposition to the resolution, in too low a tone of voice to be heard. When heard, he was understood to say that he always had thought and said that the expenditures for the navy were more than they ought to be. He had no doubt at all but that, by a judicious system of administrative econoiny-not by cutting down and tearing up by the roots, but by a simple and proper system-at least one million of dollars might be saved in a year in that branch of the public service. He did not say this much without knowing what he spoke of; but he said it by the authority of a highly respectable officer of the navy, who, twelve months ago, was one of the commissioners of the navy board. He desired, however, to say to the gentleman from New Hampshire, and to all the new economists of the House, that they must begin at home; and before they commenced with other departments of the Government, they must economize the expenditures of Congress. He held in his hand a memorandum, which he had procured this morning, showing the amount of the expenditures, not of the Navy Department, but of the congressional departments, and he would tell gentlemen what they amounted to. He spoke of the last Congress, and, in doing so, spoke without reference to that Congress more than any other. Sir, (said Mr. I.,) I have it from the proper department that these expenditures fell little short of two millions of dollars. Then he had had a statement made out in the office of the Clerk here, by which it appeared that the amount exceeded two millions-say about two millions of dollars for the expenditures of the last Congress. And while (said he) we are cutting down the navy, or any other branch of the Government, let us do something, if we can, to correct our own extravagances. Let us begin here; let us set the example to the other departments of the Government; and then we may expect to accomplish something valuable in the way of economy. He would inform gentlemen of one thing he meant to do on his part; and that was, to offer a resolution that this House (the Senate concurring) would adjourn sine die, on some day in the month of May next. It is in vain (said he) for us to sit here and rail at the extravagances of other departments of the Gov [28TH CONG. ernment, while we set them so bad an example as we did in the expenditures of the last Congress. He was confident that the greatest extravagance in the country was in this Capitol; and he would therefore reduce the expenses of this, the most important of the departments of the Government, before he attempted to reduce others. He would effect a considerable reduction by shortening the sessions of Congress; and he was not sure but that a session of Congress might, by some accident, be pretermitted, and the country not be ruined by it. We came here (said he) at an expense of a couple of millions to our constituents, and expended a considerable portion of it in dismounting a regiment of dragoons; and he believed that, at the last session, they dismissed some of the pages and some of the subordinate officers of the House, while an endeavor was made to check some of the extravagances of the army and navy. He himself endeavored to check some of the extravagances of the judiciary-the only department with which he was acquaintedbut without success. He had shown to the Ilouse that the expenditures of this department had mounted up from $40,000 a year to $437,000; and, though some reduction was made, it was put back again at the end of the year. Everybody knew that, at one period of time, the finances of France were farmed out. Now he had no doubt that, if they could get six or eight clever and intelligent men to administer the resources of this Government, and limit their expenditures to twenty-seven millions, they could keep up the army and navy on the most respectable footing, and make fortunes for themselves besides. True economy did not consist in cutting down the establishments of the country, but by a judicious administration of their affairs; and if it was not obtained in this way, it was in vain to hope for it in any other. You may put down the home squadron this year, and you may dismount a regiment of dragoons the next; but this will amount to next to nothing. As long as in this Capitol the public expenditures are more than they ought to be, so long will the other departments of the Government follow the example thus set them. As long as the expenditures for your foreign missions, though they do not amount to a great deal of themselves, are doubled; as long as the officers of the army, as was done by a distinguished officer at the last session of Congress, can excuse themselves for drawing too much, by alleging that other officers do the same thing; as long as, by some arrangement of the departments, each bureau is considered a separate command, and paid for accordingly; so long as it is the practice, in the army and navy, for officers to certify that such things are done when they are not done, and receive pay for them-so long could he assure the gentleman from New Hampshire that the mere putting down of the home squadron would leave the work but half accomplished. He believed gentlemen were beginning at the wrong end, and |