The New York Herald Newspaper, January 17, 1856, Page 3

‘ofthe navy for the formance of their duties ashore pe ll aA nag wold Romer caand intellectual capacity of a man. Sir, was it your intation, when den supported that law, to supersede ‘the h existing laws threw srouad officers of the navy, to ive them of that protection which was diorded them by the existing institution of courts ‘and to take from them all their rights on mere Did you suppose a man would be tried without bis tte. poi nines of confronting the wtn againt that he would be condemned and exe- cuted.as a criminal without hearing? That, in my d it, wasnmot the law. But, sir, I did not rise to per construction of the roperiy a. Soomit respectful to the head of the Department of the ; tf to the Predent of the United pudiat resp any jon of this wrong. deny that any poction of tng Bounties that has been done to honorable men at- tashes, in any degree whatever, to myself, If other gen- tlemea choose to appropriate it to themselves, itis » matter of taste about which I have no right to complain. J hold that the responsibility rests upon the President, upon the Secret of the reg eyes upon the board. I, for ope, shall hold them to that responsibility. If the law was defective, as probably it may have been, let us correct the defect; and er have improperly executed the law, let us hold them to an account for it, Sir, is it not a monstrous idea to suppose t, when we, asa legislative body. have passed a law which gentlemen say has operated to the prejudice of a tion of our constituency, we have no remedy whatever which we can restore those men to the rights of which they have been deprived? If we have done thema wrong, are we not bound, as honorable men, by every considers- tion of justice, of patriotism and ef conscience to put them right? [am prepared to doit. Mr. President, my objection to the action of this board ts different from any which has yet been stated. 1 believe now that the law in itself is a good aw. Iam ready to stand by it, and to make such amendments as may be deemed necessary to carry out its real spirit. I never contemplated any such results as have appeared, orl never could have sup- ported it. My objection is to the results that have flown from it, and now I call upon the American Senate to determine whether any bosy! expected that mea were to be tried without a hearing for offences which, if established, should consign them to the lowest depths ot infamy and Glagrace? It is repugnant to every princip'e of the constitution and to all cour ideas of justice and fair deasing. Some gen tlemen who were tried by that board were far away from the scene ofits labors. I know of one case to which I may refer. Ishailnot mention names, because 1 do not choose to go {nto individual cases; but [know a case where a man, upon rumor, was arraigned before that board when he was five thousand miles from home serving nobly under the banner of his country. That man, Upon mere rumor, was charged before this board with’ an offence which, if proved, should put him outside the pale of honorable civilization, and separate him from the service. He was tried. condemned and dismissed from the American navy without a hearing! Mr. Presi- dent, is it possible that we have reached that peried in our history when an American Senate can for asiagle mo- ment tolerate a principledike this? The veriest criminal that walks your streets, who vio ates every law of your country, who outrages every principle of humanity, and every feeling of decency, when arrested, hay secured to ‘him, by the constitution and the geaius of the sountry, afair and impartial trial; he is aliswei an opportunity of confronting his accuser and of meeting the witnesses against him face to face. Not sv with an officer of the American navy. Mr. Brxsawin—Wi'l the gentleman allow me in this con- nection te put a question to him? Mr. Jowzs, of Teonessee—With pleasure. Mr. BassAsux—How did the gentleman trom Tennosseo, when he voted for this law, understand that portion of it was tobe executed which provided that, after the Secretary of the Navy had consalted the board aa to the efficiency of an officer to perform hia dity ashore and etloat, the board should also report whether, ia their opinion, the incompetency had arisen from any cause implying sufficient blame on the part of the officer to justify them in recommending that his name be stricken from the rolls’ Did the gentlemac, in voting for that a aa f the law, think that a court martial was pro- vided for ? Mr. Jones, of Tennessee—I will answer the gentleman agreat deal of pleasure, I expected that whea the wembled they would be subjected to all the esponsibilities known to a fair and impartial trial. J expected that, when they were called on to discharge this unpleasant duty, they would take upon them. pelves all the obligations imposed by law on’ men placed im similar circumstances. 1 think common sense dictated, and I am sure justice required, that when the board reported to the Secretary of the Navy ‘that A, B and C were supposed to be guilty of offences inconsistent with a continuance jn the yu Service, the accused would at once have been noti- jed of the es preferred against |, and summon- ed to appear er before board, or before a court martial convened by the President for the purpose, where the poor culprits might have had asco: them the humble privilege which is accorded to every felon on the highway, of being informed of the charge against him, and of having an opportunity to disprove it. That I ex- ‘and that I demand here, as one of the Re- presentatives of the States of this Union. That, however, ‘was not the course of proceeding. When the findiog of ‘the board wan pee’ to the notice of the Secretary of the Navy, what did he say? He admitted that there were errors im it. He admitted that wrong was committed, He said that whilst errora might exist, and doubtless did exist, he advised the Presidert to aoeere the report, ‘the ident approved the finding of doard on that recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy, admitting, on the face of the paper, that there were wrongs in it. Jn the name of heaven, | ask the Senator from Louisiana how he canfreconcile the finding of that board and its approval by the Secretary of the Nevy and the President to ‘any principle of justice? Suppose there were ninety-nine guilty men and one innocent man—because it was too troublesome to get at the fasta should the innocent man be consigned to infamy and disgrace? Sir, the higher law—not the polftical higher taw, but the higher law of God and morality—saya tuat it is better that ninety-nine guilty should go uapunish- ed than that one innocent man should suffer. And yet this board and the Secretary of the Navy and the Preai- dent have reversed this great principle of morality, and they say that, when they wish to puaish the ninety. w innocent man must suffer with them. t Mr. SewarD—I desire to ask the honorable Senator whether he is informed by rumor, or otherwise, that this board kept minutes or records ? Mr. Jonrs, of Tennessee—I dislike very much at any time in addressing the Senate to rely on mere rumor, be- cause we all know how very unreliasle rumor is. I have heard that no minutes were kept. I have heard that there was no report. I have heard tliat there was not the geratch ofa pen to be found, explaining the conduct of the bosrd. I have heard these things, vat I have no right to know them, and, thereiore, I offer my iesolution to give the Secretary ot the Navy and the Naval Board» chance to Itt us know the ground of their action. Ido not desire to establish any secret inquisition upon them. Ido not desire to fall in- to the very error which I think they have committed—of trying med without giving them an opportunity to be hea: For this reason I uasume that there is # record, and, therefore, Ihave called upon them to present it. Now, {fit should turn out, as rumor says, that there is no record, I want them to be made to answer for having kere none. ir, Sewand—Itis precisely for that reason that | de- aired, in connection with the honorable Senator's re- marks, that the fact migat go out to the country. He has given a strong reason for voting for the resdlution. Let the world know precisely how this thing stands, and let the Senate tproceed, just as the honorabie Senator proceeds, tn the legitimate and proper way to ascertain bof fact. I think it is right for the Senate to call for it. Mr, Jones, of Tonnessee—I was actuated by that motive alone. I do not know whether they kept minutes of their proceedings, and whether they made a detailed raport, or not. ‘This is a matter for them, and not for me; but I am porterming my daty here as a Senator. It seems that I have made a party to this trans- action by voting for the law. I believe that the law has been perverted from its true purpose, and that results have followed injurious to the public service, and danger- ‘ous to the public morality of the country, and finally, if persisted in, the result must be the utter destruction of the navy. Why, sir, the pestilence which pervaded a portion of the South during the last year was not more terrific in its effects than the pestilenee which has swept over the Navy by the action of this Board. Out of seven hundred uaval officers, two hundred and one have been consigned to their official graves. The State which you and I, Mr, President, represent mourns her sons. Some of them, perhaps, are now standing within the sound of my voice, asking why they have been dismissed from the public service, what chai were preferred ist them, and upon what ground they have been tried, condemed and executed? Neither you nor I, nor any other man in the Senate, isable to answer that question. Can we satisfy our consciences, or our constituents, that mon who have devoted thelr lives and their honors to the public service are to be sacrificed as mere ¢oga, without being heard? No, sir; there 1s but one voice and one sentiment in the State which you and 1 represent, and that is universal astonishment, condem- nation and execration at the manner in which tnia law has been executed. Iseek to correct that. My honor able friend from Louisiana, with whom I am in tne habi of concurring upon almost every question, says that even General Jackson, with his iron nerve, would not have had the moral courage to dismiss two hundred men from the pavy—unaided, 1 presume he meant to say, by the coun- sel of a board? No, sir; and my friend might have gon much further than that. He might have said that Gen. Jackson would not have had the woral courage, nov would he have had the heart to doit. He might have gone further, and said that the Father of his Coantry bad not the nerve to do it, and never bad the heart to do it, Do you suppese they would propose to mea in » secret conclave, worse than the Spantsh Inquisition without a Ny Sopa Breit) asingle note ot prepara- tion? The first intelligence the condemned officers bad was that their heads were off, and they dis- honored and di It I were permitted to men- tion names here, I should like to asl my friend to tell me why ‘A or B was disminved from nary. In the kindness of his heart, he might say it was for some infirmity, perhaps intemperance, which is @ weakness that pel to most of us, in a greater or lesa "00. In bis charitable heart, which I know is filled with “the milk of ‘ape eerired. that ae his character, he some errat it or temper pe migih he fad’ been disminsed. But wan Task ri ther man why he was dismissed from the Bavy—when I ask one not having s0 warm and generous a heart as my friend from Louisiana, he may vay it was because of some undefined, unexplained act of dishonor. The next man peer Le Keane ot Sane i r in say, * , Sir, he Wav'iried and arraigned for cowardice,” ‘The dont cane IT meet, and to whom I propound the same question—one with a heart still more steeled inst the oh: ight say, “They discharged the fellow for ¢ ay. placed these gentlemen in that poaition? Are their characters not left liable to suspicion. Latters have member of the Naval Board, ask- One ach of them 20d, “11am estopped ‘1 am for the board; 1 have right to tellin ” jus you open the door for all sorts of tancy; and aation runs riot as to the cause of dismissal. Maligmty bas « full opportunity to Sopher it work, A man’s repu‘ation, which is dearer wo than I'fe, is sacrificed to this vague and indefinite spirit of conjecture that is throwa over the subje:t, simply because you have put it under the veil of a secre! conclave. Sir, 1 not mesn to attack the motives of the members of the Naval Board at this time. It takes ail the Christian charity which I heve ren know, sir, that no man’s heart is more with that virtue than mine ne all 1 can borrow from my neighbor (Mr. Crit 1) to throw the mantic of charity over the board. But for the lives, and history, and gervices of its members, I have mo hesits‘ion @ sentence of condemnation, full, per- and unmitigated against them; but I forbear—I them to have an opportunity to answer for them- ves. Let them be heard. It requires all my cari ‘to believe that they were actuat by the pacest the best of motives; but I will not impuga tl . it is ogalnst their action that T invetzh, = ve not gone into the details of particular cases. I have said thus much in general terms; but when the time comes for the examination of the swer from ans' why you were in in datedl, I gee have a oer to ovr 4 whi my judgment, ace: wo imony wi pny the minds the board never can exonerate them- selves; but I mean to be more just to them than they bave been to their brother officers. I mean that they shall have the privilege, at least, of being heard. In that view I have of resolut under considera- tion, and I hope the Senate will adopt it. Mr. BesJawin—Mr. President, I do not inteni to go any further into this debate than will be necessary to answer, in a very few words, one or two questions which have been propounded to me by the Senator from New Hampshire. and by friend from ‘Tennessee. The Sen- ator from New Hampshire says that I misapprehend his argument; that he does not mean to say that the officers of the navy have » vested interest in their commissions any farther than this—that they have a vested interest in their commissions which deprives the Congress of the United States, or any departmont of the government, of the right of turning them out of the service except in such manner as was con- templated when they entered the service. The Senator then asked why we could not, in the same manner, and boar the same Gomes; act upon judges of courts of the nited States? The answer to this is #9 plain and clear, and obvious, that Iam astonished at the question, The members of the judiciary of this government hold their commissions, under the ‘constitntion, “during good be- haviour.” The officers of the government in question hold their commissions during the pleasure of the Presi- dent. My friend from Tennessee, indorsing the argument of the gentleman from New Gatpshire, still persists in putting {t before Congress and the country that these officers have been ch: d with a criminal offence, tried, condemned and executed, without @ hearing. Mc. Presi- dent, yon remember well—my friend from Tennessee remenibers well, and perhaps it may’ not be improper to refresh the memory of the gentleman from New oe shire—that prior to the year 1828 there was a very large body of offices in this country—the civil offices of the go- vernment—held by men who had no other tenure than the good pleasure of the Executive; and about the year 1826 there was a revolution in the administration of this government on that subject, and nearly every civil officer-——men, some of them, who had held from boy- hood the positions upon which they relied for support tor themselves ‘and their families—men against whose untarpished reputation not a syllable of reproach was ever uttered—men who bore themse'ves as loftily in so- cia! positions, and as possessing all the attributes waich shoud characterize an officer, ® man, or a geatleman— these men, without trial, upon the tastigation of clizues of villa, ans, who wanted their places, found them: itated by the Executive of the United States. age politicians, who had volunteered The vil themselves into an advisory board, reported upon them, and toox their places; and yet one great party in this country was for. nd— Mr. Jones, of Tenn. Mr. BENsay \—M Mr. President—— friend from Tennessee need uot rise; it does not touch him; he was ageiast it, Mr. Joss, of Tenn.—Perhaps it touches you. Mr. Bexsivin—No, sir; I was against it. Mr. Joxes, of Tenn.--I merely rise to ask my friend if he did not condemn, in the’ most unmeasured terms, that very proceeding. Mr. Brxsamiy—-f oid, Mr. JONES, 0! Tenn.—Then come over and join me, and coudemn this. Mr. Bensaix—I will tell the gentleman, in a few mi- nues, why { cumnot accept his very polite invitation. Me. President, when that general removal of the civil officers of the government tool place, which my friend from Ten- nessee and myself reprobated at the time, what was the motive? It was to carry out what Ihave ever considered the vilest revolutionary doctrine that ever was published through this country—‘ to the victors belo the spoils.” It was not because the President of the United States did not possess the power; it was not because I thought that, in the unquestioned exercise of that con- s\itutional power, he was not right in discharging from the public service men whom he might deem, from infor- mation derived from any source, incompetent to perform their public duties, that I reprobated the adoption of that political principle; but it was upon the ground that it carried corruption into the political service; that it made the ehoice of the officer dependent not upon the question of his capacity to perform public ser- vice ; that tt abandoned the old Jeffersonian doc- trine of inquiry into his comedy. and honesty, and substituted for it @ question which, in my opinion, was corruptive of the public morals; it was for that rea- son that I then denounced it, and I still it. Str, when certain gentlemen, (addressing himself to Mr. Hale), who at that time ‘bel to the party which adopted that princip ¢, maintained it, approved it, car- ried it out, and, in their own language, struck off the heads of honest and honorable and competent ewes otfi- Gx without inquiry, without charge, without knowledge of their own — own. Mr. HaLe.—Point to somebody else—not to me. I did not doit. (Laughter.) Mr. Brvsasux.—Mr, President, nobody ssems to be wil- ling to say he didit. Now, sir, what have we done here —what has Congress done here? The Congress of the United States has simply endeavored to have a dischat from the public service of officers whose competency it hhas endeavored to test in the only manner in which, I submit, it was ible for us to test it—by the report of a bo of brother officers, who alone were cempetent to judge of their capacity and efficiency for the public service. a tleman from wnessee aks me if, with the kiad which he is pleased to attribute te me—snd which I do not feel to be a very great compliment, for he took a great deal more to himself—I can approve of the action of this board in relation to A,B, or C? Sir, when 1 was very suddenly called upon to state my opinions in this debate, (very suddenly, indeed.) I mentioned that I had not examined the list—that I was not aware of, and knew no means of becoming acquainted with the’ fact whether this board had done justice or injustice in all cases. I have a very decided opmion in s few cases that have come to my knowledge, that injustice has been done, But the point which I want to briog prominently before the Senate and the country is this : there has been no trial of Ge fay on any charge. The President has been requested by Congress to exercise his constitutional prerogative of dismissing inefficient officers from the public service, to the end that he migbt perform this constitutional duiy with every possible means far acquiring correct information waich it was within the wer of the Congress of the United States to furnish him. Congrees ordered that board of officers should be called—to do what? To advise the President in relation to the capacity o’ their brother officers to do the duty of the country ashove and aficat. Where, then, is the idea of » court? “My honorable friend from Missouri (Mfr. Geyer) suggested to me just now what I out to have said be- fore, that ifa court had been provided for in the act I should have yoted against it. [had no ides of bringing the whole body of naval officers in this country under court martial by law. Ihad no idea of amending the law creating courts-martial; and if the Senator from Tennessee expected that, under the operation of this law, anything like a court martial was to be held, I sub- mit'to bim, with deterenee, that he did not suficiently study the words of the law, nor examine into its spirit or intent. Courtemartial enough had been held in the naval service; courts martial enough can be held under cur present system. The object was to furnish the Pre- sicent with an roling f board. Let us take a familiar illustration. Suppose {havea great deal of building going on, and my work is not done well. Iam not an expert, but I havea large number of contractors and workmen. I find that my work is not well done; I find that it is not progressing with sufficient rapidity, and I desire, therefore, to discharge the incompetent workmen. I co know who they are. I epply to half-a.dozen of them in whom I have confidence, to report to me which of the men are doing their work well and which are not; and ao the report of those men, in whom I must have con- fidence, for I have uo other source of information, I dro] from my service those who are reported to me as no’ working readily, steadily, and with efficiency—is that a trial for » crime? Mr. Jones, of Tenneasee—Will my friend allow me to ask him » question at this point of his remarks? Mr, Buxsamin—Yes, sir. Mr. Joxms, of Tennessee—I will take my friend’s simile, and put this question to him:—When a report was made to him of the incompetency of a portion of his hands, would he not, as a just man, having the fortunes of those men under his control, if one of ca and said, “I have been very badly treated { Presented to you as unworthy of continuation in your service; injustice hns been done me; I have been repre- sented on rumor as having been guilty of charges of which | am innocent;” would he not restore that man to his service on proof of those tacts? Mr. Bexsamin—I will answer the Senator with the greatest pleasure, that if I myself possessed, as in the case he repjoase T_ would possess, supreme power, unit- ing, in the ilustration suggested, the executive with the legislative and judicial power in ‘my own person, I could then advice myself what I ought to do, and could carry my own Judgment into execution, and thus repair any wrong whicl t have been done. But what I now insist on is thi moment of the United States, beiug divjded: into ‘iistinet departments, and requiring the concurrence of various departments for efficient ac- tion on many occasions—and in the present case the Congress and the Executive have combined t> rm & particular act, and Congress alone cannot undo it—I say it required the action of Congress, combined with the action of the Executive, to put these officers out of the service; and I say now the action of ‘ess alone cannot put them back. In the case wi ‘the gentle. man suppores of my action in regard to my own om- loyés, I could put them back, because I would unite both powers inet. Thave merely said these few words in answer to the remarks which have been dropped from the Senators who preceded me, and particularly from the observatious of my friend from Tennessee, who reemed to think this was the first time in the history of the government that officers who held their tenure during the gocd peer of the Executive had been, without cause assigned, dropped from the public ser- vice, atter having spent the best years of their lives in that service. Mr. Marsony—Mr. President, T wea aot alt! er ume prepared for the tone in'whieh the ,uestions before the counter tn rel tto the naval reform bill of the last seasion have been d ed today, booauve | have soon causes at work out of doors which I knew would ulti- mately bring their influence to bear upon the Senste. As at the foundation of the argument, I should jike'to hear the question propounded by the honorable ‘Senator from Louisiana answered:—whether what the its of this bill are aiming at, its repeal, will at- tale Bie remedy they sock? Tt iva question which should c tlemen ‘be approached ly. It is @ pure question of law. Before indulge in accusat against tho Deant Je yeuard to, supposed criminality, ae: Hic be very for phase the question; for if they fail i that there must be some spplied to those cases which are con- fenedly onthe partof the board. I do not Bisraee. now, Mr. President, to discuss the merits of the , or whether or not ita featares have been aacried ou’ Fr re but vib nk ae myself, as chairman of ed in the of that wee te wei 1 Passage through aM not reply, to some extent at least, to the remarks which the Senator trom New Hampshire and the Senator Of hearing il the address of iho ‘Seunter tea New ress ot lew Hampshire. When I came into the Senate chamber this mor! » I understood him to be attacking the motives ot the board. I understood him as going further, and attacking the character of the bill, and as going still further, and mainta: that the regult has beea pro- ductive rather cf evil of benefit. I confess, sir, living, as 1 do, in a strange day, it ia somewhat remarka- ble to me to find the Senator of New Hampahire standing up here aa the supporter of the mavy, maintaining its in- tegrity and its high charactor: for if thore be & place to which 1 would especially have assigned him, when I had .the pleasure of associating with him before, it was that of « constant and unremitting enemy of the navy, and of all naval reform. i understood the honorable Senator at that time to rise in his place and propose to annihilate the navy, to recail all its comm: ong, and hize it out by contract. I may be mistaken, but that is the impression which a speech, made by the honorable Senator some years ago, (and [ have not referred to it to refresh my memory,, made on my mind at that day. Ifhe was the fciend of the navy at that time, he conducted his friendship in so ingenious & manner ae to impress on the entire naval service the conviction that the great arch enemy of the navy was the Senator trom New Hampshire. But, sir, whether he eccupied that position or not is not’ material now; the question is, whether the remedy which he propores ‘be a correct one, When the bill under which the Naval Board acted was reported by the Committee on Naval Affairs of this body, it contained ne provision for dropping officers; nor did it allude in any manner to an inquiry as to whether incompetency had been produced by any cause le to the officers themselves. The bill, as it was sent to the House of Representatives from this body, was a very brief and a very comprehensive one. Those who were here last year know very well the feelings of the House of Representatives at that time on naval reform. No gentleman here knows the difficulties in the way of naval reform be'ter than the Senator from New Hampshire himself, and none has at- tacked the navy more flercely. When tht bill was pend- ing in the House, it was impossible to get any reform, unless the Senaie concurred in engrafting on the bill POWSE to drop officers from the list, So deoply was the louse ot Representatives convinced of the nscessity of reform, that I was assured by the chairman of the C.m- mittee of Naval Affsics of that body (Mr. Bocock,) that unless such a power was ingrafted on the bill, we might not look tor auy reform; and then I sought, as a member of the committee, to obtain for those who might be dropped under the provision of the House of Represeta tives, twelve months pay; but that was retused because it seemed to be a foregone ‘conclusion in the House that thers wore not only officers, but numerous officers in the navy who deserved no consideration of this kind. Well, sir, the bill, in the shape in which it atands on tue statute book, passed the House of Representatives by « two-thirds vote, after a most full and careful examination of its features, and att:r the fiercest onslaughts upon it. The vote upon ita passage in this body was aimost unani- mous, Now, what is the character of the bill? the Senator trom New Hampshire, and the Senator from Ten- nessee seem to regard those gentlemen who have boen affected by the bill as dishonored and disgraced, I was very much surprised to find that ames were introduced at sil—and above all, the name of the distinguished gen- tleman who is at the hoad ot the National Observatory —xs evidence of the sacrificing character of the bill. Why, sir, if the gentlemen who composed the naval board needed any defence whatever—I hold that as yet they need none; ‘hetr own characteris sufficient to protest thea from the inuendoes thrown out here—-but if thy needed any, it is to be found im the tact that it telt itself constrained to retire that particular gentleman, Has any dishonor reached him? Has any dishonor reached the veneraole commodore who fs at the head of the list for his retiro- ment? Is there nota period in the professional life of every ofjcer when his physical energies (all, and when he is f@ longer competent to peiform all his duties at sea or onshore? Is there any dishonor in main- taining noble commodore at the head of the Phila- delphia Navy Yard? Is there any dishonor attached to the gentleman whe, although retired by the board, has been retained at the head of one of the bureaus o the Navy department ¢ Why, str, the vill of the last Congress is the most liberal provision that any govern- ment on earth has ever made for its naval officers. Toere is nonaval service on the ri which has treated its officers with that degree of liberality with which our vernment has dealt with its officers under that bill. captains who are retired under its provisions with half pey find their way through lifo smoothed for them. In our country, twenty five hundred dollars a year, with no drafton their services by their couatry, is not to be considered a small item, Retirement does not car with it disgrace. The bill itself contemplates no auc! thing. Nor can those who have been peed for incom- petency blamable in itself consider it a diegeace. Why, sir, if a man nas been wounded in a duel, it is incompe- tency Drought about by himself, but it ‘does not carry disgrace. Mr. President, the board provided for by tho law of the last session was composed of fifteen officers. It was an unthankful task for each one. I know the fact that some of those who were ordered to serve on the board were exceedingly anxious to avoid the duty. They felt it to be avery unpleasant one, and tl did mre cesire to saageds it. The Senator from fennes- see, however, travels somewhat out of his way in no only secustis Bee) results of the action of the board, bu: in declaring that it requires a Af ea) amount of cha- rity on his part to preclude him from attacking theic motives also. Iwill not comment on that, Sir, as to the question of law which lies at the basie of this in- quiry, and to which Ihave before alluded, I trust that when the matter comes to be discussed in fall, it may be apswered. When the opponents of the bill: can show me any constitutional prohibition upon the President and Congress to dismiss at any sime their employés who hold their offices at the will of the Executive, 1 s'sall be ready tochange my opinion. When they shall prove to me that a naval officer in this respect differs from any other officer—when they show me that the naval officers of 1855 have different rights in this respect from the army officers of 1815, who were set aside—or if they will show me that there 1s any constitutional prohibition upon the removal of officers—I may change my opinion, But I hold, sir. that Congress and the President may disband the entire navy. The Senator from New Hampshire cer- tuinly thought so at one time—not only the whole of it, but any part of any time. This Board was merely advisory. he philosophy of the bill seemed to be that, whether an officer deserved to be retired or not, if he oc- cupied such a position among his peers that in their jucement he ought to be retired, it was better for the jonor and interests of the country that he shoud be re- retired. Another item in the philosophy of the bill was that it was better to trust the purgation of the Navy to the navy icself than to any political power; that, if the navy itself could not be trusted with its own purification, no political power could be trusted with it. A safeguard was thrown arcund this trust, by not demgnating any particular oficers in the Jaw, but lewving the selection of them to the man who stood in an impartial attiade, and whose only bias was to secure the navy the greates porsibie eiliciency—the Secretary of Ahe Navy. H-re I may say that when he a ted the officers 10 compose that Board there came up from all parts of the country one vpiversai acclamation in tavor of his action. Some ofthe very men who have been operated upon by the Board were the first to give in their adhesion to the con- stitution of tha Board. Although I have thua defended the Board, I hayeno doubt (and I rore partly for the purpose of saying) that cases of hard+hip and of injustice have arisen. rds are not infallible, and for that reason the approving power was given to the President of the United States. That of course imp'ied a power to dis- approve, and implied an examination dolore “doing eit] Sir, let not the charges of the honorable Sena- tors trom Tennessee and board, but on the law itself plated such a court martial as seems to be regarded here; it any law had prevailed that officers ehould be called up individually, and compelled to answer charges and con- front witnesses, it could never have got my vote, be- caure I might have known, as every Senator knows who has any knowledge on the subject, that we might sit here for ten years and never arrive at the conclusion of such acoutt. They might know, too, that the inefficien- ey of officers arises from various causes, on which no specific cherge can be framed. An officer that has tried to evade his sea duties for years, who, in the lai ot the Senator from New Hampshire, has made Penn- tylvania avenue his principal cruising ground, could not be charged with that; be could not be tried for that ; the proof of it could not be brought and met, because it had been the habit of naval officers everywhere to lay their anchor to windward by applying tor sea service in the Department, which application the Secretary of the Navy would never heed if the officer him- self was not fitted for the trust. But, sir, I hold that when a id jury, if you choose to call it so, wend constituted by the laws of the land, selected from best officers in the service, have advised the President on this subject, and he, after investigation, has approved their conduct, there should be very little general com: plaint. The charities of the Senator from Tennessee should be with the board, not with those who have been affected its action, At all events it should not re- quire that extraordinary reach of his charities to pre- clude him from imputing dishonorable and corrupt mo- tives to the board. The honorable Senator from New Hampshire, in commenting on the action of the board, remarked that there were only fourteen midshipmen retired, but that when the board reached the grade of post captains, tney found them so corrupt that it was necessary to retire half of them. Surely he knows as well as any man knows that it was not fiom a belief in the corruption of post captains that they were dropped or retired; snd why does he use the remark but to affect the board itself? There were three post captains dropped from the service, and those who were retired were inoed in a most honorable position, with a sufficient pay for maintenance in our country of the ey: the ent here, in the argetment in the other House, in the instructions of the Secr of the Navy, in the be) mba of the President of the action of the board, nothing was contemplated but honorabte retirement. 1 deny entirely that any action of the board is a disgrace, orcarries with it @ conviction of crime. The parallel which the honorab! Fesrenen freee has given between an officer retired by the board snd a criminal punished by law, is a very remarkable one. He seems to think that a man who bri himself under the influ- ence of a Presidential commission, and he who violates the laws of the land, should occupy the same position, At any rate, he argues as if they did. A man who chooses to Caron ga larceny has hia own punishment in his own hands. The law is before him, and he violates it or not, at his owa pleasure. The man who receives a commission at the hands of the Peosident receives it with the express noderstan’- NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1868, that be is to give it up whenever the Executive ents onrtatae eter the Reeabanerine uot enigealt ce but nehas Exe- then oe in ¢ Navy have, to , called upon the two means of the pai ed officers. We have hi' measure introduced to Congress for several sessions be- fore last year, met with opposition. This law seemed to have pone here. Now, because the board somewhat beyond the expectations of the cause i; has gone somewhat the Senator trom Tennessee the | aed song its whole action is to be set aside, and Senat from Temnessee and the Senator New idavy are to put up their j ot against that of the fifteen naval officers who have identified their lives with the navy. If judgment of the efficiency of naval odlcecs is to be taken, I think an iz partial public would prefer to take it from those who have passed their lives in the naval service, who have familiarized themselves with the officers, and who, having the records of the Department before them for consultation, have given judgment upon the subject- matter sdvisedly. I know some of the officers who were members of the board, out not all of them; and here in my place I undertake to say that, search their conduct a6 you may, it every word that was spoken ou the board were repeated here, we should not only find nothing to their discredit, but everythiog to show that they acted strictly in the performance of their us dury—a da ty rigorously imposed upon them, and painful for them to exercise. Ishall make no opposition ta the reference to the Committee on the sntielargiot te memenial which i presented by the honorable tor from New Hamp- shire. Mr, Hate—That has been already Jaid on the table. Mr. Matrory—I know that; but I understend it has been laid on the table simply because it is desired to cail it up hereafter, and refer it to the Committee on the Ju- diciary, with icstructions. Heretofore, memoriala of a similar pature have been referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. So far asl understand the views of that committee, itis perhaps proper that I should say thay they concur with the reports of the Secretary of the Navy in the disposition to maintain the general action of the board, believing that it has produced a great naval re- form—be ieving that the navy has received young lite blood, which will tell in every department of the service. Disposed as J am to maintain the action of the board in tcto, T am still ready to admit that provision should be made tor cases of injustice and hardship, waich the Se- cretary of the Navy seems to acknowledge do exist. I trust some means will be found to co justice to every man who has been hardly dealt with, and to leave him the means of being placed in his original position with the acquired rank which the action of the board will have given hic; but I know of no way in which this can Derenohed at present, unless it be through Executive action, Mr, Toucsy—Mr. President, it seems to me that the only point which it is at all matertal to consider at this time is, what is the power of Congress over this subject? With "regard to that class of oflicers who have been dropped from the service, whose names have heen been stricken trom the rolls by the action of the President, in pursuance of the recommendation of this board, I may simpy remark that thoy are out of the ‘service, and Congress has no pewer to re- store them. This is a point that has been repeatedly decided in the Senate. The power of the exgoutive under the constitution, when it is exerted bythe President, works the effect of putting the officer entirely out of the service as fully as any civilian who may have been re- moved from public employment, and there is no mode of restoring him to the se:vice except by a re-nomination. Has the Senate any power to compel a re-nominstion? We can undoubtedly refuse to approve ot the nomination of axy other person. It has sometimes been attempted in the Senate, but it has always failed; and it has failed for the reason that the Senate has no power, under the constitution, to direct the executive with regard to any person whom he shall nominate to office. It is an at- tempt to exert power indirectly, which the constitu- tion has not conferred upon us directly ; and for that reason I think im every mstance in which it has been attempted it has signaliy failed ; so that, with regard to thst class of eflicers woose names have been stricken from the rolls of the mavy, there is no remedy but by an application to the executive. With respect those who are placed on tbe retired list, I confess I think their ‘condition is very different. They hold the commission which was originally con- ferred upon them; and the law, by the action of the Board, has only restrained theirjemployment and placed them out of the line of promotion; but they are still offi- cera inthe navy. Now, sir, we can repeal or modify that law; and if, by a repealor modification of that law, that class of officeis is no longer under that restraint—if they are no longer out of the line of promotiun—they stand in the coudition 1m which they stood betore; and it we shali uot have confirmed the nominations whica have ‘been made, upon the idea that they are out of the line of promotion, they may be nominated and may be promot- ed, Congress, I think, has full power over the aubject, except with regard to that class of which I have spoken, are now out of the navy; and they can only be re- stored by the constitutional action of the Executive and of this body. With regard to the other class, I think, in the J orsgecid state of things, as no persons have been put in their places, as no promotions have taken place, be- cause, a8 an appointment during the receas of the Senate by the President is only until the end of the next session of the Senate ensuing, it depends entirely upon the ac- tion of the Senate whether these appointments become permanent, and whether permanent commissions should be issued. It seems to me, therefore, that if any injustice has been done, we have itin our power, #0 far aa the retired list is concerned; but with to thore who are put out of the navy, I'do not see that we have apy power over the aliens, except te follow out the ac- tion of the Executive. Ihave nothing to say, sir, with regard tothis law. There is no doubt thats reform was needed inthe navy. It bas been recommended for a se- ries of years. it that a similar measure was re- commended during the administration of Mr. Polk; and I think it has been trequently before Congress since. The object that was sought wasa desirable sbject—an object of the highest importance to the countiy. Whether it has been accomplished by the action of this Board, I am not able to say. I am not informei—I know not the grounds en which they acted; but thore are casex within my knowledge of persons having been placed on the re- tited list, who, in my judgment, occupy as high a posi- tion, for all the services in the n ‘8 any. officers in the navy. With regard to the class to which I have re- terred, we have the power, but I think it is prema- tare for us, without facts, either to condemn the action of the Board or to approve of it. 1 say, unhesitatingly, that I do not impugn the motives of Bor I coubt not they have acted as honorable men, upon a subject with which they are very familiar; ani whatever they may have done, their intentions were to promote the best interests of the public service, This much I will sey in advance, and until the subject has been presented by the report ofa committee in some tan. gible form, I shall be unwilling to go turthor into the de bate. Mr. Hate—The Senator from Florida says I have al- ways been an enemy of the navy. I totally deny the charge, in general and in detail, in the beginning, pro- ceeding and end. The whole of ‘it originates in ome fact, which I will state. The first time that I had the honor of holding a seat on the floor of the House of Kepresentatives, and the first time I had the honor of holding a seat on this floor, | began to strive earnestly, in season and out of season, tor the abolition of flogging in the navy. The Crairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs—all those of- ficers whose cruising ground was this Uapitol—were de- nouncing me as an enemy to the navy because I was for in- troducing that element of humanity intoit. But, sir, that measure Was carried; it met the approbation of every iriend of humani y; end ogainst the obstinate preja- Gices of the navy ‘itself and the officera of the navy, made its way into public favor until, to-day, as an humbie champion of that great measure of reform, I have the satisfaction of hol in wy hand the evidence of the spprobation of the head of the Navy Deparment himself to that reformation, for endeavoring to procure which I have been stigmatized as anenemy of the navy. tet me read it. The Secretary of the Navy, in his re- port, says: ‘The hope is indulged with much confidence by many experi- enced observers and offivers, notwithstanding paieful appre- hensi d gloomy torebodings of disastrous consequences from the abolition of punishment by flogging, that oy tals ku- mane act, together with the recent discipline bill of rewards ‘an punishments, thecharacter of the seamen, as a class, will be improved by theincreased willingness of the laboring young men Of our own country to serve under the flag. The Secretary does further homage to this great mea- sure ot humanity, by informing us, in the same report, that during the six months before the supplementary bill of rewards was passed they enlisted eight hundred and ninety-six men, while for the succeeaing months th enlisted two thourand eight hundred and sixteen. Sir, {t is because J identified my humble self with that great reform, which has now Cy aya itself to the commenda- tion not only of the people but of those very men who denounced i, that I am stigmatized as an enemy of the navy. va Mattory—Allow me to ask the Senator from New Hampshire if 1 am not right in supposing that he pro- posed here, in this place, to limit the commissions in the navy to the term of ten years, or to be dane officers of the navy, a# other civil oilicers are appointed, for a term of years’ x Jarp—I did Leb gad to limit their commissions to and if that had been done, it would have ob. # infernal bill. Now let me say another thing in relation to = ae LA RE have crest. After the passage of the bill abotishing in the navy, a subsrem rovarued fovea tho Gust ef Rision. ema Nees my fortune to be in Boston when that squadron arrived there, I met the Commodore and the Captain—Commo. dore Lavallette and Captain Nicbolson—who commanded the Germantown and the Dale. I was introduced to them. The first remark that these gentlemen made was, that they had abnsed me a great deal, and I think they said they had curved me @ great deal, for my agency in carrying through Congress the provision for the abolition of flogging in the navy; “but sir,” said they, ‘we have altered our opinions entirely. Our vesseis now lie here at anchor in Boston harbor, and we should be excecdingly giad if you would go over them and see how vastly im- proved the character of the men is from what it was when they were submitted to the cruel punishment of the larh.”? 1 confess, sir, modest as Iam, that I felt « little proud. | There was s little compensation in that for the odfum and ‘obrinm that been cast on me for the course I taken here. I went amongst the mon; I talked to them; J saw men whom the Commander told me ele eee ee ee and never had had the lash applied to Tasked , “Is ite fact, as Has been stated, that since the abolition of flogging the akulks get clear of the wark, and the work is throwa on you good men?’ ‘*No such thing,” they answered with one voice. The officers and men said it was a great re- oes taldr I proraime’ f msny be permitted fo: slate whet been raid, I presume state wi eccurred when I left them.” The men asked permission of the officers to the privilege of extending to so hum- ble an individual as myself some mark of gratitude for the agency 1 had had in introducing this reform, for which I subjected myself to the censures of the Senator from Florida and others. They presented to me & very modest but expressive medal, com- memorative of their thanks and titude for the hum- ble services which I have rendered in oarryiny through this great measure of ceform, For my agency in it have bees stigmatized as- an enemy of the nevy. Str, I aman enemy te nothing on God’s earth heal see) Tam ap enemy to it bears “Pieace,bisck or the white, the we or the | officer. you undertake to oppress & man, | to strike him down, to deprive him of his rights, no mat- | tor in what station he may move on this footstool of | God, I Phy A that wron; Ng Wl makes | differen suffers it, If in future con- | tingenctes that may be before so exalied an individual as | E it | maycommand. Now, sir, I have a word honorable Senator from Connecticut, (Mr. Touseyy tae | folce that me have the aid of the opinion of such an astute | myer as he his, » man who es occupied 40 high a place has in the counclis of the nation, having been itn legal adviser—the Attorney General. When he says ‘sees no difficulty in this case,” in’ regard to officers who are on the retired and furiough lists, I can see quite as clearly how to meet the other case, end | Tam not without a it. 1 cam ive chapter and | verse, and there are some members of the Senate who | will doubtless remember the circumstances to ic Ad | martial confirm his nomination; and added to the resolution of refuse] that they refused to confirm the nomination for the reason that the construction of the court martial it was unconstitutional they sent it resolution to the Presi- dent. t did the President de? He sent back the name of the officer who had been dismissed, and since that—asI am told by the honorable Senator before me, (Mr, Toombs.) who knows the history of the case and war instrumental in it—he has beea promoted to the rark of colonel, and is now a colonel in the army of the United States. That was the way the Senate at that time remedied Fxecutive wrong. Now, what would I do hese? Suppose the President seads a nomination to ull dropping Mr. the place made vacant bj I would reject it, and I would, reject the nomination because we believe the vacancy has been illegally and wrongfully created. [ think that would remedy the wrong. ve a word to say to the astute lawyer from Louisiana, (Mr. Benjamin). He says that the answer to the case which I put isso plain that he wonders that I stated it. Iam going to pay him just as Fret @ compliment as he paid me, and a little better ove. have 0 utterly failed to make an impression on his clear mind of what seems so plain to me, that I will not try again. Ihave alrenty tried twice, and tailed; but if this question shall come up again, as I think it will, for my friend from Tennessee has pledged himself to bring it before us, I shall take the occasion to explain, I think even to the entire satis‘action of tne gentleman from Lout- siana, that the position which | have taken in reference tothe tenure by which these raval officers hold their commissions is clearly right; beyond coutroversy right; beyond the shadow of mistake right; beyord the cavil of scepticiem right; and I will convince the Senator himself of it, Having said thus much, I have only to express the hope that *his resolution will be passed, and thnt, if there is uny record, we shall bave it; and if’ there is none, we shall have a clean white paper to tell us that this ig all the Board kept, Mr. Matory--Mr. President, in characterising the honorable gentlewan from New Hampshire 24 an enemy tothe navy, when he occupied a sent in this chamber at a former time, I made no allusion whatever to is efforts for the abolition of corporal punishment, 1 wade the as- sertion because of his admis-ion at this very time, his distinct admission that he did fayor an entire dismember- ment of the navy. He advocated the recall of every com- mission or & liniitation of the duration of the commis. sion to # specific period of three, or four, or teu years. Mr. Hare—Ten years. dar. MatvoRY—I characterized him as an enemy of the navy, not because of his identification with that special system of reform to which he has alladed, and which f did not introduce, but because of the hones? sonviction on Stevens; his own mind that the organization of the nuvy was taulty, snd that it was not essential to the public interests to continue it, and he sought to nd it, Inasmuch as the Senator from New Haimsshire has alluded to what fol- lowed the abolition of corporal punishment in the navy, and as I had somethirg to do with that subject on a former occasion, I may mention a circumstance which has happened. The recruiting service is now going on prosperously, as the Secretary of the Navy says, not because of the abolition of that peculiar form of punish- ment, but because of the increaso of the pay of the navy and of the prospects held out of extra pay for good se:- vice, and of honors and rewards to the seamen, in pur- susnce ot a bil! we passed at the last session. AS an offset to what the Senator has stated of the treatment which he received for his identification with the efforts which resulted in the abolition of Soeparel pusishment in the navy, Ican tell him that within the last three months a similar occurrence has taken place (only for a vel Cpe reason) to @ gentleman who was identified with the opposite side of that question. and who favored the retention of corporal punishment in the navy. The gentleman to whom | ailude visited one of odr public and the first Neutenant waited upon him, at the ce of her crew, to compliment him, in the name of the crew, upon his identification with that measure, and with the increase of the pay of the mavy. I mention thix fact oply to show that there fs not a unanimity of feeling on that subject, and the recruiting service goes on prosperensly, not because of the abolition of that punishinent, but because the seamen get better compen- sation for their services than before. Mr. Mason—I move to postpone its considration for the present. ‘The motion was agreed to. FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. MOXBY MARKRAT. Wrowsspay, Jan. 16—5 P. M. Quotat ions for stocks took quite an upward start at the first board to-day. There was an active demand, and higher prices ruled throughout. Indiana 5’s advanced 1 per cent; California 7’s, 34; Ilinois Central Bonds, 1; Cumberland Coal, 3s; New York Central Railroad, \; Erie Railroad, 3{; Michigan Southern, {; Panama Rail- road, 3; Reading Railroad, 2; Harlem Railroad, 4; Hud- son River Railroad, 13{; Michigan Central Railroad, %; Galena and Chicago, 1; Cleveland and Toledo, 2; Chicago and Rock Island, 1. Cleveland, Columbus end Cincinnati fell off 34 per eent; Canton Company, %;. State stocks and railroad bonds were in moierate dei id, and sold at prices previously current. In the leading speculative stocks there was considerable activity and buyers were abundant, Reading was the leading stock on the marke! to-day. It opened yesterday at 833{, dividend off, and closed to-day firm at 8634, caeh, with large sales, The di- vidend in stock is a little larger than we anticipated; but as the company have a dividend fund nearly equal to the amount just declarea, the aggregate capital of ths road will not be much increased. At the date of the last report, Noy. 30, 1854, the dividend fund, made from the sinking fund, amounted to $249,655. Last year the $100,000 paid in- to the sinking fund added « few thousand more than that sum to the dividend fund, which will raise it to about three and a-half per cent on the present capital. As this fund Is made up trom the reduction of debt, the dis- tribution of the fund in stock does not increase the capi. It is our belief that in less than sixty days Reading will sell ae high as It did @ week since dividend on. The improvement in Erie is not at al) strange. The increase in gross receipts during the first quarter of the present fiscal year is satisfactory, and under the iatelligent superin- tendence of Mr. McCallum, the utmost contidence can be placed in the economy of expenditure. We consider the Erie Railroad just now one of the most judiciously managed roads in the country. All its financial affairs are honestly administered, We see none of those extra- vegant operations so apparent in all the movements of the New York Central Company, and its net earnings are to-day equal to a larger per cent on its capital than those of the Central road, It is acknowledged to be operated at a less per cent of its gross receipts; and with a business paying, in every particular, full as well as that of the Central, it follows that if one earns a dividend the other must. As an investment to hold for the next five years, Erie Railroad stock, at ten per cent above current prices, will pay better than the New York Central. The capital of the former ir now about three millions below the latter. Under the present administration of the Erie, there is to be no increase of capital, while in the Central there is no restraint and no restriction. In the last thirty months the Central has added more then Fix millions of dollars to its capital, and must continue at the same rate. The Erie Company have officially anpounced its construction account closed. Its sinking fund will give a dividend of nearly five per cent per arnum on the stock, indepen- dent of its other net earnings. It is estimated that the company will be able to pay this year, (1856,) ten per cent dividend on its capital, im stock, out of the pro. ceeds of the sinking fund, and about four per cent in cash. By the resolution of the directors, establishing the sinking fund, it is to be divided among the stock- holders as soon ae it reaches an aggrogate of one million of dollars. Nicaraugua Transit has been quite steady for some days, Outsiders have been gradually picking up the stock and taking contracts, buyer’s option. Galena and Chicago touched the highest point to-day. ‘The books close to-morrow, the 17th inst., at two o’clock, and there is an active demand for the stock to get the divi- dend. It sold this morning at 126 percent. Cleveland and Toledo was active, and sold freely at the advance. Western railroad stocks generally were in demand at bet- ter prises. The stock market waa altogether more poorey and @ feeling of confidence prevailed among hol and operators. The impression is becoming genera] that « speculative movement of considerable im- portance is not very far distant. We coincide with this belief, but have no idea that it will come upon us other- wise than in the most gradual manner. After a time we expect to nee a slow, but steady appreciation in prices for all our public securities, and a gradual increase in the volume of capital seeking temporary and permanent in- vestment in all the leading stocks. The country never was richer than at this moment. An immense amount of money has accumulated in the hands of the agrioul- tural classes, avd their prosperity must give am impetus 1 that TO to every branch of industry, and strength to evory loomt interest, At the second board the market was steady and mode- rately active. There was no material variation in aay of the leading stocks. There appears to be buyers ef Erie, seller’s option, or any other way to suit the bears. There was» small lot of Galena and Chicago sold at 126: | per cent, and it was in demand at the close. Stock scarce. | There are quite a number of orders in the street fer Milwaukie and Mississippi stock, and it is with the utmost difficulty one of them can be filled. Holders are not sell ers, and the rcarcity of stock prevents operations. The last sale was 81 per cent, buyer thirty days, and that price was offered for several humdred shares. ‘The Assistant Treasurer reports to-day as follows:— After the adjournment of the board, the following tales of stocks were made at auction: — 20 shares Excelsior Fire Insurance Co.. 25 do. Peter Gooper Fire Insurance Co Albert H. Nicolsy’s regular semi-weekly suction sale of stocks and bonds will take place to-morrow, Thuraday, at 1234 o'clock, at the Merchants’ Exchange, We are ia- formed that some first class bank and insurance stocks will be found on the list to be offered, A resolution instructing the committee on banks of the Massachusetts House of Representatives to consider the expediency of reporting a bill to prohibit all the banks im the State trom issuing notes of a lesa denomination tham $5, or from receiving notes of foreign banks of a less dexomination than $5, has been rejected, ‘The cash balance in the hands of the Assistant Trea- surer, Boston, on the 12th inst., was as tollows:— ‘Treasury account. eee eeeee ee B2, 762,008 34 Post Office account + | 31,010 93 On deposit,, 194,515 72 Total... sc ceseeveeseee ceeeenere renee + 82,987,620 68 The receipts at the office of the Assistant Treasurer, Baltimore, during the year 1855, were as follows: — Frem duties, &c.. $837,587 40 ‘* other source: + 694,386 72 Total..... sees « «$1,581,974 21 Balance Ist Jan., 1855. + 125,234 06 Total..... Payments during the year Balance 31st December, 1805... . ‘The Boston Journal of the 15th inst , say A moderate business was done at the board this mora- inn, the tone of the market being dull and depresed. Worcester declined 34; Vermont and Canada, 1; sales of Fitchburg at 7534, which was the asking rate; after the board sales were made, seller's option, 0 days, at 75%4; Bosten ard Providerce dull a! 693, askad, a decline of 34 trom last xales—this stock rose very rapidly, and there will probably bea reaction in the ‘price; Vermont sud Maseuchusetts, 834 bid; Western, 8034 a 893{; Maine Hteady at 824, with small Jo's on the market at this quo- tution; Northern improved 3; Ogdensburg heavy, aud ® was asked without obtaining buyers; Boston and Lowell for sale at 65; Manchester snd Lawrence at 60. 30,660 18 Stock Exchange. Wepxisbay, Jan. 16; 1856, $4000 US 6's, 16K 4500 U S 68 68 12000 Ind State 5's... 81 1000 Tenn 6's, 90... 91 1000 Missouri 6's... 853 3000 Califnia7’s70 843% 1(00 Erie 24 MBds, 96 2000 Erie Bdy cf °75. 8934 1000 Hud R1M Bds 9936 2000 Hud R 3 M Bés 63 10000 de 62 2000 Ill Cen Ri 8136 do. 120¢0 do, 815, 26 Panama . 4500 do. 81% 200 Reading RR 5000 do...) 81%, 200 do, 8000 do... -b60 81% 2000 I F Bds, w py 87 2000 N ¥ Cen 6’s.83 86 25 she Bk N York., 116 26 Metropolitan Bk, 105 10 Continental BE... 108% 20 do... 5 Ohio L & Tr 100 do. b80 23 + 6 100 Penn Coal Co. OA OTe 16 do... . 100 25 do. 97, ae Coal Co... ro 50 Gal &Chi RR.630 125! do......b60 10... 0+ 0005 126 do. 20 &Tol RR. 73 do.....sm 72; 1050 Clev 100 SECOND BOARD, $6006 Virginia 6’s... 93 100 sha Erie RR. .230 16000 111 Cen RR Bas 815 100 000 2000 IF Bde, w pr 87 20 wha D & H . 11736 100 Nic’a Tr Co ..b30 23 45 do. . 2% CITY COMMERCIAL REPORT. Weosrspay, Jan. 16—6 P. Asnrs—Unchanged, with small sales, Breapsrvrrs.—Flour.—The market was without change of moment ces, The sales embraced about 6,000 a 7,000 bbls., including common and extra State at $7 8736 a $8. Western mixed, fancy and extra at $7 87 a $8 50. Extra Genesee was unchanged. Canadian was in fair request, with sales of 200 4 400 bbls. at $3 a $9 75 for common to extra brands. Southern was unchanged; the rales were 600 & 600 bbls. at $8 a $8 0234 for common to choice Baltimore City Mills, Alexandria and Howard street, and $8 75.8 $10 25 for fancy and extra do. Rye flour—About 200 bbls. were sold at $5 50 a 87 1234. Cora meal--Sales of about 100 bbls. New Jersey wore made at $4. Buckwheat was quiet, at $2 37 a $2 6214. Wheat—The market was quiet, ‘and a considerable lot of good Tennessee red was offered at $1 96, and $1 90 bid. A small lot of unsound Southerm brought $1 60, and small parcel good sold at $1 90, Western ranged from $1 80 # $1 90, according to quality, and the last rale of Canadian white was made at $4 06. Corn—The market was firm, without any change im prices. The sales embraced’ 20,000 a 25,000 busnels including old Western mixed, at Qlc.'n 9%¢., deli- vered, and new Southern yellow and whiteat Sic. a 88. Rye was inactive but steady at about $190, with amall sales. Oats were heavy, and tended to lower prices; State ranged from 4c. n'48c., and Western at 480. « 500. CorrEe —Sales embraced 1,000 bags Rio common grade at 10x04; 75 mats Java, at 143¢e., and 100 skimings Rie t 106. « 10340. “\Corrox.—the market was more active, and the salon embraced about 2,500 bales, incl @ fow hundred im transitu. Themarket was steady, and middling uplands were at 9X0. F '—There was a fair amount offering for English ports, and rates were firm. To Liverpool about 1, bushels of corn were engaged im ship’s bags, at 8d., and about 12,000 # 14,000 do. wheat ‘at 8%d.; 2,000 bbls. flour, at Sd.; 1,000 tierces beef at 4s. a 5s. To London rates con- tinued firm, and about 2,000 bbis. flour were at 4a., about 1,000 rk, beefand lard at and 1,200. boxes Geown ai be. To Antwer ,, about 3,000 a 4,000 bbls. flour were engaged at 4s. 6d. To Bremen tons measurement goods were engaged at 35a. a 40s. per ton. To Havre rates were unchanged, while engageibents were light. To California they ranged from bc. te 37 Ke. per foot measurement. Frvit.—2 sales of bunch raisins were making at $2 87, and of layers at $5 128 $3 25. Hewp.—The market was quiet at $180 per ton for American dow rotted, and $260 8 $265 for American dressed. Hipws,—The market was unchanged, while the stock was slightly augmented. LeATHER.—The market continued firm. Receipts were limited and oak was in limited supply. Calf and sheep skins were unchanged. Mozassrs.—The sales embraced about 200 bbls. New Orleans, new, at 48. a 48350. NAVAL STORES.—Sales of 1,000 bbls. spirits turpentine were made at dlc., and 1,200 bbis. common rosin at $1 60 per 310 Ibs., delivered. Ons.—Linseed was quiet at 89c. a 90. Crude whale was selling at 75c. a 80c., aud crude sperm at $1 800 $183. Retined whale was at 88. , tor winter bleached, Olive oil was quiet at $3 56% a $4 565¢ for pints and quarts. PRoVisiONs,—Pork continued firm, but the advanced views of holders checked transactions. About 300 bbls. were sold in lots, at $16 75a $17. At the close there wore no sellers at.$17, while bu; were plenty at the inside figure. Prime was at $14 Bo sit Sovaaked Beet ruled bie’ with at of 150 bbls., including country sales at old Rick.—Sales of casks wore made, part for expe at Be. a 5 5Ge. e Svcars.—The market was firm, with limited transac tions. 50 boxes were sold at 8c.; about 150 hide. Porto Rico, low to fair grades, at T5,¢. a 8iKe.; and 6@ do. New Orleans, at 84,0. Warsxry --Sules of 150 8 200 bI8, prison wore rapoet 8 te,