Mr. BRANDEGEE. Mr. Speaker, when I was interrupted by my friend was upon the question of the construction of this board and the influence brought to bear by the SecyNavy upon the board when they were in the progress ofiheir examination. The fact was that the board was composed of those who were influenced by local considerations besides the influence brought to bear on them from the Dept. I now state what I think must be a surprise to this House, that after this board had made this report, under the law of Congress b which the SecyNavy was require by the decision of that board to locate this and at one point or the other, the SecyNavy in his next report ignored the conclusion to which that board had arrived, and expressly said in his annual report, “I propose to accept from the city of Philadelphia the munilicent gift of League Island unless Congress shall otherwise direct.” And, sir, it will be home in mind that the Senate immediately, by a very decisive vote, declared that the SecyNavy should not take it without the consent of Congress. And I know it to be the fact that when I came to the 38th Congress efforts were made by the Navy Dept to keep me off the Naval Committee I having had no connection with the subject an interference with the organization of this House which, if it had occurred in England 200 years ago, would have sent a Cabinet minister to the Tower as a breach of the privilege of the Commons. The Navy Dept did not, however, succeed. But I ound as my associates on the committee 2 members from Pennsylvania, rather an unusual thing in the construction of committees in this House. The question came before that committee in the last Congress, and for 2 months we were engaged in examining it both upon personal investigation and in the hearing of Witnesses and argument; we heard everything that could be said in or ument on the subject; we took testimony, an by a large majority the committee came to a conclusion reaffirming the opinion of the board of officers as contained in the report which I hold in my hand. I quote the languago of the Naval Committee of the last Congress: "Lnoul: Ionian The committee entered upon an examination of this site replareilto find very many advantagesin its favor an. 0 proposed establilshment. Its geographical position, its situation I: on one of our largest rivers, and the advantage ccitayim, ed for it of fresh water, its vicinity to a large and the skilled labor obtainable therefrom, its preoaxnimsyiltvyatnoialhcisgrJeuasttlbyedfasmofoiurosn.wni thndcootahle.fror which advantages. from the 1st challenged the attention of the committee, and wero strongly pressedupon them during the examination by the friendsof this locality. Allowmglhose their due weight. however, so many and formidable objectwns were developed upon a thorough investigation that the committee cameto the conclusion “that the public intarosfswould not be promoted by its selection manyof the advantages claimed forit, upon examination, turning out to equit 9asunpplicahloto other localities, and some of the obicctions seeming to your committee, from their very nature and magnitude ine perable." But we did not get decisive action in that Congress, ulthough there was a strong pressure from the Navy dept broulght to bear upon congress in favor of League sland. The question tion came to this Congress, and now, alter 4 years of war to get League Island into the Union, or rather to getitinto daylight, above the level of the water a war which, in the language of a celebrated platform, has thus far proved to be a failure it remains for congress to say upon this day’s debate whether ‘it now shall be a success. The gentleman at last, negativing all other sites, all the conclusions of the ComNavAffrs, of the experts of the commission ordered by congress, comes and iresents his bill in favor of an examination 9 this site, and this site alone. I Now, I will ask the attention of the House for one moment to thisbill. Let us see what its provisions are. It is a very artfiil bill. It does quite as much if not more credit to the gentleman’singenuity than to his fairness and mngnauimity. It holds the word of promise to the ear but breaks it to the hope. t assumes to provide that a commission shall 1st examine the site, (the gentleman not haying the confidence to ssh the House, upon its merits, to decide in favor of League Island,) and that the island shall not be accepted unless that commission shall report in favor of it as fitted for a naval station. Now, I say that the bill provides no such thing, but is artfully and designedl contrived, as I believe. to prevent any such thing. I say contrived, because the bill follows, for a certain length, the original hill presented to the Senate in 1862, and then switches off at a convenient point which provided for a thorough examination and survey of League Island. Whutdoes this bill provide? In its substantive enacting clause it.rovides that the SecyNavy shit I be authorized to receive and accept League Island, and then qualifies it by providin thatit shall notbe accepted unless what? nless a commission upon a “thorough examination and survey" shall report it to be a good place for a naval station, as the other bill did? Not at all. It cunningly interpolates other language at that point and provides that it shall not be received and accepted unless “the acceptance shall be recommended by a board of officers. Does it provide, or was it intended to provide, that that board should make“ an examination and survey with reference to its adaptabilitv for a naval station?” No. sir. Why then did the gentleman abandon the language of the 1st bill? By the 1st bill the board were required to examine and report as to wheilier it was a good place for a naval station. This provides, that it shall not be accepted unless “ its acceptance” shall be recommended by the commission. What will this commission do? Finding a bill has been passed by Congress acceptin the title of League Island, provided they shall recommend its acce tance, and knowing the wish of the Navy aitment to be that it shall be accepted, and having the land offered to the Government, of course the commission will recommend its acceptance as a valuable donation to the Government not speciucally for naval purpose, not for a basin for iron clads, not upon “examination and survey, ” which they are not required to moire, but asn. “ munif iceut” donation of 600 acres of land, in the lofty language of the SecyNavy.