Mr. O’NEILL. would rather the gentleman would wait; I do not intend to detain the House long. Now, sir, as I have said before, the proposition of the Gentfrom Connecticut is in effect a proposition to establish a navy yard at NewLondon, and nothing else. The gentleman cares nothing about the proper requisites for such a great yard. He knows that ns locality is not the place for a naval station of the character desired. His object is to place it in the harbor of NewLon on. among the rocks. Sir, that is no place to build iron clads; gin cannot get the material there out of which. build them without going to an enormous expense, and the saltwater'would corode them when built. Now, a word as to the question of filling up League Island so as to secure a proper foundation for the necessary buildings. It will not cost much. The gentleman sa 5 you must go to NewJerso for material. 'es, I say on can go to It Bank, in NewJersey which is immediately opposite only a mile or 2 off, and get as much gravclas you want, and bring it across the Delaware nta trifling cost. There is plenty of material coming from the iron works of Philadelphia for filling up that part of it which the committee terms, I think, “marsh land.’.’ I know something about that island. It happens to be in my district, and I have been upon it many times. There are 5 or 6 truck farms upon it; and there are buildings upon it which have stood for years. The gentleman s oaks of it as being an unhealthy location. Talk to me about League Island not being a healthy location! The entleman might as well tell me that one halt of my district is unhealthy. Sir, Iam well acuainted with the immediate neighborhood of the island, and I can truly say that I am not mistaken in denying this charge of want of health. It is healthy and inhabited by people who live to good old age, and who will be. much surprised to hear of it being sickly. I wanta fair and proper consideration of the bill. I am anxious that a proper naval station should be selected, and desire the House to vote on this bill understandingly. Let us pass it, and start a great yard, ouc equal to all the requirements of the country. What is the use ofqbaving another commission appointed? We have had commissions heretofore, and in spite of their reports Congress has never decided against League Island and never will upon such arguments as have been presented by its enemies. Why should we distrust the SecyNavy? Has be any interest in Leng Island? If he felt as the Gentfrom onnecticut does, being from Connecticut, he would establilsh this navy yard at NewLondon; and it is because he will not do that that my friend does not like the Secretary. Captain Fox, the Asst Secretary, is I believe, a citizen of Massachusetts, and I think the heads of nearly all the bureaus in the Dept are from NewEngland; yet I am not unwilling to take their views on this sublket. I am not even unwilling to take the views of Rear Admiral Smith, to some extent. I know, sir, that those officers of an older generation do not see the fitness of the Delaware river for a naval station; for when they held commands in the avy sailing ships only were used, and it did take some time to come up to Philadel hia. That is the secret of their opPDsitiou. Vell, sir, they have done honor to their country in their time; but they are passing away, and it is too late in the day, after this question has been so thoroughly discussed, not only in this gouse and in its Naval Committee, but in the avy Dept, for us to hositate to establilsh a navy yard for iron vessels in a river of fresh water. with ample depth of.channel,near skilled labor, and near the coal and iron necessary to he used in their construction, and where ice, even in the coldest winters known, is no insurmountable obstacle. We have an ice out which has always kept the channel open. The gentleman has referred to the relative distances of newLondon and Philadelphiafrom NewYork. I do not know where he cts his g‘cography or his scale of distances. I believe I cw L don is 150 miles from Ne York. I know it. takes all night to get there from that city in the steamboat; and y railroad the distance is about the same, for it takes nearly the whole day to reach it. Does the gentleman know how far it is from Philadelphia to NewYork? To be sure, going by steamboat down the Delaware the distance may be a little greater than from NewLondon to Now York, but by railroad communication we are only 90 miles from the latter city. Why, sir, the gentleman does not know his map. Let him look at it, lethim measure the distances as I have done for the purpose of iving facts to this House so as not to deal in imagination and guessing for the sake of success. I should be ashamed of myselfifI thought I was actuated in this matter by more local interests. I believe that League Island is the place for a navy yard, because it is in every.wayaccessible to everything which is needed to be used for building a navy such as we should have. We have a channel in front of League Island of 23 feet and more in depth. It is 2 and a quarter miles in extent upon the Delaware river. There is a channel of some 18 or 20 feet in depth, and some 5 8ths of a mile in extent on the Schuylkill, and also the back channel which is also 2 and a quarter miles long of some 14 or 16 feet deep which furnishes a rand national basin. I am speaking of the epth of the channels at high water, of course. I believe that this is a place intended by nature for some such purpose as this. Now, the Gentfrom Connecticut desires that we shall go to NewLondon for this navy yard, where we would have to blast out 1000s and 1000s of tons of rock in order to obtain a basin. That, sir, could never be done, and yet the gentleman talks about it as the place most suitable for buildingships, but never mentioning its salt water. Besides, we all know that we want iron and coal for building a navy; those are the great materials to he used in the construction and for the motive power of iron vessels ropelled by steam. And would you 0 to cw london to be near supplies of co and iron? The gentleman cannot show me any line of railroad or canal, or any means of access to it, by which on could reach those articles within one hul red miles as near as they are to Legue Island. He cannot have the hardi boo to attempt seriously to convince anyone that the location he would select is in such close proximity to everything which enters into the completion of an iron navyas the point designated in this bill. League Island lies at the mouth of the Schuylkill, at its confluence with the Delaware, both of which rivers are navigable by nature and by art. There is a canal all the way down the Schuylkill, from the Schuylkill coal regions to within 5 miles of League Island, and the Reading railroad running along the side of the canal. There is the Lehigb Valley railroad, connecting at Bethlehem with the North Pennsylvania, leading into the Lehigh coal and iron regions. There are also means of access from League Island into the same regions by canal and tidewater navigation along the Delaware and Lebigb rivers. And is timber any nearer NewLondon than it is to League Island ‘I No, sir; the means of get ting timber to the former place are not so great. For the live oak of the State of Delaware and the yellow pine of the Carolinas, what are the means of communication with League Island? Beside the Delaware bay and river, there is the Delaware railroad, which now extends almost the entire len th of that State, and before long will heextended into Virginia alon its eastern shore. And will it be argued that League Isl and possessing all these advantages, that NewLondon is still nearer to all these materials than it? Why, sir, anywhere, in any direction, by any means of communication, canal, railroad, river, or bay, for any of the materials which are so necessary in the construction and repair of naval vessels, iron or wood, League Island is many miles nearer than NewLondon. Sir, I hope, I believe that this House will decide the question upon principles of justice and right. We are acting or the best interests of the whole country. And we are urging the sage of this bill because we believe that eague Island is the best place for this naval station. It seems that a great many naval oficars who have looked into the matter within the last 2 or 3 cars have changed their minds materially. Tam under the impression that my constituent, Commodore Turner, was not a warm advocate of League Island 2 years ago. Yet we have his letter setting forth the reasons why it should be referred, stating among other things its hen tbfulness and its easy approach. So, too, with Commodore Strihling, who, although stationed at Philadel phia, was not at one time favorable to League sland, vetvhe has since written a letter in its favor. That letter has been read by my colleague, [Mr. Kaunas] This isnnother illus tration of the change which has taken place in the views of prominent naval officers, one great reason being, no doubt, the importance of the basin afforded by the back channel, a basin that can be made 350 yards wide, and deep enough to float the navies of the world. The Gentfrom Connecticut refers often to the mud of the river Delaware. Well, sir, we do not pretend to say that the bottom of the river Delaware is of rocks, and we thank Prov idence that it is not; for if it were so, we could not urge the adoption of League Island as the location for the naval station. Sir, we have the advantage of the mud, if you choose. At high tide we have 23 feet or more of water in the channel of the river Dela ware; and we have besides that 6 or eight inches of yielding mud which does not bin er the progress of a vessel. The largest vessels of the Navy and of the merchant service have come not only to Lea ue Island, but to the wharves of the city of hiladelphia. I know that in one instance, a few years ago, the ship Cathedral was unable to get into the port of NewYork because she could not get across the bar; but that ship was brought in safety to our wharves. And I will state also that at one timea project was on foot to bring the Great Eastern to Philadelphia, a party agreeing to undertake to accomlish it; but the project was aban doned, I believe, in consequence of some hes itation on account of the insurance. There is an ample depth of water for any vessel. The rec ords of the Navy Dept show that those drawing the most water and having the largest armaments have not only been at the present Philadelphia navy yard, but many of the m were built there and have with ease one out to sea through the Delaware river an bay. Vessels propeiled by steam are not delayed. 6 or 7 hours will take them to the capes, and even under the most adverse circumstances of wind and weather a sailing vessel can make the distance in about double that time. 35 or 40 years ago the forei commerce of this country was done at the wharves of the city of Philadelphia. At that time they were crowded with shipping from all parts of the world. That was the emporium for the China trade and the London t c. It was not until the s city of Governor De Witt Clinton suggests the construction of the Erie canal that that trade began to leave that city and go to NewYork. The Delaware river now, as then, is of sufieieut depth of channel for either merchantmsn or national vessels. None of either kind are constructed, or are likel to be constructed, whether of iron or woo, which cannot navigate her waters. But, Mr. Speaker to return to the question of defensibility, which is, in fact, the important question. You must locate your naval stations in positions where they can be defended atn ow cost. Where is the location that can be as easily defended as the city of Philadelphia and League Island adjacent to it? An enemy’s ship could not successfully make its way up that river. Its very length is its defense. There are the 2 defensive works, Fort Delaware and Fort Mifliin. sides there are numerous places along the shore of the river (not high gluffs or towering mountains) upon which batteries could be placed. It would be impossibleifor a foreign 1866; hmesosvsESBeNM owns. sir, you can d not blockade the city of Philadelphia or League Island. It would take the combined navies of the world for such 5 blockade as would prevent effectual access to or from them. The bottom of Delaware bay is composed of yielding mud so that you cannot anchor a blockading fleetthere, and you all know its great width. A blockade of Philadelphia and League Island to be complete renders a blockade not only of the Delaware bay necessary but also a blockade of the Jar soy coast and of the Chesapeake bay. You must also blockade NewYork. I repeat, it would take the combined navies of the world to do this. Suppose it was attempted, you can get from League Island to NewYork, through the Delaware and Raritaii canal, which has a width and depth sufficient to enable us to take a monitor of 500 tons into NewYork harbor. You can also et them through the Delaware and Cliesapea 'e canal to Baltimore. And I appeal to my friendfrom NewJersey [Mr. Nizwsim] that to make:1blockade of that coast effectual you must blockade it entirely. Still we would have access to it by the Camden and Atlantic railroad. means of outlet for our monitors by these canals, and we would have the whole Vest to furnish us with its products, thus rendering a threatened blockade futile and without result. Thus we would have League Island can be shown most iiieontro vertibly not only to be a place of safety for our iron clad vessels, but also the ver best in which to build up a navy. Now, Ijudge from what I have seen in this House that facts, and facts only, will be.listened to, and they seem to me, as far as presented, to be all in favor of that location. I say that on the question of defensibility, on the question of fresh water, on the question of the epth of water. freedom from ice, and on the question of cheapness of living, and the facility of procuring materials. you can find no place to compare with it. It looks to me as i nature lanted it there for some great national use. cw London is out of the question on account of salt water. All who have examined it state this as the great and insurmountable objection as far as iron vessels are concerned. Salt water de stroys them. The Gentfrom Connecticut seems to suppose that a rocky point is the best place for a navy yard. such is not our experience in the past. Look at the Brooklyn navy yard, most of which is made ground. We do not want to carry vessels u a steep hill or to cut deep basins through solid rock. It is not necessary when we have other places which do not require this enormous expenditute of money. Go to the Cliarlestown navy yard, in the district of the chairman of the ComNavAffrs, and you will find that a great portion of it is made ground. It is necessarily so. for you want a navy for water and not for, land. At the outset of my remarks I alluded to the fact that the Gentfrom Connecticut made no argument of the defensibility of NewLon don againsta foreign navy. He could not make any such argument. The history of the country. points out some facts in reference to the defensibility of that location. It could not resist a.foreign navy during the war of 1812 which blockaded it any more l ‘HRHduring the revolutionary war, when it was burnt to ashes by the British, whose fleet and transports reached it in one night‘s sail. It is just as easy of cap ture now as it was then. One word about the expense. Why, sir, $800,000 was expended in repairing and fit ting out one ship of our Navy. I refer to the Vanderbilt. Yet you talk about the cost of constructing a navy yard at League Island such as no other nation in the world will or can have. It is so clear that I do not think it needs argument. I do not think this House would hesitate for one moment in reference to the expense when the city of Philadelphia offers to give to the Governmnnt 600 euemyto approach Philadelphia bysea. And, acres of land. It certainly would not if the land were adjoining the present navy yard. We do not ask for a new navy yard. We expect the present one, to be transferred to League Island when completed. The present yard is now surrounded by the city. It is almost in the center of the city. The Government can sell it for probably $2,000,000, although it contains but 15 or 16 acres and in its stead you will have a navy yard of some 600 acres in a much better location. We are not asking for a new navy yard, but only desire that you will locate one in fact butas an extension of the old yard. These 600 acres now offered as a gift will be worth in a few years millions of dollars to the Government. Commerce is pressing down the river toward League Island. Wharves for the accommodation of private business are being built along the banks of the Delaware. Sir, would you select for a naval station NewLondon harbor which is famous for nothing but its nearness to the ocean? We do not want a new navy yard. much less do we want one located among rocks and salt marshes. It may have the proximity to the sea to recommend it as regards health, but a consum tive could not live there, and men workingard from morning until night in the shops would suffer from the climate, whereas in the iieiglr borhood of Philadel hia they would be living where health aboun a One word as to the defensibility of League Island in comparison with NewLondon. I tell you there is but one way of deciding this question, and that is upon the facts. With the natural and artificia defenses in the Delaware river in the revolutionary struggle, it took the British fleet 8 long weeks to get up to Philadelphia. And I will appeal to my friendfrom Delaware if it is not true that in the war of 1812 time and again the Bitish cruisers were driven olf the capes by our batteries and yet Commodore Decatur was shut up by blockade of the enemy in the harbor of NewLondon for weeks n 101]weeks with his ship after he had capture the Macedonian. [Here the hammer fell; but by unanimous consent the gentleman’s time was extended, and he proceeded, as follows:] Mr. Speaker, it is hardly possible to do justice to this subject in one hour, especially after injustice has been done to it for an hour and a half by the speech of the Gentfrom connecticut, [Mia Baasnnousj Sir, we need such a navy as the lesson of the late rebellion has taught us, a navy built of iron, and we need a naval station at a point where we cannot only build, but equip our iron clad vessels. Does this Houseknow that during the late rebellion not one ship was fully equipped in the navy yards of the country? Now, sir, let us have a yard where we can have a foundery, where we can make our ordnance and everything great or small which enters into the completion of a man of war. Look at the losses we have suffered; millions of dollars claimed by contractors for extra work on vessels and their machinery. In the midst of the s eech of my friendfrom Connecticut:1. bill for t ie relief of a contractor for loss upon the Idaho is messaged from the Senate to the House. We will find claims amounting to 20 or 30 million dollars of this character, all occasioned by want of proper legislation on this subject. In 1862 the SecyNavy suggested in a report, and has made the same suggestion in every succeeding report, the necessity of locating a navy yard for iron clads, and yetu here after nearly 5 years with half a dozen or more navy yards we have none fitted forthis purpose. We ought to have a navy worthy of sum heroes as Farragut, Du Pont, Winslow, Cashing, and others, but we can never have it until we select the place at which to build the vessels. Mr. Speaker, one word and I am done. As I said before, I started out to state facts and have endeavored to confine myself to such. I Wish to say, air, for myicolleagues of the Pennsylvania delegation and for my own more im' mediate colleagues of Philadelphia, that we are not urged to the support of this measure by any local interests‘or considerations. We endeavor to do our duty without the prejudice of locality. If a better site can be found for this purpose anywhere in the country, select it and establish your naval station there. But let us, for the sake of those who have honored our flag in the naval service, take such measures as will I place the Navy upon a proper footing for all time to come or this we ask you to pass I' the hill just as it was reported from the ComNavAffrs.