Mr. BRANDEGE. This whole matter is running emptins. [Laughten] I do not allude to the gentieman so much as to thisinter larding discussion, which has no bearing on the question before the House. The gentleman is surprised that I do not now present the pro position presented by me to the members oft ie committee as a compromise propositions Why, l tt that proposition was predicated on the fact that the committee was to be unanimous in its support. Was I bound to present that precise proposition, which was a compromise, after I was notified by the Gentfrom Pennsyl vania [Mr. KELLEYfithat neither he nor a ma'ority of the committee would sustain it. but this has nothing to do with the question before the House. No matter what this committee think or say. This committee do not know any more about this question, Mr. Speaker, than you or another sensible man on this floor knows. e know some of the facts that come before us, but there is not a man on the committee who from experience or investigation is more competent to locate a naval station than any other man on this floor. I profess to have some knowledge of this question myself; I have made it somewhat my study; but I declare to you today if it were left to me alone by authority given by the U.S. to select the site for the great navy yard of the country I would not know where to locate it. l would hardly dare to locate it at NewLon don. although I believe that is the best place on the continent, and I found that belief upon the authority of 19 20th s of the officers of the Navy and the report of this able commission. Even Admiral Smith, chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks testified before the committee that with his life ong experience on this subject, having never been consulted by the Dept with reference to League Island, he would not know today where to locate a navy yard for these vessels. And I maintain that there is no member of the committee who has examined the subject in this and the last Congress who to da, n on the testimony in regard to League Isfiittld would be willing to put his ban upon it without a further examination by scientific experts. Now, is it a matter of importance to get the best place? If it is, let the commission decide where that place is and report upon the relative advantages of the different sites. To see that the Government should have an opportunity of getting the best place is the duty of an American Congressman. f you confine its selection to this mud hole on the Delaware river, it is quite certain that the commission will re ion in favor of it. I say, withoutelaiming to e either a prophet or a naval expert, that you will expend millions in the presentaud untold millions in the future it on that place and finally abandon it as entire y unfit and ill adapted for the purpose proposed. Slf, if your iron clad set should be located 100miles from the ocean u that tortu ons stream, obstructed by ice for t ree months every winter, in some great day of naval confiict, when the enemyis thundering at the gates of your Atlantic cities, (far distant may that day be,) you willrcgrpt too late the folly which has locked up your iron defenses for safety 100 miles from the ocean. If that is an argument, if they are to be placed 100 miles from the sea board for safety, in the name of Heaven what are these iron clads for 7 What are these invulnerable vessels built for but to be posted on the sea coast to meet at the out post an enemy’sfieet and to uard against hostile attack the commerce of the natioif? If they are competent to defend themselves, they can defend the station where they are located; and that station, as I maintain, an honest, competent commission will decide is NewLondon, ft'om which they can readily go in the event of a naval attack to the defense of those cities and those coasts which they were expressly designed to defend, for which defense they are alone useful. I leave the question to the House.