Mr. KELLEY. Mr. Chairman, I have been willing to vote for appropriationsfor repairs at all the yards. But can see no reason why more should be appropriated for this Pensa cola navyyard than for any other; and I think the proposed appropriation for it is far more than for any ot ier save one. We have no need for a navyyard for the construction or large repair of vessels at Pensacola. It is not a fit place for a yard. There should be a coaling station and repair shop there, but nothing more. Our Navy is not what it wasa fleet of timber ships dependent upon sails. it is an iron Navy, moved by steam and machinery. Naval supremacy among nations is hereafter to be settledon land. That nation which has the amplest supply of forges, furnaces, and rollingmills, of iron and steel, and the most workshops and skilled workers in iron and steel, will be the master nation on the sea. The question is one merely of machine power and skill in working the met als I have named. At Pensacola, or in that vicinity, there are neither forges, furnaces, machine shops, nor skilled workmen. Nor is the water at or near that yard fit to float an iron navy not on active service. To illustrate that I will read an article now oing the round of the papers, whichI clipped Gem the Philadelphia Inquirer of Feb ruary 6:. "A discovery has beenmade atToulon. wherothe iron lated frigate Provence is under mng repairs, which shows the danger that menuest e entirciron coatedfleet of France. the provence was fitted out for seaonly 15 monthssince and already ngreat number of her lates are nearly consumed w1r utsht. The director o naval architecture is of opinion that ifa composition be not discovered to prevent the action of rust. the ironplated fleet must be renewed every 5 years.” In the fact thus disclosed is natures guarantee of the supremacy of the American navy. More fortunate than England and France. we have freshwater harbors in which we can float iron vessels. Fresh water is a cure for the diseases inflicted upon them by salt water and I am opposed tomaking large appropriations for navyyards in our warm soutern regions, in the waters of which worms eat wooden vessels and the salt water rust consumes iron ones, and around which treason holds its away as completely now as it did in April, 1861. We should not establish a navyyard or even an extensive repair sho there in the present unsettled condition oft c country.