Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Then I will on. I say that the Gentfrom Massachusetts, [Mia “1013. 1 as the chairman of the ComNavAffrs, and the organ of the Navy Dept, attempts to influence our action in regard to this appropriation bill. I dissent from the views he has expressed in regard to the wants of the Navy. e have gone through this war with the navyyards we had provided by appropriations heretofore made. lVe have had for that. purpose a naval marine of 700 vessels, nearly 600 of which have now been discharged, and are out of the service, relieving the existing navy yards to that extent and yet at the very heel I desire to 1866. 753 I of the suppression of this rebellion, when I say i we want no further naval force, the Committee, on Appropriations come in here and ask appropriations to the amount of millions upon millions for new works as well as for carrying on works already commenced and now, sir, this committee has gone through with this bill item by item; and we have. in many cases with the assent of the ComAppropriat, struck out appropriations amounting to between 1 3 and 4 million dollars. Sir, I protest in the name of the American people against these outrageous and extrava gantappropriationsof the peoples money with. out a direct and pressing einand by the public l interest. Sir, in the cases of the navyyard at Charlestown, and the navyyard at NewYork, what are the reasons which have been brought 1 forward for the construction of these new works? Where are the reasons upon the record, in view of the public interest, that require us to vote away ail these vast sums. all of which we must borrow? The gentleman tries to appeal to the fears of this House. He tells us what. France and England may do. Sir, I scorn to be controlled by such considerations. In ewith my colleague that we have today a avy sufficient to meet the combined fleets of the world. I think we should not be called upon new to tax our constituents still further when they are ground down in the dust by the present taxation, when we are almost upon the eve of a financial panic, unless the strongest reasons shall be given for the appropriations. I do not think, sir, that the gentleman will be successful in his endeavor to imbue this House with the fear that France and England may whiten our seas with their menofwar, and that we will not be ableto meet all comers in the future as in the past. I can understand very well, Mr. Chairman, how agreeable it is to partiesinterested to have these vast appropriations, how convenient it is for persons connected with those yards to have the disbursement of these monstrous sums of money, while our constituents foot the bills. As a Representative representing a frugal and patriotic people I protest against any further expenditures unless they are justified by th most pressing public necessity. 1 agree with the Gentfrom Pennsylvania [Mr. Srsvsxs] that this is no time to rebuild these navyyards at Norfolk and at Pensacola. The ruins of those navyyards destroyed by the rebels are almost smoking today; and if the present state of thin goes on, you cannot tell. sir, how long it will so before they will again be seized and destroyed by rebels. I am willing to appropriate the money that may be neces sa to protect the public property at Norfolk an Pensacola, but I am unwilling to go further. Hereafter if the States that have been on aged in the rebellion shall come back into the nion, if they shall prove themselves loyal and true to the constitution and flag, then it may be well to consider in the light of the public interest whether it would be best to rebuild these yards. But at the present time I am opposed to these appropriations inaugurating the policy of reestablishing them.