Mr. GRIMES. I only rise to set the Senfrom Kentucky right in regard to one thing. I think. in the 1st place, that he is mistaken in supposing that so many of these cases are predicated upon the loss that has been sustained by the contractors in consequence of altemtiOns made by the Navy Dept. But the inference Would be drawn from what Dept in the construction of these vessels was rather of a blundering character, and that they ought not to have directed changes to be made; and he says that these are not the 1st iron vessels that have been built; that they have been built before. Phat is true. Iron vessels have been built before; but no to be altogether of a different character from what was before known. In the 1st place, it the llll0d a great deal of time and ingenuity an a great many experiments in order to determine which was the best character of a rudder to apply to these monitors. Then there were constant changes made in order to obvinte the defects, which were found to exist in the original Monitor, so as to prevent the great overhanging which was doubtIcss the cause of the sinkin of the original Monitor. Then it was exceedingly difficult to arrange. the compass, and many experiments were made and considerable delay occasioned in consequence of the variation caused by the action of the iron on the deck of the vessel upon the compass. They finally devised a way of raisin the compass on a high staff and having a card on which it could be read down in front. If the Senator will go with me down here to the navy yard I will show him 2 mon itors one of which was built in 1862, and another one built recently, the Tonawandn, and he would hardly suppose that the original Monitor that was built in 1862 was the proI] totype and original of the perfect vessel that is now lying at the wharf. These changes have been going on gradually. Every battle he has said that the conduct of the Navy such vessels as we have built have been built j before; and almost all of the attachments to “ these vessels have been compelled, necessarily, that has been fought, every storm that the; have encountered, every eXperienced gentleman who has commanded one of thert has made some suggestive changes, and where those changes have met the aproval of the properadvising officers of the Navy Dept, although a vessel might be upon the stocks, availing7 themselves of the c ause in the contracts which authorizedthem to change the specifications of the contract, they have done so. Manifestly it was the interest and the duty of the Government to make such changes. I am happy to be able to say, and I think the Senator will concur with me if he has consulted with any naval gentlemen and entertains the same opinion with them, I am happy in being able to say, what is own honest conviction, that we have today the moat perfect iron vessels in the world; and they have all sprung out of a defective original vessel, and all been perfected through these changes which have been gradually goin on in these various ship yards, either private s ip yards or our own. I rose, Mr. President, not for the purpose of controverting or entering into a discussion of the merits of this oposition, but simply not to let it be inferretfihat I acquiese ed In what. might possibly be drawn as a conclusion from the Senators remarks, that I believed there had been anyimproperblundering in regard to these iron clads. I know that the Navy Dept have made mistakes, I know they made most egregious mistakes in regard tolone class of vessels not included in this bill. I am not here to defend those mistakes; but I am here to defend every improvement and change that has been made toward making a perfect. ship of war. which I think we have done.