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shells be manufactured? And what better, point for these purposes can be found than the site of the present naval establishment at Memphis?

In the report of the officers already referred to, a doubt is expressed as to the possibility of launching a large ship at Memphis. The committee can scarcely believe that there is any good ground for such a doubt. It is stated, throughout the report, that the foundations of some of the buildings are imperfectly prepared; but it is not stated that good foundations cannot be made. On the contrary, they present a plan for this purpose, which they believe will be sufficient. The committee will not undertake to determine the practicability of launching ships at Memphis, inasmuch as the commissioners aforesaid, in their report, have expressed a serious doubt on the subject. But such a conclusion would be so much against the decided convictions of the committee, and the judgment of practical men living in that section of the country, that it ought by no means to be acquiesced in, without a more thorough and accurate investigation of the facts upon which it is sought to be maintained. A practical test could be very easily applied; any number of responsible citizens could be found to contract, with good security, for building and launching at the Memphis navy yard a ship of any prescribed tonnage, notwithstanding the opinion of these learned commissioners that such a thing is of doubtful practicability.

The original design of this important establishment, upon which so large a sum of money has already been expended, and for the completion of which the State of Tennessee claims the faith of the government to have been pledged, ought not to be changed or abandoned upon the doubtful conjectures of three individuals, who prove themselves to be but little acquainted with the true capabilities of the position. The committee are informed that the present engineer in charge of the work, and Captain Nicholson, of the navy, now in command of the yard, are well satisfied that there can be no difficulty in establishing permanent foundations for building and launching ships. The opinions of these gentlemen are entitled to equal weight with the gentlemen to whose report reference has already been made.

For the reasons mentioned, therefore, the committee recommend the completion of the Memphis navy yard upon its original plan, and at the proper time they propose to ask the appropriations necessary for this purpose.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-January 4, 1855.

To the House of Representatives:

In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 11th ultimo, requesting the President "to communicate to this House any proposition which may have been made to the government by the city authorities of Memphis, relative to the navy yard property recently ceded to that city, together with his views and those of the Navy

Department as to the propriety of accepting the proposed re-cession and of re-establishing a naval depot and yard of construction at Memphis," I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of the Navy, and have only to add my concurrence in the views by him presented. FRANKLIN PIERCE.

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 1, 1855.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, December 26, 1854. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report in pursuance of the resolution passed by the House of Representatives on the 11th instant, in these words:

"Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate to this House any proposition which may have been made to the government by the city authorities of Memphis, relative to the navy yard property recently ceded to that city, together with his views and those of the Navy Department as to the propriety of accepting the proposed recession and of re-establishing a naval depot and yard of construction at Memphis.'

Accompanying this report is a correct copy (marked A) of the proceedings of the board of mayor and aldermen of the city of Memphis, received on the 7th of November last. These proceedings present the only "propositions" which have been made through this department to the government, by the city authorities of Memphis, relative to the navy yard recently ceded to that city.

You will perceive that the city authorities do not propose an unconditional retrocession, but accompany it with certain specified terms, to which Congress must agree. They disclaim the design of holding it, "provided that Congress shall in its wisdom, in justice to the South and West, desire to reinstate said yard, not as a ropewalk alone, but as a depot of construction and equipment of government vessels for the navy." They further say that they will deem it their duty, "in consideration that Congress agree to carry out their original plan of keeping up and carrying on a navy yard of construction at Memphis,” to retrocede the property.

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Congress has the power to discontinue any of the navy yards, or to convert some of them into ropewalks, and to devote others to the manufacture of machinery or ordnance. But if the terms of the proposition under consideration be acceded to, Congress will have surrendered its discretion, and will be bound to keep up this as a yard for the "construction and equipment of government vessels for the navy,' although future experience may demonstrate that it would be economy and sound policy to abandon the undertaking to construct and equip vessels, and, instead thereof, to devote it exclusively to the manufacture of machinery for our steamships, and ordnance to supply them with armaments, or to convert it into a ropewalk for the manufacture of cordage, or to discontinue it entirely.

I cannot consider it wise policy in the government to own property involving large expenditures of money upon conditions to which in good faith it may be bound to adhere, although found by experience Rep. 61-2

to be impolitic. My views, therefore, are adverse to the propriety of accepting the retrocession on the terms proposed by the city authorities. This government now has eight navy yards, including that in progress of construction at San Francisco. They are located at Kittery, in Maine; Charlestown, Massachusetts; Brooklyn, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, D. C.; Norfolk, Virginia; and Pensacola, Florida. In my opinion, these are amply sufficient for the present wants of the United States; and no other yards of "construction and equipment" of vessels are needed at this time.

Inquiry may be made, perhaps, as to the local advantages or disadvantages presented at Memphis, in regard to necessary depth of water and the practicability of securing the proper foundation to sustain building-slips and launching-ways and docks. There was a report made by a board of officers appointed by the Secretary of the Navy in 1844, September 16, which is to be found in Executive documents 2d session 28th Congress, volume 1; another by a board similarly appointed in 1851, June 11, to be found in Ex. Docs. 1st session 32d Congress, volume 2, part 2. An elaborate report was also made by the Senate Naval Committee, May 6, 1852, which is to be found in Senate Reports 1st session 32d Congress, volume 2. These several reports present the results of personal inspection, and discuss elaborately the question of the suitableness of this location for a navy yard. To them I take the liberty of referring you.

To institute additional inquiry, by the actual examination of another board, in order to present facts and views suggested by their action, would necessarily delay a response to the resolution until the session is far advanced.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. DOBBIN.

To the PRESIDENT.

A.

CITY HALL, MEMPHIS, October 23, 1854.

At a called meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen of the city of Memphis, on Monday, October 23, 1854-present his honor the mayor, Messrs. Neal, Hughes, Smithwick, Morgan, Milton, Junkins, Patrick-in the absence of the chairman, Mr. Douglass, Alderman Patrick was called on to preside. On taking the chair, he explained that the meeting was called for the purpose of requesting the Secretary of the Navy to suspend the sale of government property, now advertised to take place at the Memphis navy yard on the 1st day of November next, until after the meeting of Congress.

Alderman Hughes being seconded, offered the following preamble and resolutions:

Whereas we, the mayor and aldermen of the city of Memphis, view with deep regret what we conceive to have been hasty legislation in the late act of Congress ceding the Memphis navy yard and appurte nances to the city of Memphis, thereby depriving the citizens of the

great valley of the Mississippi of the benefits of a great national work; and whereas we deem this work of equal importance to any similar work in the eastern States, and that justice to the citizens of the great valley of the Mississippi demands its continuance; and whereas the board of mayor and aldermen of Memphis believe that Congress may, at its next session, be induced to reconsider its act ceding the Memphis navy yard to the city of Memphis: therefore

Resolved by said board, That in our act receiving said navy yard, we fully disclaim the design of holding it to our own use. Provided that Congress shall, in its wisdom, in justice to the South and West, desire to reinstate said yard, not as a ropewalk alone, but as a depot of construction and equipment of government vessels for the navy, we shall deem it our duty, in consideration that Congress agree to carry out their original plan of keeping up and carrying on a navy yard of construction at Memphis, to re-convey the navy yard at Memphis, grounds and appurtenances, to the general government.

Resolved further, That the mayor immediately notify the Secretary of the Navy, at Washington city, both by mail and telegraph, of the foregoing proceedings, with the request that he suspend the sale of the government property at the Memphis navy yard, now advertised to take place on the 1st of November next, until after the next meeting of Congress, in December.

Which proceedings were, on motion, adopted unanimously by the board.

The above and foregoing is a true and perfect extract from the minutes of the proceedings of the board of mayor and aldermen had on the 23d instant.

Attest:

J. M. PATRICK,

President pro tem. of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
A. B. TAYLOR, Mayor.

L. R. RICHARDS,

City Register.

MEMPHIS, October 24, 1854.

MAYOR'S OFFICE, MEMPHIS, October 24, 1854.

DEAR SIR: On the opposite hereof please find a copy of the proceedings of the board of mayor and aldermen of this city had on yesterday, requesting you to suspend the sale of the government property in the Memphis navy yard until after the next meeting of Congress; all of which is respectfully submitted.

Respectfully,

Hon. J. C. DOBBIN,
Secretary of the Navy.

A. B. TAYLOR, Mayor.

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